Memphis steps up security at exterior doors
16 February, 2016
category: Privilege Control, Security
The University of Memphis is replacing a large number of exterior doors on campus and installing replacements connected to a central, electronically controlled locking system.
According to a report from The Commercial Appeal, the new security system will enable all new campus doors to be locked and unlocked automatically at specific times, and opened after-hours with student ID cards. The university is set to break ground on the project soon, having issued a number of building permits for work described as “access and security upgrades.”
University officials say that the new door system will also electronically monitor the exterior doors to tell if they are closed or if they have been left propped open. These subsequent door statuses can also be relayed to University of Memphis Police Services. Students, meanwhile, will enjoy expanded use of ID card access for after-hours use of campus buildings.
The replacement of exterior doors will total nearly $1.3 million and represents the second phase of a multi-year project that aims to establish after-hour card access at every academic and general-use building on Memphis’ main campus. Phase one of Memphis’ security overhaul began in 2014 with the replacing of aging entrance doors on nearly all campus buildings at a reported cost of $1.75 million to complete.
Following the exterior door replacements, work will turn to the replacement of interior classroom doors throughout the summer months, with a common locking system to be installed similar to that for exterior doors.
Bruce Harber, chief of police and vice president for administration at the University of Memphis, says that the security upgrades are a preemptive measure to bring the university up to speed with modern security measures and not a response to any kind of incident on campus.
