Securing a Piece of History: How ProdataKey (PDK) Protects The Historic Woolworth's Building
Standing in the heart of downtown Bakersfield, California, the historic Woolworth's Building is more than a preserved landmark—it's a thriving community destination. The building is home to the country's last functioning Woolworth's lunch counter, while also housing an investment advisory firm, a coffee shop, a basement music venue, and a professional recording studio.
The result is a unique environment where business professionals, restaurant patrons, musicians, visitors, vendors, and tenants all share the same historic property.
Managing security for such a diverse facility presents a unique challenge, since every tenant has different operational needs. Some areas are open to the public, while others contain highly sensitive information. Certain spaces require scheduled access for renters, while others must remain restricted to authorized employees at all times.
For owner Emily Waite, finding an access control system and an integrator that could accommodate those varying requirements without sacrificing ease of use was essential. "Our general contractor suggested we work with RLH Fire Protection, a local business, for our security," Emily says. "It was clear that RLH had the confidence and the technology with ProdataKey to accommodate what we needed."
For RLH Fire Protection, the project represented more than another installation. "There was pure excitement on our end," says Michael Milburn, RLH Account Executive.
"Woolworth's is such a big part of the community and history here, and I latched onto that and was very vocal about it in our first meeting."
Michael Milburn - RLH Account Executive.
Relying on industry-leading solutions from ProdataKey (PDK), RLH was able to deliver a security system that gives the Woolworth's Building modern security while respecting the needs of a historic, mixed-use property.
A Historic Building with Modern Security Challenges
Unlike a traditional office building, the Woolworth's Building supports several different businesses operating under one roof. Throughout any given day, employees, financial advisors, musicians, performers, restaurant guests, coffee shop customers, vendors, and delivery personnel may all need access to different parts of the property.
This variety creates a level of complexity that conventional lock-and-key systems simply cannot address. The building owners need to know who has access to each area, when that access is permitted, and how those permissions can be adjusted as tenants and business needs change. At the same time, they need a system that remains intuitive for staff while reinforcing confidence among clients and visitors.
Security was also particularly important because of the building's location. "The downtown area of Bakersfield has a reputation as a bit of a rough area, so we needed a way to show our staff and clients that they would be safe and comfortable," Emily explains. That meant choosing a solution capable of providing both strong physical security and a positive day-to-day experience for everyone entering the building.
A High-Security Solution Built Around Flexibility
To meet those requirements, RLH recommended ProdataKey's High Security Red™ Readers. "We always like to do the High Security Bluetooth readers," Michael says. “It’s reliable, and the Bluetooth credentials are so convenient.” The readers provide secure, modern access while simplifying the experience for authorized users. Rather than relying solely on traditional keys, building occupants can take advantage of a flexible and secure credential solution through the PDK Access app, designed to support modern environments.
For a property like the Woolworth's Building, the technology also needed to accommodate people whose access requirements vary from day to day. Some individuals work in permanent offices. Others may only require temporary access for rehearsals, performances, deliveries, or maintenance. To support those needs, the project also incorporated Red Keypad Readers. The keypad functionality allows temporary users to enter designated areas using PIN codes instead of mobile credentials, making it easier to accommodate rehearsal room rentals, deliveries, and other scheduled visitors without compromising security. The result is an access control system that balances convenience with protection, allowing property managers to provide the appropriate level of access while maintaining complete control over who enters the building.
Customized Groups for a Complex Property
One of the greatest strengths of the ProdataKey platform is its ability to accommodate complex permission structures. In a building where different organizations occupy different spaces—and where those spaces often have varying operating hours—the ability to create customized access groups becomes essential.
"The fact that PDK allows us to have different groups of people who can have different access to the building is so important," Emily says. Rather than treating every credential holder the same, administrators can organize users according to their role, business, or responsibility using Groups in PDK.io. Through this, employees can receive access only to the areas they need, tenants can be limited to their leased spaces, and temporary users can receive scheduled access without affecting other parts of the building.
"Of course, it was complex to figure out what it needed to look like," Emily says. "But being able to control that access and monitor the space effectively was absolutely necessary." Instead of forcing the building to conform to a rigid security system, ProdataKey provided the flexibility necessary to mirror the way the property actually operates. "We're really glad the PDK system exists for us to be able to make those choices," Emily reflects.
Meeting Compliance Needs Without Compromise
While public-facing businesses represent an important part of the Woolworth's Building, one of its primary tenants has a very different set of security priorities.
"Our main business is an investment advisory firm—so we deal with people's money and very private information," Emily explains. Protecting confidential financial information requires more than locking exterior doors. Access to office spaces must be carefully controlled to help safeguard client records and maintain industry compliance requirements.
"We have 30 offices up here," Emily says, “and we are mandated by our compliance in the industry to protect all of them." For organizations operating in highly regulated industries, access control plays an important role in a broader security strategy.
By allowing administrators to determine exactly who can enter sensitive areas—and by providing greater visibility into building access—the ProdataKey platform supports the operational controls needed in environments where privacy and security are critical.
The flexibility of customized groups also allows the investment advisory business to maintain separation from the building's public-facing amenities, ensuring that office security can coexist alongside restaurants, entertainment venues, and community spaces.
Preserving the Past While Preparing for the Future
By partnering with RLH Fire Protection and implementing ProdataKey's cloud-based access control platform, The Woolworth’s Building has adopted a modern security solution capable of supporting a diverse collection of businesses without sacrificing convenience or flexibility.
High Security Red Readers provide secure, everyday access for authorized tenants and employees, and simple temporary access for scheduled visitors and renters. Customized access groups allow administrators to tailor permissions for multiple businesses operating under one roof, while helping protect sensitive financial information and meet compliance requirements. Just as importantly, the system has helped create an environment where employees and clients feel safe, comfortable, and confident.
For a building that continues to serve as both a historic landmark and a thriving commercial destination, ProdataKey provides the flexibility and security needed to protect its next chapter while honoring its past.
If you want to learn more about how ProdataKey could benefit your business, schedule a demo today.
ProdataKey is a team of security integrators with decades of hands-on, in-the-field experience.
PDK believes that the best technology is created by professionals who know what it takes to secure a facility properly and provide the end user with a solution that instills confidence and safety.
PDK is passionate about creating technology to enhance the security, safety, and overall experience of both the professionals installing electronic access control and those that live with and use the system. PDK continues to create technology every day to enhance its products and the products of its technology partners.
