Enhancing Safety and Operations for the YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has been a pillar in the Central Indiana community for over 170 years. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, their mission is to foster a stronger, healthier, and more connected community. Serving over 200,000 people annually across 13 full-service facilities and over 100 school-based sites, the YMCA provides critical programs and services, including swimming, fitness classes, and childcare.

With a diverse range of locations, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis sought to enhance the physical security of their facilities to create safer environments for members while meeting insurance requirements and expanding operational capabilities.

Challenges

With thousands of people visiting YMCA of Greater Indianapolis facilities daily, ensuring a safe environment is a top priority. However, the organization lacked the infrastructure necessary to support the advanced security measures required to meet their growing needs. Their existing security systems were a patchwork of outdated solutions, some over 20 years old, which resulted in inconsistent surveillance and limited access control, leaving critical gaps in security. Managing incidents across multiple centers was inefficient and time-consuming, with the team spending hours sifting through footage and coordinating responses.

In addition, these old systems did not meet their insurance requirements, particularly for facilities offering 24/7 access and high-risk areas, like swimming pools. Without upgrading their security, they would not be able to provide round-the-clock access.

Solution

The YMCA partnered with ESI, a trusted and long-standing partner, to implement Rhombus’ cutting-edge, cloud-managed security system across all 13 facilities. ESI was instrumental in the installation and deployment of over 500 Rhombus cameras, advanced access control systems, and AI-driven analytics, ensuring a secure and seamless environment.

24/7 Access Control: Since deploying, the YMCA has been able to introduce 24-hour access at their Witham location to meet community demand for extended gym hours. With Rhombus' keyless access control and mobile app, members can securely enter the facility outside of staffed hours, while access to pool areas remains restricted to help maintain a safe environment for children.

Insurance Compliance: Rhombus helped the YMCA meet strict insurance requirements by integrating door sensors and real-time alerts for restricted areas, including pools. The system generates detailed access reports, allowing the YMCA to monitor who is on-site and easily verify compliance with their insurer's safety protocols.

Remote Monitoring: The cloud-based platform enables YMCA staff to monitor facilities in real-time and share footage with local authorities when necessary. This flexibility allows staff to address incidents, such as unauthorized access or pool safety violations, quickly and efficiently from anywhere.

Scalability: Rhombus’ scalable solution allows the YMCA to continue expanding their security infrastructure to cover more facilities, while maintaining a unified security approach across all locations.

“We chose Rhombus because it allowed us to roll out a standardized security solution across all our locations,” Kleiman added. “The scalability of the platform has been key as we expand our services, and the fact that everything is accessible from one platform makes it incredibly easy to manage.”

Results

The deployment of Rhombus has transformed the YMCA’s approach to security, providing significant improvements in both safety and operational efficiency.

Improved Member Safety: Improved security measures, especially in high-risk areas like pools, have helped create safer environments for children, offering peace of mind to parents. Door sensors alert staff to any unauthorized access, enabling quick intervention.

Increased Revenue Generation: The introduction of keyless access control for 24/7 gym access has allowed over 200 members to utilize the YMCA's facilities during off-hours, generating additional revenue without increasing operational costs.

“Rhombus’ platform has been instrumental in allowing us to operate efficiently and safely. We’ve seen a noticeable improvement in our day-to-day operations, especially with the 24-hour access feature,” said Kleiman.

Time Saved in Incident and Claims Management: The cloud-based system allows staff to investigate incidents remotely, cutting down investigation times by 50%. In addition, the ability to quickly share footage for insurance claims and investigations has reduced staff hours spent on incident resolution and improved compliance with insurance requirements, contributing to potential long-term cost savings. Local police also gained access to the system, helping to solve incidents faster and more effectively.

Looking Ahead

The partnership between YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and Rhombus has empowered the organization to offer a safer environment for members while meeting operational needs and insurance requirements. As the YMCA continues to grow and adapt to the needs of the community, Rhombus’ scalable and reliable security solution is a cornerstone of their strategy.

Looking ahead, the YMCA plans to expand Rhombus’ access control across additional locations and introduce video walls with Rhombus cameras at the front desk to further enhance visibility and safety. The YMCA’s commitment to security and community service remains at the heart of everything they do.