PROJECT OVERVIEW
Built in 1924, Weston Hall is a historic landmark in Detroit’s Virginia Park neighborhood. After decades of vacancy, the building was revitalized through a community-focused redevelopment initiative that preserved an important part of Detroit’s architectural heritage while creating a modern affordable housing community.
With strong support from the Detroit government, the project transformed Weston Hall into the city’s first all-affordable smart apartment community, delivering 47 residential units for households earning between 50% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Beyond housing, the initiative also supported local workforce development by providing hands-on skilled trades training to more than 200 Detroit residents, contributing to long-term economic opportunity and neighborhood revitalization.
To support this transformation, the project required a reliable and scalable smart intercom and access control solution that could enhance building security, simplify property operations, and provide residents with a connected living experience. A cloud-based system was essential to enable centralized management, remote maintenance, and seamless integration with property management platforms such as Rent Manager.
THE CHALLENGES
Weston Hall faced a combination of structural, social, and technological challenges common to complex urban redevelopment projects. After more than two decades of vacancy, the 1924 building had suffered significant deterioration, including the loss of its roof, making restoration both technically challenging and historically sensitive.
At the same time, the project needed to deliver modern smart apartment features while maintaining affordability. This required a careful balance between providing a high-quality resident experience and ensuring efficient long-term operation. In addition, the building required a secure and user-friendly access solution suitable for a multi-tenant environment, while remaining simple to manage for property operators and easy to use for residents.
THE SOLUTION
To address Weston Hall’s challenges of enhancing security, improving operational efficiency, and delivering a smart living experience within an affordable housing model, DNAKE provided a fully integrated smart intercom and access control solution built on a reliable SIP-based network. The system connects entrance devices, indoor monitors, cloud management, and mobile applications into one unified ecosystem.
DNAKE’s S617 Android Door Station secures the main entrances with facial recognition for residents and video communication for visitors, while C112 SIP Video Door Phones provide reliable access control at secondary entrances. Inside each apartment, H618 Android 10 Indoor Monitors enable residents to communicate with visitors through high-definition video and conveniently release doors.
The solution also simplifies deployment and maintenance for installers. Through the DNAKE Cloud Platform, devices can be pre-configured and paired remotely before installation, reducing on-site setup time and improving project efficiency. Remote OTA upgrades further minimize maintenance efforts by allowing system updates to be completed without requiring physical access to each device.
For property management, the DNAKE Cloud Platform enables centralized resident access management, customized entry permissions, and efficient system administration. Meanwhile, the Smart Pro App allows residents to unlock doors remotely and generate temporary QR codes for guests and deliveries, creating a flexible and connected living experience.
INSTALLED PRODUCTS:
THE RESULT
DNAKE’s smart intercom solution helped Weston Hall successfully combine historic preservation with modern residential technology. The project achieved improved building security, simplified property management, and enhanced resident convenience through intelligent access control, cloud-based management, and mobile connectivity.
By integrating smart technology into an affordable housing development, DNAKE contributed to creating a future-ready community where security, accessibility, and smart living are seamlessly connected.
SNAPSHOTS OF SUCCESS
