Old Industrial Buildings, New Development
Farmers Branch, just north of I-635 between I-35E and the Tollway, has two very different faces. The Valwood business park area, often described as one of the largest industrial parks in North Texas, is full of manufacturing and distribution buildings, many built in the 1980s and 1990s. At the same time, Mercer Crossing, a 93-acre mixed-use development, has added Class A offices and new apartments.
That means a lot of our Farmers Branch work is upgrading. Older industrial buildings often still run analog cameras on aging recorders, door locks that have been rekeyed a dozen times, and gates with obsolete controllers. A1 Security Gate & Intercom specializes in bringing those systems up to date without starting from zero.
Upgrading Aging Camera Systems
If your building still has grainy analog cameras or a DVR nobody can log into, we audit what is there and plan the upgrade:
- Reuse what works: mounts, conduit and some cable runs can often be reused, which lowers cost.
- Replace what limits you: modern IP cameras that identify faces and plates, and a UniFi Protect console with phone viewing.
- Fix the gaps: add coverage at docks, yards and entrances that the old system missed.
- Document everything: a camera map and admin accounts handed to you, not kept by an installer.
System takeovers and UniFi upgrades
From Rekeyed Locks to Access Control
In older industrial buildings, keys have usually been copied and lost for years. Access control replaces them with credentials you control, scheduled by shift and logged by door. We match hardware to each opening, including hollow metal doors, glass office entries and exit devices on egress doors. Most complete commercial doors run about $3,000–$3,500 including professional-grade hardware, installation and programming.
Upgrading Often Costs Less Than You Think
Owners of older buildings often assume a full replacement is the only option. In practice, the most expensive part of a camera system is labor and cabling, and much of that may already be in place. By reusing sound conduit, mounts and some runs, and replacing the recorder and the cameras that matter most first, many buildings can be upgraded in stages that fit an annual budget, starting with the docks, gates and entrances that create the most risk.
Gates and Yards
Industrial yards often have slide gates with failing operators and no record of who comes and goes. We replace or repair gate operators and barrier arms, add credentials or a driver call box, and put license plate recognition on the entrance.
Mercer Crossing Offices and Apartments
For newer Class A offices, we install badge access, lobby video intercoms and clean camera systems that fit the finishes. For apartments, we install gates, call boxes, amenity access and package rooms managed by the leasing office.
Solutions for property managers
Permits
Farmers Branch sets its own requirements for alarms, gates and access-controlled exits. We confirm current requirements before installation. See our permits guide.
Farmers Branch Properties We Secure
Industrial & Manufacturing
Camera upgrades, shift access and yard gates.
Class A Offices
Badge access, lobby intercoms and discreet cameras.
Apartments
Gates, call boxes, amenity and package access.
Retail & Service
Entrance, register and parking cameras.
How an Upgrade Project Works
- Audit the existing cameras, recorder, locks and gate equipment.
- Upgrade plan that separates must-fix items from nice-to-have.
- Itemized estimate, free for new installations.
- Cutover scheduled to avoid gaps in recording.
- Support with a 1-year parts and labor warranty, $180 service visits and 24/7 emergency service.
Why Farmers Branch Chooses A1
- Upgrade specialists for older industrial systems.
- We reuse good infrastructure to keep costs down.
- Texas DPS Private Security license B31188501, insured.
- Cameras, doors and gates on one platform.
- Full documentation and admin access handed to you.