Most popular Articles of the Category
Discover how retrofit projects improve resident experience through smarter access, mobile convenience, and better building security.
Why you see rising numbers of retrofit projects
Many apartment buildings today still rely on aging intercoms and access systems installed decades ago. Some of them don’t work properly. Some of these systems may still function, but they often no longer match the expectations of modern residents.These are some of the reasons access control retrofit projects are rapidly growing across residential buildings. Traditionally, modernization often required major infrastructure replacement and disruptive re-cabling. Modern retrofit approaches increasingly allow buildings to upgrade functionality while retaining much of the existing infrastructure.
At the same time, resident expectations have changed dramatically.
Building access is no longer viewed as a simple utility hidden in the background of a building. It has become part of everyday living. Residents now expect the same flexibility and convenience from their building access experience that they already receive from smartphones, delivery apps, and other connected technologies.
As a result, modern retrofit projects are increasingly focused not only on replacing outdated hardware but also on improving the overall resident experience.
The resident experience starts at the entrance
Residents interact with access control systems constantly throughout the day. Entering the building, receiving deliveries, letting visitors in, accessing shared spaces, or checking who is outside the door are all small interactions that shape how convenient and secure a building feels to live in. As expectations around convenience, flexibility, and security continue to evolve, many older intercom and access systems no longer fit the way people live today.Why older systems no longer match modern living
Many legacy intercom and access control systems were designed for a very different era of residential living.
At the time, simple audio communication and physical keys were considered sufficient. Today, however, residents increasingly expect:
- mobile-first access,
- video communication,
- remote door answering,
- easier visitor management,
- seamless movement through buildings.
Older systems often struggle to support these expectations.
For example, if a courier arrives while a resident is at work, the delivery may fail. If a visitor arrives unexpectedly, residents may have no option but to go downstairs to open the door.
Even security expectations have changed. Residents increasingly want the ability to verify who is outside before granting access, particularly in larger multifamily buildings where people may not recognize everyone entering communal spaces.
In many buildings, retrofit projects are becoming the practical way to close the gap between older infrastructure and modern resident expectations.
Why older systems frustrate modern residents
| Everyday frustrations that residents experience | How modern retrofit solutions improve the experience |
| You can barely understand the person calling through the old audio unit | Modern video intercoms provide clearer communication and better visitor verification. |
| A visitor arrives, and you have to go all the way downstairs to let them in. | Residents can answer calls and open doors remotely from an indoor station or mobile phone. |
| Food deliveries get stuck at the building entrance | Temporary PINs or remote access can allow couriers to bring deliveries directly to their apartments. |
| A package arrives while you’re at work, so the courier leaves with it | Residents can answer calls remotely and let a courier into the dedicated delivery room, if there is one. |
| Your pockets are full of different keys for entrances and shared spaces | Mobile access allows multiple doors and shared areas to be managed from a single app. |
| One lost shared key means replacing locks and distributing new keys | Mobile credentials can be revoked and reassigned remotely. |
| RFID tags are frequently lost or forgotten | Mobile credentials reduce dependency on physical credentials and simplify administration. |
| You hear noise in the hallway at night, but don’t want to risk opening the door to check | Indoor stations can display live video streams from external or hallway cameras. |
| An empty apartment during a long holiday can look like an easy target | Residents can still answer calls remotely while traveling, helping maintain the appearance of occupancy. |
Individually, these problems may seem minor. Together, however, they shape how modern, convenient, and secure a building feels to live in. This is why many retrofit projects are increasingly focused on improving the resident experience rather than simply replacing aging infrastructure.
If you’re looking to avoid retrofit mistakes, check out our other blog on five common mistakes to watch out for when upgrading access control systems.
How retrofit projects improve everyday convenience
Modern retrofit projects are increasingly designed around flexibility rather than fixed ways of living.
Older access systems were built around the assumption that residents would always be physically present inside the apartment. Today, daily routines are far more dynamic. People work remotely, travel frequently, rely heavily on deliveries, and expect to manage many aspects of their home directly from a smartphone.
Convenience is no longer simply about opening the front door. Residents increasingly expect access systems to fit naturally into everyday life, allowing them to manage visitors, deliveries, and shared spaces more flexibly and with less interruption to their day.
Importantly, many retrofit solutions can deliver these improvements while retaining existing building infrastructure, helping modernize occupied buildings without major disruption.
Better security without making life more complicated
Resident expectations around security have also evolved significantly.
In many older buildings, security measures were often highly reactive or inconvenient, forcing residents to choose between feeling secure and maintaining everyday convenience. Modern retrofit projects increasingly aim to balance both.
Today, residents expect greater visibility, more control over access, and stronger reassurance about who is entering shared spaces, all without adding unnecessary complexity to daily routines.
Rather than adding friction, modern access technologies are making security feel more seamless, integrated, and intuitive as part of the broader residential experience.
Why retrofit projects are becoming lifestyle upgrades
Retrofit projects are increasingly about more than simply replacing aging hardware.
They are becoming part of a broader effort to modernize how multifamily buildings function and how residents experience them every day.
Convenience, flexibility, mobile connectivity, and seamless access are now becoming standard expectations rather than premium features. Buildings that fail to adapt may increasingly feel outdated, even if the original systems still technically function.
At the same time, retrofit upgrades allow existing properties to evolve gradually without requiring large-scale reconstruction or major disruption for residents.
For property owners, this creates an opportunity to improve resident satisfaction and extend the building's long-term value.
For residents, the result is often much simpler: a building that feels easier, safer, and more comfortable to live in.
Want to learn more about retrofit projects?
Our eBook, Retrofit Rising, explores the growing retrofit market, common upgrade challenges, and the technologies helping modernize multifamily buildings.
Category
