Discover how an IP video intercom solution helps a Class A Toronto office tower protect tenants from the lobby to four levels of parking.
Overview
This 30‑story, Class A office tower in Toronto’s Financial District stands as a prime example of modern commercial real estate. With a fully renovated lobby, modern amenities, and multiple sustainability and accessibility designations, the building offers a future‑ready workspace for leading Canadian businesses.
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Industry
Commercial Real Estate
Product used
IX | IXG Series IP Video Intercom
96% of employees say being physically safe at work is important to them.
Source: 2025 State of Employee Safety Report, AlertMedia
56% of workers report they do not feel completely safe in the workplace.
Source: 2025 State of Employee Safety Report, AlertMedia
34.3% of global building security system spending comes from commercial facilities such as office towers, malls, and hotels.
Source: Global Building Security Systems Market Trends 2025–2034, Global Growth Insights
Owned and managed by a leading real estate advisor, this tower anchors a key intersection in downtown Toronto. The property offers convenient access to transit, dining, and financial institutions, positioning it as a highly attractive address for professional services and corporate tenants.
Recent upgrades introduced a bright, hospitality‑inspired lobby, wellness‑focused amenities, bike storage, and end‑of‑trip facilities. The tower has earned LEED Gold, BOMA BEST Platinum, and multiple accessibility awards, underscoring a long‑term commitment to sustainability and inclusive design. Safety and security are expected to match that same high standard.
As tenant expectations evolve, the management focuses on delivering a “future‑ready workspace” that feels welcoming yet protected. To support that vision, the IP video intercom solution needed to quietly enhance everyday security from the front doors to the deepest level of the parking garage.
To modernize communication at the main lobby entrance and across four underground parking levels, the ownership partnered with Toronto‑based security integrator Bond Securcom Inc. Project Manager Phillip Kiatipis and his team selected Aiphone’s IX | IXG Series IP Video Intercom as the backbone of a building‑wide security communication layer.
Challenges
Lobby Security and Visitor Management
The renovated lobby is the public face of this office tower. It welcomes a steady flow of tenants, guests, and couriers throughout the day. Building management wanted concierge staff to clearly see and speak with every visitor before unlocking the doors, without adding visual clutter to the new design or slowing down entry.
Safety in Underground Parking
Below ground, four levels of parking presented a very different environment. In an enclosed concrete structure, visibility is limited and people may feel isolated, especially during early morning or late evening hours. Tenants and visitors needed a simple, reliable way to reach security from wherever they parked, whether they were dealing with a vehicle issue, a medical concern, or suspicious behavior.
Scalability and Integration
As a long‑term institutional owner, the client also required technology that would stand up over years of daily use. The solution had to be IP‑based, easy for front‑desk staff to operate, and flexible enough to integrate with existing and future systems such as access control, video management, and cloud‑hosted platforms.
Solutions
Lobby Security with IP Video
To meet these goals, the project team designed an IP video intercom solution using Aiphone’s IX | IXG Series. Approximately thirty IX-DV surface-mounted IP video door stations are installed throughout the property, including the main lobby entrance and the parking gate. Each IX‑DV station is powered by PoE and built with weather‑ and vandal‑resistant construction, making it well-suited for a busy downtown entrance. A built‑in camera and call button provide clear video and two‑way audio so security staff can quickly understand what is happening at each door.
At the front security desk, an IX‑MV7 IP video answering station acts as the central point for all intercom communication. When a visitor presses the button at the main entrance, the call appears on the IX‑MV7’s seven‑inch touchscreen. Concierge staff can see the caller in real time, talk hands‑free, and unlock the door directly from the master station once they have verified the visitor’s identity.
Parking Garage Help Points
In the parking garage, IX‑DV stations serve as highly visible help points. Several units are mounted on structural columns on each of the four levels, ensuring that assistance is always close by. Pressing the call button connects the caller to security, who can view live video from the station, listen to the surrounding audio, and coordinate an appropriate response. This direct link helps reduce response time and increases confidence among tenants and visitors using the garage.
Centralized Control at the Concierge Desk
All calls, monitoring, and door releases are handled through the IX‑MV7 at the front desk. From a single, intuitive interface, staff can answer incoming calls, monitor selected cameras, and trigger door or gate releases with dedicated on‑screen controls. This centralization streamlines training for concierge and security teams and reduces the risk of missed calls or delayed responses.
Ready for Integration and Growth
Because IX | IXG is SIP and ONVIF® Profile S compliant, the deployment fits naturally into the tower’s broader security ecosystem and is prepared for future integrations. Aiphone’s Emergency Towers & Solutions share the same technology foundation, giving owners the option to add blue‑light style emergency communication in outdoor plazas or remote areas if the site’s needs expand.
Benefits
Stronger Tenant Confidence
For this property, the IX | IXG Series created a continuous communication layer from the sidewalk to the far end of the parking garage. Lobby staff now have clear audio and video for every visitor, supporting consistent screening while maintaining the smooth flow of people into the building. Tenants and guests know that if something goes wrong in the garage, help is reachable with a single button press.
Simplified Day-to-Day Operations
The IP architecture simplifies ongoing operations. All activity flows through the IX‑MV7 master station, keeping procedures straightforward and allowing new staff to become proficient quickly. PoE power and durable hardware minimize maintenance demands, which is essential in a high‑traffic commercial environment.
