More research and a growing campus require smarter safety solutions, especially amid rising risks across higher education.
Rice’s Public Safety & Research Security team is staying ahead of these changing needs by focusing on early intervention and prevention. Our current Building Access Project serves as the foundation of this effort, upgrading campus infrastructure to improve how spaces are secured, monitored, and protected in real-time.
What’s changing
As updates roll out, the Rice community will see and experience several practical improvements:
- New access technology: Buildings will transition to proximity-based card readers, with future options for mobile credentials using a smartphone.
- Smarter camera systems: Cameras are being upgraded and repositioned to improve visibility in key areas.
- Stronger access control: Areas such as research labs, technology infrastructure spaces (like network and server rooms) and locations with sensitive data or materials will have more restricted and managed entry.
- Improved lighting and visibility: Lighting upgrades will make outdoor areas and pathways brighter and easier to navigate at night.
These new systems will help identify unusual activity more quickly while allowing everyday campus life to continue uninterrupted.
A phased, data-driven rollout
The project will impact approximately 100 buildings and is expected to continue over several years.
Implementation began with a pilot phase and is now expanding across campus in planned phases. Buildings are prioritized using a risk-based model that considers factors such as student density, research activity, critical infrastructure and past incidents.
This approach ensures that higher-risk and higher-use spaces are addressed first, while allowing teams to refine and scale improvements over time. Early phases include buildings such as Duncan Hall, Brockman Research Center (BRC), and Sewall Hall, along with residential colleges.
Looking ahead
By 2028, all campus buildings are expected to have updated access and security systems, with ongoing improvements to keep pace with evolving technology.
The Building Access Project lays the foundation for a safer, more resilient campus—supporting the people, research and daily experiences that define Rice.
Staff can learn more about campus safety resources, updates and services through the Rice University Police Department website.