American University in Washington DC

American University Campus Locksmith

American University’s Tenleytown campus sits in one of northwest DC’s most residential neighborhoods, a setting that shapes its security approach. Unlike an isolated suburban campus, AU’s buildings face city streets, and the surrounding neighborhood expects the university to maintain visible, effective security without creating a fortress atmosphere.

AU Campus Buildings

Facility Type	Buildings	Lock Needs
Residence halls	Anderson, Centennial, Hughes, Letts-Anderson, Leonard, McDowell, Nebraska	Annual rekeying, suite locks, lockout response, RA access
Academic / classrooms	Battelle-Tompkins, Hurst, Gray, Ward, SIS Building	Classroom locks, faculty offices, after-hours access
Research / labs	Don Myers Technology & Innovation Building, Asbury	Lab access control, equipment storage, hazmat cabinets
Arts / performance	Katzen Arts Center, Greenberg Theatre	Gallery security, equipment rooms, performance equipment storage
Athletic	Bender Arena, Jacobs Fitness Center, Reeves	Locker rooms, equipment storage, public event access
Administrative	Mary Graydon Center, Butler Pavilion	Office locks, records storage, HR areas
Law school	Tenley Campus (Washington College of Law)	Separate security system, library, courtrooms, offices

Residential Security at AU

AU’s residential halls span different architectural eras and housing styles:

• Traditional dorms (Letts, Anderson): double-occupancy rooms with individual locks, shared bathroom access, and building-level card entry. Lockout frequency peaks during the first weeks of each semester.
• Suite-style (Centennial, Leonard): multiple bedrooms sharing a common area. Suite entrance lock plus individual bedroom locks create a two-layer access system.
• Apartment-style (Nebraska Hall): full apartments with kitchen facilities. More complex keying with apartment entry, individual rooms, and building perimeter access.

Key management challenge: AU’s residential halls house approximately 3,800 students. Every room lock must be rekeyed between academic years, every key must be tracked, and every lost key during the semester triggers a rekey of that lock plus updates to the master key records.

Academic Building Access Control

AU’s academic buildings present a different challenge than residential halls:

• Daytime accessMost buildings are open to students, faculty, and visitors during business hours. Interior offices and labs require individual keys or card access.
• After-hours accessStudents with late classes, graduate students working in labs, and faculty with evening office hours need building access after the main doors lock. Card reader access solves this without issuing building keys.
• Exam securityDuring finals weeks, buildings stay open later and need extended access while maintaining security for offices and equipment.
• Summer programsAU runs summer courses, conferences, and camps that require temporary access configurations for non-enrolled populations.

The Tenleytown Context

AU’s location in Tenleytown/Spring Valley means:

• Residential neighbors: the campus borders single-family homes and apartment buildings. Security installations must be effective without being imposing.
• Metro access: the Tenleytown-AU Metro station brings commuter students directly onto campus. Entry points near the Metro need capacity for high foot traffic during class changes.
• Ward Circle transition: the campus straddles Nebraska Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, with buildings on both sides of major roads. Access control must account for pedestrian and vehicle movement between campus sections.
• Construction zones: AU has been in a multi-year campus expansion. Construction sites adjacent to occupied buildings require temporary security measures and frequent lock configuration changes.

Call (202) 830-0706 for American University campus locksmith services.