Parking Garage Camera & Entry System for a Chicago Building

Project Overview

A mixed-use building in Chicago’s West Loop with ground-floor retail and residential units above had an ongoing problem with its parking garage. The garage had no security cameras and relied on a simple keypad at the vehicle gate that had been shared so widely the code was essentially public. Unauthorized vehicles were parking in assigned spaces, and tailgating through the gate had become a daily occurrence. The building’s HOA board engaged Vidimost LLC to install a comprehensive camera system and a controlled vehicle entry solution. We deployed Hikvision security cameras throughout the garage and a LiftMaster commercial gate operator with credential-based access.

The Challenge

The parking garage spanned two underground levels with approximately 80 assigned spaces for residents and a small section reserved for retail tenants. The single vehicle entry point used a barrier arm gate controlled by a shared four-digit keypad code. The code had been given to residents, retail employees, delivery drivers, and various service providers over the years. Anyone who had ever received the code could enter the garage at any time, and there was no way to track who was entering or when.

Residents reported finding unknown vehicles in their assigned spaces regularly. Tailgating was a persistent issue, with unauthorized vehicles following authorized ones through the gate before the barrier arm closed. There were no cameras anywhere in the garage, so when vehicles were scratched or personal property was stolen from cars, there was no footage to review.

The garage environment itself presented installation challenges. Two underground levels meant no cellular signal for wireless cameras, the concrete structure limited wireless connectivity, and the low ceiling clearance on the lower level required careful camera placement to avoid damage from vehicle contact.

The Solution

Vidimost designed a two-part solution addressing both surveillance and vehicle access.

Security Cameras. We installed 14 Hikvision IP cameras across both garage levels, positioned to cover every driving lane, the entry and exit ramps, stairwell doors, elevator lobbies, and the pedestrian entrance from the street. Cameras at the vehicle entry and exit points were configured for license plate capture using infrared illumination and narrow fields of view optimized for approaching vehicles. Wide-angle cameras at lane intersections and parking areas provide general surveillance coverage. All cameras connect via Cat6 cabling run through conduit attached to the garage ceiling, terminating at a PoE switch in the building’s main telecom room. Footage records to an on-premises NVR with 30-day retention.

Vehicle Entry System. The existing keypad was removed and replaced with a LiftMaster commercial barrier gate operator paired with long-range RFID readers. Each resident and authorized tenant received a windshield-mounted RFID tag. When an authorized vehicle approaches, the reader detects the tag and the gate opens automatically without the driver needing to stop and interact with a keypad or reader. The system logs every entry and exit with a timestamp and tag ID. Tags can be activated or deactivated from a management interface, so when a resident moves out, their tag is disabled immediately.

To reduce tailgating, the gate was configured with a fast-close cycle and a vehicle detection loop on both sides of the barrier arm. If a second vehicle attempts to enter on the same gate cycle without a valid tag read, the system logs a tailgate event and triggers an alert to the building manager.

Learn more about our video surveillance and access control capabilities.

Installation Details

The camera installation was completed over four days. Conduit was mounted to the concrete ceiling using mechanical anchors, and Cat6 cable was pulled to each camera location. Cameras were mounted on wall brackets or ceiling pendants depending on the location, with anti-vandal housings where clearance allowed. The NVR and PoE switch were installed in the building’s existing telecom closet alongside the network equipment that serves the residential and retail spaces.

The gate operator installation took an additional two days. The old keypad controller was removed, the new LiftMaster operator was mounted, and the RFID readers were installed at the approach to the gate. Vehicle detection loops were cut into the concrete at the entry point. RFID tags were distributed to residents and retail tenants during a scheduled enrollment event in the building lobby.

Outcome

The parking garage went from having zero security infrastructure to a fully monitored and access-controlled environment. Unauthorized parking dropped to near zero within the first month as the shared keypad code was eliminated and only tagged vehicles could enter. The license plate capture cameras at the entry point provide a clear record of every vehicle that enters and exits the garage.

The building manager uses the gate system’s management interface to handle tag enrollment and deactivation without scheduling a technician visit. The camera system’s NVR is accessible remotely, allowing the manager to review footage and respond to resident inquiries about garage incidents from their office or phone.

The HOA board reported strong resident satisfaction with the improvements, and the retail tenants appreciated the reduced unauthorized parking in their reserved section.

Contact Vidimost LLC at (872) 254-5015 or info@vidimost.us to discuss a parking garage security project for your building.