Streamlining Secure Access

Faced with security challenges in a nearly century-old building, International House Berkeley adopted wireless access control and system integration to simplify operations, enhance safety, and support its global residential community.

• By Savannah Ragali
• February 10, 2026

The International House Berkeley (I-House) is a vibrant, multicultural residence that warmly welcomes students from the University of California, Berkeley.

Nestled on a picturesque hillside, I-House boasts an array of rooms and inviting lounges that offer breathtaking panoramic views of the sparkling San Francisco Bay and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Founded in 1930, this unique establishment was a visionary gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr., designed to cultivate meaningful connections and friendships among students hailing from diverse corners of the world.

International Collaboration

Over the decades, I-House has provided a home to an impressive array of esteemed artists, groundbreaking scientists, and influential scholars intricately linked with the university. Its distinguished residents include multiple Nobel laureates, members of royal families, political ambassadors, and dedicated staff members from the United Nations, all of whom contribute to its rich legacy of international collaboration and understanding.

I-House's mission is to "foster intercultural respect and understanding for a more just and peaceful world." As one of the largest and most diverse global residential communities, it offers 479 resident rooms and accommodates more than 600 students from more than 80 countries during the academic year.

Spanning more than 200,000 square feet — roughly the size of 3.5 football fields — its first and second floors are open to the public. Balancing the facility's security with the needs of staff and students presents a significant challenge.

“When I came to the I-House in 2023, residents had to carry three keys to access the upper floors, restrooms, and their living quarters,” said Luis Escamilla, vice president of Administrative Services at I-House. “Issuing keys and access cards for six hundred residents each semester was very complicated and time-consuming.

“We had begun using Verkada security cameras around I-House, so when we learned we could integrate that system with ASSA ABLOY door solutions and consolidate everything into a single key, we started working on system integrations to make it happen.”

“This building is primarily concrete and rebar,” said Mark Cassettari, Director of Physical Operations at I-House. “The interior walls are hollow, clay-tiled, and plastered. There was no physical way to hardwire a system to each individual lock, which is a big reason we went with the ASSA ABLOY IN100 Aperio® wireless locks.”

Replacing Mechanical Locks

Whether upgrading an existing system or replacing mechanical locks, the IN100 wireless lock, featuring Aperio technology, provides a simple and affordable solution for expanding access control systems. Ideal for schools, office buildings, and residence halls, it offers real-time online access control and remote locking or unlocking in under 10 seconds — perfect for situations like residents locking themselves out of rooms.

With support for multiple credential types and HID Mobile Access, residents can conveniently unlock doors using smartphones, tablets, or wearables, improving both security and operational efficiency.

Built with integrated ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 hardware and available in 15 finishes, the IN100 combines durability with versatility. It wirelessly communicates with an Aperio hub, which integrates seamlessly into existing electronic access control systems, such as Verkada’s, via Ethernet, RS-485, or Wiegand connections. Because Aperio devices are battery-powered and require no hardwiring, they are quick to install and offer significant savings in installation and maintenance costs.

“This entire project was about teamwork and executing on a common goal,” said Brendan Haley, Enterprise account executive at Verkada. “The common goal was to deliver wireless locks on 510 doors, integrating them with our infrastructure and keeping the historical integrity of this amazing building.”

“We wanted everything on one network system — we didn't want a separate lock system or a separate card reader system,” Cassettari said. “We wanted to integrate all of it together for ease of use. Not just for the residents, but for staff as well.”

An Open Platform

Aperio is built on an open platform for fast, low-cost integration with existing access control and security management systems, such as Verkada. Aperio lets administrators update user rights in real-time and generate instant audit trails for doors, taking security management to the next level.

“I'm amazed that we were able to get 510 locks installed in the short period of time that we did,” Cassettari said. “ASSA ABLOY really delivered. And then on top of it, partnering with Verkada so that we could integrate with our existing electronic access control system so smoothly.”

“What was really fun for me to see is just how well all these different organizations work together,” Haley said. “That part was very seamless. It almost felt like we were all on the same team working for the same company.”