LIV Student Porto Polo Universitário is a benchmark in modern student living, offering a dynamic and secure residential experience at the heart of Portugal’s most prominent academic hubs.
Purpose-built to meet the evolving needs of today’s students, the development is strategically located within the Asprela University Campus, just minutes from several major institutions, including the University of Porto, Fernando Pessoa University, and the School of Education. Its two architecturally cohesive buildings house state-of-the-art facilities designed to foster academic success, independence, and personal development in a socially vibrant environment.
This innovative residence goes far beyond traditional student accommodation. In addition to private rooms and suites, residents enjoy access to premium shared amenities, such as study lounges, cleaning and laundry services, a fitness centre, swimming pool, cinema room, on-site café, and dedicated social spaces. Every aspect of the residence has been designed to support a seamless blend of comfort, convenience, and connectivity – both socially and technologically.
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access points
Salto is one of the market leaders in smart access control systems, so a collaboration with LIV Student made perfect sense. We have no hesitation in recommending Salto – the reliability of their system gives us peace of mind in our daily lives.
We are proud to see how SALTO's technology contributed to raising the standard of safety and comfort at LIV Student. Close collaboration, a commitment to innovation, and a focus on user experience were key to the success of this project. We look forward to seeing how this solution will continue to benefit the student community at LIV Student.
From the beginning, LIV Student set out to redefine the concept of student accommodation in Porto by creating a residence that prioritised more than just aesthetics or convenience. Instead, it aimed to support personal well-being, academic focus, and community engagement. A key pillar of LIV Student is the integration of smart building technology to enhance safety, sustainability, and user experience. To bring its vision to life, the access control system had to be far more than a functional layer of security; it needed to integrate seamlessly into daily life, empowering residents and staff through simplicity, flexibility, and convenience.
With two interconnected buildings comprising hundreds of student rooms and numerous shared and private-use areas, the residence faced the technical challenge of managing several hundred access points. These included entries to bedrooms, social areas, stairwells, lifts, service corridors, exterior gates, and critical infrastructure such as staff rooms, maintenance areas, and underground parking. Each access point had to support different permissions depending on user type – from students and facility managers to temporary visitors and cleaning crews.
Additionally, the system had to provide real-time visibility into who accessed which areas and when – an essential feature for both operational efficiency and emergency response. Administrators needed the ability to grant or revoke access instantly, without physical contact or manual intervention, and they required a platform that could scale over time without sacrificing performance or usability.
Security was just one piece of the puzzle. The solution also needed to align with LIV Student’s commitment to sustainability, integrate with energy-saving features, and offer a smooth, intuitive experience for residents, visitors, and staff. It had be a reliable, future-proof, and flexible system – reflecting the same level of innovation and design ambition that defines the wider LIV Student brand.
To meet these needs, Salto deployed a fully integrated access control solution throughout LIV Student based on the Salto Space platform. This smart system allows residence administrators to manage, monitor, and configure access rights across all areas of the property via a centralised, easy-to-use interface. From this platform, staff can assign access credentials based on predefined user profiles and instantly adjust permissions as needed, ensuring responsiveness to changes in occupancy, scheduling, or emergency conditions.
The solution’s flexibility is key to its success. Whether it’s a student, staff member, or guest, each user receives a personalised smart key card programmed to allow access only to the spaces they are authorised to use. This significantly reduces the risk associated with misplaced or duplicated keys, providing a more secure and modern living experience. If a key card is lost or stolen, operators can simply revoke access remotely, then issue a replacement without disruption.
Residential rooms are fitted with Salto’s XS4 Original+ electronic locks, offering contactless access that eliminates the need for physical keys. These sleek locks also integrate seamlessly into the building’s aesthetic and are designed for easy retrofitting, a valuable feature for future system expansion or layout changes. To further enhance energy efficiency, each room was equipped with a Salto Energy Saving Device (ESD), which reduces electricity consumption by disabling lighting and HVAC systems when the space is unoccupied. These devices recognise only authorised key cards, ensuring they can’t be activated improperly.
Additionally, access to different floors within the buildings is now controlled via Mullion Wall Readers installed in lift cars and stairwells. These readers, combined with Salto Controller Units, restrict movement between levels to authorised users only, improving both safety and privacy. Their slim design makes them ideal for tight fits, ensuring readers can be installed even where wall space is limited.
Elsewhere in the building, staff and service areas are secured using additional XS4 Original+ electronic locks and strategically placed wall readers. These secure zones include technical rooms, storage areas, and underground car parks – all critical to the day-to-day running of the residence. Mullion Wall Readers and Salto Neo cylinders secure external doors and access gates along the building’s perimeter. These components allow administrators to monitor and control access to shared outdoor areas, while the Neo cylinders’ wireless, battery-powered design ensures high performance with minimal infrastructure requirements.
The result is a robust, intelligent, and future-ready access control ecosystem that not only protects residents and property but also enhances the overall student experience. By choosing Salto, LIV Student has created an environment where technology and design work together to deliver comfort, security, and ease-of-use – setting a new benchmark for student accommodation in Portugal.
- Total control through personalised access profiles for each resident, staff and visitor, secure access to designated floors, and controlled staff access to restricted operational zones.
- Up-to-date visibility, with real-time monitoring and alerts, as well as seamless integration across indoor and outdoor areas.
- Keyless access through a smart card system, offering secure, convenient access for authorised users.
- Continuous protection guaranteed through supporting fast response to lost or stolen credentials.
- Improved sustainability via Salto ESDs installed in each room, ensuring best-in-class energy management.
- Scalability delivered through future-ready access control infrastructure.
LIV Student Porto Polo Universitário is a benchmark in modern student living, offering a dynamic and secure residential experience at the heart of Portugal’s most prominent academic hubs.
