CityLife Libeskind

Introduction

FR Solutions S.r.l. is a Milan-based technology integrator specializing in networking, physical security, and smart building solutions. With over 13 years of experience serving the CityLife residential portfolio, FR Solutions was selected to lead the complete technology transformation of CityLife Libeskind — one of the most prestigious residential developments in Italy.

CityLife Libeskind is a landmark high-end residential complex in Milan designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. The site comprises five interconnected residential towers (B1–B5), two common pedestrian entrances, two main vehicle access points, and a three-level underground parking structure serving the entire complex.

Prior to the intervention, the complex relied on fragmented, siloed systems with no unified management layer. Security infrastructure was aging, access control was manual, and there was no centralized visibility across the five buildings. As the complex grew to full occupancy, the operational challenges became unsustainable — prompting the decision to rebuild the entire technology infrastructure from the ground up using UniFi.

Business or Organizational Requirements

1. Unified Management Across Five Buildings

The property management team required a single platform capable of managing networking, surveillance, and access control across all five towers from one central location. Individual building-level management was creating operational inefficiencies and blind spots.

2. Scalable Access Control for Residents and Vehicles

With approximately 1,500 residents and 500+ vehicles, the complex needed a reliable, scalable system to manage both pedestrian and vehicular access. The existing badge-based system lacked automation and could not support Face ID or mobile credentials.

3. Advanced Vehicle Access Without Per-License Fees

The client specifically required license plate recognition (LPR) for automated vehicle access at all entry and exit points — without recurring licensing costs. The license-free UniFi model was a decisive factor in the technology selection.

Why UniFi?

After evaluating multiple vendors, FR Solutions recommended the UniFi platform for four key reasons:

• License-free model: No per-seat, per-camera, or per-device recurring costs — critical for a deployment of this scale.
• Integrated platform: UniFi Network, Protect, and Access operate within a single management interface, eliminating the need for separate platforms for each domain.
• Scalability: The architecture scales from 5 to 50 buildings without requiring additional controllers or infrastructure redesign.
• Enterprise-grade features at accessible cost: Features like LPR, Face ID access, and multi-site management are included natively, not sold as add-ons.

The ability to manage networking, surveillance, and physical access — including vehicle LPR — from a single UniFi console made the decision straightforward.

Deployment Highlights

UniFi Network — Infrastructure Redesign

The project began with a complete network overhaul. A UniFi Dream Machine Pro was introduced as both the perimeter firewall and the central console for the entire site. All existing switches were replaced with UniFi hardware: an aggregation switch managing fiber backbone connections within the B1 control room, and a series of PoE switches distributed across the five buildings to power and connect all field devices.

This foundation was essential: without a coherent, managed network layer, none of the subsequent systems could operate reliably at scale.

UniFi Protect — Surveillance as an Operational Tool

The surveillance system was completely redesigned with UniFi Protect — not as a passive recording system, but as an active operational tool. Key components include:

• Enterprise NVR with high-capacity storage, enabling extended retention across all cameras
• UniFi ViewPort stations at every building reception desk, giving concierge staff live, continuous visibility of sensitive areas
• Mixed camera deployment: PTZ cameras at main entrances, Bullet cameras for perimeter coverage, Dome cameras for indoor corridors, and Turret cameras for dedicated waste area monitoring (one per building)

The result is a surveillance infrastructure that actively supports day-to-day operations, not just post-incident review.

UniFi Access — Consistent Resident Experience

UniFi Access readers were deployed at every access point across the complex: individual building lobbies, shared pedestrian entrances, underground connections to the parking levels, and integrated columns at vehicle access points. An Enterprise Access Hub was installed in each of the five buildings (B1–B5), enabling coordinated management of both pedestrian and vehicle access from a single system.

At full capacity, the system manages approximately 1,500 user profiles with 24/7 access via Face ID, Mobile App (UniFi Identity), or badge credentials — all provisioned and managed centrally without per-user licensing.

UniFi LPR — Intelligent Vehicle Access

The vehicle access system represents the most technically innovative element of the deployment. FR Solutions designed a progressive validation logic at each entry point:

• First gate: Opens automatically on front plate recognition
• Second checkpoint (short distance): Double read (front + rear plate) for maximum reliability, covering edge cases such as obscured or damaged plates
• Sectional garage doors on ramps: Managed via LPR cameras installed on each ramp, with access governed by user-linked permissions
• Exit automation: Metal loop sensors trigger sectional doors; rear plate reading controls exit gates
• Anti-tailgating barriers: Activated by video analytics to prevent unauthorized reverse maneuvers at entry points

The entire LPR system operates license-free, delivering enterprise-grade vehicle automation at a fraction of competing solutions.

Looking Ahead

FR Solutions and the CityLife Libeskind property management team are already planning the next phase of the deployment. Priorities include:

• Expansion of the LPR system to cover additional internal ramps and secondary access points
• Integration of UniFi Identity for visitor management, enabling residents to issue time-limited digital passes to guests
• Evaluation of UniFi Talk for internal and concierge communication across buildings
• Replication of this architecture at two additional CityLife residential developments currently under evaluation

The CityLife Libeskind project has become the reference model for FR Solutions’ residential deployments — demonstrating that the UniFi platform can handle the full complexity of large-scale, high-density residential environments.