Mequon-Thiensville School District oversees nearly one million square feet across seven buildings—but managing this footprint came with challenges. The team needed a way to ensure secure access for K–12 students during school hours while also supporting after-hours use by local renters and community groups. With 250+ access-controlled doors and dozens of events per night, manual processes led to delays, frustration, and a flood of support calls.

The district hosted an average of 60 events each evening, bringing in over $300,000 a year through facility rentals. But with every event came the manual task of programming up to six separate doors—covering main entrances, vestibules, gyms, and more. This repetitive process was not only time-consuming, it also left plenty of room for mistakes. When a door didn’t open on time, it meant frustrated staff and renters—especially problematic during Wisconsin’s bitter winter temperatures.

As Kyle Thompson, Director of Buildings and Grounds, explained, “If renters are standing outside in 20-degree weather because a door wasn’t opened, it’s a huge problem. And my team was fielding multiple calls each night trying to fix these issues in real-time.”

The Solution: Automating Scheduling and Door Access with eSPACE

After dealing with the inefficiencies of manual processes, Mequon-Thiensville School District turned to eSPACE to streamline scheduling and automate door access. The implementation was surprisingly straightforward—Kyle and his team managed the setup themselves without needing outside assistance.

“Once the setup was done, I was tying doors to spaces with ease,” Kyle said. “Now, it’s as simple as adding an event to the calendar, and all the doors open and close exactly when they’re supposed to.”

What once demanded six manual steps per event is now handled automatically. eSPACE ensures that each door opens and closes at precisely the right time—no more guesswork, no more last-minute fixes, and no more renters left out in the cold.

The Results: Time Saved, Stress Reduced, and Happier Renters

Rolling out eSPACE brought immediate improvements to the district’s day-to-day operations. Kyle’s team no longer spends hours each day manually configuring door access for events, and the late-night phone calls from frustrated renters have nearly disappeared.

“The labor savings are not even measurable,” Kyle said. “We went from receiving 30 phone calls a day about door access issues to almost none. The satisfaction from our community is incredible, and the time we’ve saved is invaluable.”

That boost in community satisfaction has been one of the biggest wins. With doors opening and closing when they’re supposed to, local sports teams, clubs, and community groups now have a smoother experience accessing school facilities—without the headaches that used to come with it.

Why eSPACE? Simple Setup, Powerful Results

For Kyle and his team, one of the biggest surprises was just how easy eSPACE was to implement.

“It’s a no-brainer. The setup was so easy that my high school building manager set up a 500,000-square-foot building in a few hours. It was like turning on a light bulb.”

But ease of use was just the beginning. Beyond automating door access, the district is now expanding their use of eSPACE to include HVAC and lighting control—creating even more opportunities to streamline operations and reduce utility costs.

“Energy costs have gone up 18% year over year here, so we’re excited to integrate lighting into the system. Just like with doors, we’ll automate everything to maximize efficiency and save on energy,” Kyle added.

Looking Ahead: Trusted and Recommended

The results spoke for themselves—so much so that Kyle began recommending eSPACE to neighboring school districts and facility vendors. With a tool that runs seamlessly every day of the year, he felt confident it could help others the way it helped his team.

“The fact that it works 24/7, 365 days a year, without needing constant oversight is incredible. It’s saved us so much time, and the ROI has been clear from the beginning. We couldn’t be happier with eSPACE.”

Conclusion

For Mequon-Thiensville School District, eSPACE has delivered more than just software, it’s brought clarity, efficiency, and peace of mind. What once required hours of manual work is now fully automated, improving day-to-day operations and creating a better experience for the community.

From simplifying access control to laying the groundwork for future HVAC and lighting automation, eSPACE has become an essential part of how the district manages its facilities.

For any school district navigating complex facility needs, eSPACE offers a reliable, scalable solution that saves time, reduces costs, and keeps your team focused on what really matters.