UI switches doors to keyless entry

The University of Iowa is replacing old-fashion locks for electronic card access pads to make campus safer.

“It's a balance of being open and welcoming to the public and having a secure facility,” said Ann Rosenthal, associate director of facilities management.

Keyless entry will offer the university greater flexibility and control of who can enter a university-owned building.

Rosenthal says the university wants to limit access after business hours and on weekends so that “only the right people get in.”

The university spends between $2,500 and $6,000 per door for the keyless technology. Depending on the number of exterior doors, it can cost more than $150,000 to switch over one building.

While Rosenthal suggests some people may criticize spending that much money on new door locks, she poses this question: “If you don't have a secure campus, what's the cost of that?”

The university hopes to have all buildings equipped with keyless entry within the next several years.