When the team at Dominion Heights reached out to Innovative Developments LLC, they had a problem that’s become increasingly common in the DMV’s multifamily housing market: an intercom system that was failing, generating tenant complaints, and creating security gaps that were difficult to defend.
The solution — a full ButterflyMX smart intercom installation across the entire property — transformed how residents, visitors, and management interact with the building’s access infrastructure. This is the story of that project.
The Challenge
Dominion Heights had been living with an aging intercom system for years. The hardware was outdated. Replacement parts were scarce. And the daily operational reality was difficult to ignore.
Residents were complaining regularly. The intercom system relied on outdated technology that didn’t meet the expectations of modern renters — many of whom had smartphones and simply expected to be able to manage building access from wherever they were. When guests arrived, residents had to be physically present at their unit to let them in. Missed deliveries were a constant friction point.
For the property management team, the operational burden was compounding. The system generated no audit trail — there was no documentation of who entered the building and when. When access-related disputes arose, there was no data to reference. And when the intercom hardware failed — which it did with increasing frequency — the management team had no good options. The system’s manufacturer had discontinued support. Finding a compatible replacement component was a project in itself.
The security gaps were equally concerning. Without a reliable entry audit trail, the property had limited ability to document unauthorized access attempts, support insurance claims, or cooperate with law enforcement in the event of an incident.
The decision was made: it was time for a full intercom replacement. Not a patch. A replacement.
Our Solution
Innovative Developments LLC was engaged as the installing contractor. As a ButterflyMX preferred installer — factory-trained, authorized, and supported directly by ButterflyMX — we were positioned to execute this project from hardware specification through resident onboarding.
The system selected was ButterflyMX’s smart intercom platform — the leading smart intercom solution for multifamily and commercial buildings in North America. ButterflyMX is smartphone-based: residents receive a video call on their phone when a visitor presses their unit number, and can open the building door remotely from anywhere.
For Dominion Heights, the decision to go with ButterflyMX reflected several priorities:
- Resident experience first: Smartphone-based access grants meet modern renter expectations. No apps to configure on a landline, no requiring tenants to be home to let in guests.
- Management control: A full audit trail of every entry event, manageable through a web dashboard.
- Architectural quality: ButterflyMX panels have a clean, modern design that enhances the building’s entry appearance.
- Long-term support: As an actively developed, manufacturer-supported platform with a strong installer program, ButterflyMX eliminates the support lifecycle risk that created the original problem.
The Installation
Our team conducted a full site assessment prior to installation — documenting all entry points across the property, evaluating existing low voltage wiring infrastructure for reuse potential, and mapping the network environment for system connectivity.
Where existing wiring was viable, we reused it — reducing installation scope and cost. Where new runs were needed, we installed them cleanly and in compliance with applicable Maryland electrical codes.
ButterflyMX panels were installed at all designated entry points. Exterior installations included appropriate weatherproof mounting and protection. All panels were connected to the property’s network infrastructure and configured in the ButterflyMX management platform — including unit directory setup, access group configuration, and management account provisioning.
The installation was phased to minimize resident disruption. The existing intercom system remained active through the installation process. The transition to ButterflyMX was completed in a single cutover event — the new system was fully tested and confirmed operational before the old system was decommissioned. There was zero gap in building access for residents during the transition.
Resident onboarding was handled collaboratively with the property management team. We supported the resident app setup process and ensured that building staff were fully trained on the management dashboard before the project closed out.
Results & Tenant Experience
The response at Dominion Heights has been clear across both resident and management dimensions.
For residents, the change has been immediate and tangible. Receiving a video call on their phone when a visitor arrives — and being able to open the door from their couch, their office, or across the country — is the experience they expected from a modern building. Package and delivery management, which was previously a persistent pain point, is handled with one-time access codes without requiring anyone to be present.
For property management, the ButterflyMX dashboard provides access control and audit trail capability that simply didn’t exist before. Every entry event is logged with a timestamp, unit assignment, and credential used. Credential management — issuing access for new residents, deactivating at move-out — takes minutes instead of hours. The management team no longer has to track keys or manage physical replacements.
For the property itself, the upgraded entry experience has materially improved how the building presents to prospective residents. The clean ButterflyMX panel at the building entrance is a visible signal that the property is modern, well-managed, and invested in resident experience.
Why It Matters
The Dominion Heights installation illustrates something we see consistently in the DMV multifamily market: the gap between what an aging intercom system costs operationally (in complaints, in management burden, in liability exposure) and what a proper replacement costs is almost always smaller than property managers expect.
ButterflyMX intercom installation at a multifamily property isn’t a luxury upgrade — it’s an operational improvement with a measurable return. The documentation, the resident experience improvement, and the elimination of legacy system maintenance costs create real value.
For property managers and building owners in Maryland, Virginia, and DC who are managing similar situations — an intercom system that’s aging, failing, or simply not meeting the expectations of modern residents — the Dominion Heights project is a clear model for what a well-executed replacement looks like.
Innovative Developments LLC is a ButterflyMX preferred installer based in Gaithersburg, MD. We serve multifamily and commercial properties across Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. We’re licensed, $5M insured, and back all hardware installations with a 3-year warranty.
Is your building’s intercom system ready for an upgrade? Contact us for a free site assessment.