Built for Long-Term Performance
The intercom deployment is part of a broader security upgrade completed several years ago, when the property moved to enterprise‑grade solutions for CCTV, access control, and communication. Since then, the Aiphone IX | IXG system has operated continuously in both the exposed lobby entrance and the demanding parking garage environment without unplanned interruptions. PoE power simplified the original installation and now makes it straightforward to add or relocate stations as needs change.
About Bond Securcom Inc.
In business for over forty years, we at Bond Securcom Inc. have established ourselves as a premier provider of innovative security and communications products in the Greater Toronto Area. Unlike large multinational corporations that often rely on “one-size-fits-all” solutions, we operate as a boutique supplier, prioritizing a personalized design approach. This philosophy allows us to deliver effective, custom-tailored solutions that address the specific security needs of a wide range of commercial, industrial, and residential clients.
Our expertise extends far beyond simple hardware installation. We integrate complex systems, including CCTV, access control, and advanced telecommunications, ensuring we stay abreast of current trends in facility design and security processes. As demonstrated in this project, we serve as a preferred vendor for major commercial properties, applying modern approaches to balance the need for robust protection with the practical demands of today’s modern buildings.
For this 30-story office tower, reliability was the client’s primary requirement, which led us to deploy the IP video intercom solution from Aiphone. As the Project Manager, I oversaw the integration of over 30 audio and video stations across the lobby and parking levels. We consider Aiphone a “trusted product” that we confidently recommend. Our hands-on experience ensures that the technology is not only installed correctly but serves as a dependable lifeline for the building’s tenants and visitors.
Collaboration Behind This Project: Insights from Pipl Systems
This case study and the detailed look at the security system are the result of a collaboration between my team at Bond Securcom Inc. and Pipl Systems, a media platform dedicated to sharing real-world security expertise with the industry.
Oleg Bordiian, founder of Pipl Systems, visited the site to document how we implemented the Aiphone system across the property. In a recent LinkedIn post reflecting on the project, Oleg shared:
“In modern buildings, an intercom is no longer just a button by the door. It has become part of a broader security communications strategy, the first line of contact between people, spaces, and the teams responsible for safety.
That’s why brands like Aiphone play such an important role in commercial and industrial projects worldwide. Solutions designed not for spec sheets, but for real, everyday use.
In this video, we visited a Class A office tower in downtown Toronto together with Bond Securcom Inc., one of the leading security integrators in the region. Phillip Kiatipis, Project Manager at Bond, shared how Aiphone intercom systems are implemented across the building from the main lobby to underground parking, helping security teams stay connected and responsive throughout daily operations.
This is exactly the kind of work we highlight at Pipl Systems, showing how security systems are implemented in practice, and the people behind those projects.”
This collaboration highlights how critical a well-integrated IP video intercom solution is for modern commercial properties. By documenting real-world applications, Pipl Systems and Bond Securcom demonstrate the practical value of keeping security teams connected and responsive.
Results
By adopting Aiphone’s IX | IXG Series, this Class A office tower gained a modern, dependable system that supports both everyday convenience and emergency response. The building now offers controlled, video‑verified entry at the lobby, clearly marked assistance points across four levels of parking, and centralized control for security staff.
For the property management, the project shows how a carefully designed IP video intercom solution can enhance safety while complementing the aesthetics and tenant‑focused vision of a premier office tower. With Aiphone in place, the building continues to deliver on its promise of a high‑quality, future‑ready environment in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why choose an IP video intercom solution for commercial buildings?
IP (Internet Protocol) video intercoms offer superior scalability and integration compared to traditional analog systems. They utilize the building’s existing network infrastructure, allowing for easy expansion and centralized management. In a commercial setting like an office tower, this means security staff can manage entrances, parking gates, and emergency stations from a single master station, improving response times and operational efficiency.
How does the system handle visitor management in the lobby?
In high-traffic lobbies, the IX-DV video door station allows concierge staff to visually verify visitors before granting access. The system provides clear two-way audio and high-definition video directly to the master station at the security desk. Staff can unlock doors with a single touch, ensuring a smooth flow of authorized guests and couriers without compromising security protocols.
Is the Aiphone IX Series effective for parking garage security?
Yes, the IX Series is ideal for underground parking environments. The stations are highly visible and durable (vandal-resistant), providing tenants with an immediate link to security in case of vehicle trouble or safety concerns. The video capability allows security to see the context of the call, which is crucial in isolated areas like parking levels.
What are the benefits of PoE (Power over Ethernet) for intercom installation?
PoE simplifies installation by delivering both data and power over a single Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for separate electrical wiring at each door or parking station, reducing installation costs and maintenance complexity. It also allows the entire intercom system to be backed up by the building’s central UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), ensuring operation during power outages.
How does the system integrate with other building security layers?
The Aiphone IX Series is ONVIF Profile S compliant, which enables seamless integration with third-party systems such as Video Management Software (VMS) and access control. This means that when an intercom button is pressed, the event can trigger recording on the building’s CCTV system or interact with access card readers, creating a unified security ecosystem.
Can the system scale for future needs?
Absolutely. Because the solution is network-based, adding new stations (for example, in a new tenant area or an outdoor plaza) is as simple as connecting them to the network and configuring them in the software. There is no need to run new copper backbones to a central equipment room, making the system “future-ready” for expanding properties.
