After months of deliberation, City College is preparing to undertake a massive lock renovation project that will begin summer 2013.

The project will reduce the number of keys and replace most of them with cards for electronic entry. Doors will be capable of  locking from the inside. It will also include a “lockdown” function, enabling an administrator to lock down the entire campus as well as specific areas within 10 seconds.

“It’s a big project; it’s going to take a lot of time and energy, but it’s a good one. It’s something we’ve been talking about for years,” said Joe Sullivan, vice president of business services. “It’s expensive, no doubt, but it does solve a lot of problems. It allows us to meet the requirement that is going to be law pretty soon.”

The project costs $1.57 million with an additional $130,000 for architect fees.

However, it is necessary, according to Assembly Bill 211, which became effective in 2011. The bill, which targets grades K-12, requires that all new construction projects include doors that can be locked from the inside for classrooms occupied by five or more. Though it does not directly apply to City College yet, the bill may be modified to include community colleges.

“Our interest is not so much to do wholesale lockdowns but rather to ensure that the people occupying the building have the ability to lock from the inside,” said Superintendent-President Dr. Lori Gaskin.

In case of emergency, an administrator could access the website via desktop computer or handheld device and implement a widespread lockdown. Though the locks would prevent anyone from entering, those inside the room could still exit at their own free will.

Sullivan said the lockdowns are merely a perk of reducing the amount of keys in circulation.

“We have thousands of keys, literally, out. We have over 500 for the entrance to the Administration Building. It’s an opportunity to get control of them,” said Sullivan.

Locks will be changed for approximately 530 doors on buildings throughout all three campuses (main campus and the Schott and Wake centers).

“We prioritized the main entrances and classrooms for summer but the project is so big the work will be ongoing. It’s should be completed at the end of Christmas break,” said project manager Jay Sullivan. “We’re scheduling the contractor to work around classes. It will take about six months.”