Layered Access Control Helps Multitenant Facilities Balance Security and Efficiency
Multitenant buildings are at the center of modern cityscapes. From Class A office towers that host blue-chip corporations to mixed-use developments with offices, retail, and residential tenants all under the same roof, these properties must serve a wide range of users with diverse expectations. Some tenants may prioritize visitor convenience and smoother traffic flow, while others—like technology firms, financial institutions, or government contractors—require rigorous access control to protect sensitive assets and data.
The challenge for both property managers and security directors is finding the right balance: implementing a security model that is flexible enough to accommodate different tenant needs while also ensuring operational efficiency for the entire building. This is where layered access control becomes essential. By combining multiple security measures across lobbies, elevators, and tenant-controlled floors, multitenant buildings can establish adaptable, resilient systems that serve both convenience and protection.
A single layer of access control—such as a staffed reception desk or optical turnstiles in the lobby—may deter casual intrusions, but it rarely satisfies all tenant requirements. A layered model acknowledges that not all tenants have the same risk profile and that sensitive areas require additional protections beyond the common entry points.
Consider the following hypothetical scenario. A large technology company occupies the top two floors of a mixed-use office tower, and the ground floor of the building has a lobby and a bank of elevators for staff to access the floors. While the building’s lobby has optical turnstiles that allow entry to verified access credentials, the company determines that this does not provide sufficient protection for its research and development teams.
To reduce the risk of unauthorized access, the company installs an additional layer of security, such as an additional revolving door or portal for the elevators that can access the company’s floors. This ensures that only authenticated employees and approved guests can reach the organization’s workspaces, even if someone manages to bypass lobby controls.
This example illustrates that one-size-fits-all security is rarely enough in multitenant environments. By allowing for additional, tenant-controlled layers, building managers can support both general safety and tenant-specific security requirements.
Lobby-Level Access
The lobby is one of the first lines of defense in any multitenant property. Traditionally, this has been managed through security staff and card readers, but modern high-rises increasingly rely on optical turnstiles or barrier systems that integrate with access control software.
The advantage of lobby-level turnstiles lies in their flexibility. They can be programmed to accept a variety of credentials—from proximity cards and mobile devices to QR codes for visitors—making them well-suited to environments with multiple tenants, even when each tenant uses a different credentialing system. This adaptability reduces friction for authorized users while maintaining a consistent baseline of security.
Lobby-level systems also provide valuable data and audit trails, enabling property managers to monitor traffic patterns, verify compliance with tenant agreements, and respond quickly to potential incidents. However, tenants with elevated security needs often require additional measures.
Tenant-Specific Access
Once tenants or visitors pass through the lobby, the next challenge is securing movement to and throughout specific floors. For most tenants, key card access to elevators or suites may suffice, but organizations with higher security requirements may need more advanced solutions.
High-security revolving doors or security portals installed at elevator banks are one option. These doors integrate with access control and biometric systems to verify identities and enforce single-person entry, preventing tailgating and piggybacking. Because they provide a physical barrier that limits access only to authorized or authenticated users, they offer a higher level of assurance without requiring constant supervision from a guard.
This model, which combines baseline lobby controls with tenant-specific high-security entrances, creates a layered defense that adapts to varying risk profiles within the same building. Tenants gain the ability to customize their security while property managers maintain consistent control of shared spaces.
Efficient Vertical Movement
In multitenant towers, elevator systems play a critical role in controlling access and ensuring efficient movement. Traditional elevators allow users to freely select floors, but this can create congestion and present vulnerabilities in high-rise buildings.
Destination dispatch systems have emerged as a solution that enhances both efficiency and security. These systems link directly to access control credentials. When a user scans his or her badge or mobile credential at the lobby turnstile, the system assigns him or her to a specific elevator that will directly travel to the authorized floor. This reduces unnecessary stops and wait times, plus it ensures that passengers travel only to permitted areas.
For security-conscious tenants, these systems add another layer of control by limiting exposure to unauthorized individuals. For building managers, they improve energy use and the overall tenant experience, demonstrating how layered access strategies can align operational and security goals.
Making Layered Access Successful
Implementing a layered access control model requires thoughtful planning and collaboration between property managers, security consultants, and tenants. Several best practices can help achieve success.
Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment. Not all tenants have the same security needs, so a building-wide assessment can help identify which spaces require baseline controls and which may call for additional tenant-specific measures.
Build in flexibility. Systems should accommodate multiple credential types, integration with tenant-specific security systems, and the ability to scale as needs evolve.
Communicate with tenants. Transparency about how security systems work—and where responsibilities shift from landlord to tenant—is key to building trust and ensuring smooth adoption.
Prioritize user experience. Security should not come at the expense of convenience. Well-designed systems blend into building operations, guiding users seamlessly through checkpoints without creating bottlenecks.
Plan for the future. As technologies evolve, layered systems should allow for upgrades, such as biometric authentication, mobile access, or integration with visitor management platforms.
Enhancing Security Through Adaptability
Multitenant buildings are dynamic ecosystems, and their security solutions must be adaptable. A layered access control approach provides a framework that balances the needs of diverse tenants while ensuring efficient building operations.
The layered model outlined above—lobby-level controls, tenant-specific measures, and guided elevator navigation—can offer a secure and welcoming environment. For tenants, it offers peace of mind because their people and assets are better protected. For landlords, it delivers a competitive edge in attracting and retaining organizations with varied risk profiles.
Ultimately, layered access control is about creating the right mix of solutions for the right parts of the building. As both security risks and tenant expectations rise, this concept is becoming not only a best practice but also an increasing necessity for managing multitenant properties.
Lyndell Kline is a regional sales manager for Boon Edam.
