Commercial Vestibule Installation for a Multi-Tenant Building in Flushing, Queens
Quick Answer
Parker Custom Security completed a full vestibule replacement at a multi-tenant apartment building at 140-60 Beech Avenue in Flushing, Queens, replacing an aging aluminum vestibule, entrance doors, side-lite glass panels, and adjacent entrance glass with a modern black aluminum entrance system built from tempered safety glass and commercial-grade hardware. The work was staged around an occupied building so tenants kept secure access throughout, and the finished entrance improves security, curb appeal, and long-term durability while cutting ongoing maintenance. For property managers planning a commercial entrance or storefront upgrade in NYC, this project shows how a full vestibule replacement can be executed cleanly on an occupied Queens building.
The finished black aluminum vestibule and entrance system at 140-60 Beech Avenue in Flushing, Queens.
About This Project
Ask any property manager what drags down a building's first impression, and the front entrance is usually near the top of the list. Aging aluminum framing, fogged or broken glass, drafty doors, and worn hardware make an otherwise solid building look neglected — and quietly chip away at security and tenant satisfaction. At a certain point, patching the vestibule stops making sense, and a full replacement becomes one of the smartest upgrades an owner can make.
That's the call the ownership of this multi-tenant building at 140-60 Beech Avenue in Flushing made. They brought in Parker Custom Security to remove the building's tired vestibule, entrance doors, and side lites and replace the entire system with a modern black aluminum entrance — all while residents were living in the building and using the main entrance every day.
Project Details
The Challenge: An Aging Entrance on an Occupied Building
Replacing a single door is straightforward. Replacing an entire vestibule on an occupied building — while keeping the main entrance secure and usable the whole time — is a different kind of project. Before any work began, the building's entrance showed the classic signs of a commercial vestibule that had reached the end of its service life.
The original aluminum vestibule before the upgrade — worn framing and dated finishes.
Original entrance doors and hardware nearing the end of their service life.
Across the entrance, the existing system presented the same set of issues common to older Flushing and Queens apartment buildings:
- Aging framing — original aluminum framing that had lost its finish
- Worn hardware — dated door hardware nearing failure
- Tired glass — older side-lite panels and entrance glass
- Reduced curb appeal — an entrance that made the building look neglected
- Rising maintenance — an increasing stream of repair calls
- Security gaps — weaknesses in the building's controlled-access entrance
Original side-lite glass panels flanking the entrance before replacement.
Sound Familiar? Common Entrance Headaches in Older Buildings
If you manage an older apartment or commercial building in Queens, chances are you've run into at least a few of these. They tend to start small and quietly get worse until they're impossible to ignore:
- "The entrance makes the whole building look dated." A worn vestibule is the first thing tenants and visitors see, and it colors how they judge the entire property.
- "The doors don't close or lock the way they should." Worn hinges, failing closers, and dated locks turn the main entrance into a daily frustration — and a security concern.
- "I keep paying for the same repairs." Patching failing hardware and cracked glass adds up. At some point the repeat repair calls cost more than a replacement would have.
- "The entrance is drafty and cold." Old framing and single panels let outside air straight into the lobby, and tenants notice.
- "The glass is fogged, cracked, or mismatched." Aging side lites and entrance glass look neglected and can become a safety issue.
- "I can't shut the entrance down to fix it." Residents use the main door every day, so any upgrade has to happen without closing the entrance.
The good news: a full vestibule replacement solves all of these at once. It isn't just a cosmetic upgrade — it tightens building security, ends the repeat repair calls, and instantly modernizes how the building looks and feels from the street.
The Solution: A Complete Black Aluminum Vestibule
Rather than swapping a single door or patching worn hardware, Parker Custom Security removed and replaced the building's entire vestibule system down to the opening. Taking the entrance apart completely let the crew assess the structure, correct years of wear, and install a cohesive new system — instead of fitting new parts around old, failing ones.
What the Removal Included
- The existing vestibule framing
- The vestibule doors
- The existing glass panels
- The old door hardware
- The side-lite glass panels
- The adjacent entrance glass sections
Removing the old vestibule doors at the start of the replacement.
Demolition of the aging vestibule framing down to the opening.
Is Your Building's Entrance Showing Its Age?
Parker Custom Security installs commercial vestibules, storefronts, and entrance doors for apartment buildings and commercial properties across Queens and the greater NYC metro. Get a free on-site assessment.
Executing the Work Around an Occupied Building
With a project like this, the real challenge isn't the doors — it's the logistics. People were living in the building and using the entrance every day, so the Parker Custom Security team coordinated closely with building management, protected building access during construction, and kept the work zone tightly controlled and secure at every stage.
The installation moved in sequence: careful demolition of the old vestibule, new black aluminum framing set into the opening, new tempered safety glass, commercial-grade hinges and closers, new locking hardware, and final adjustments and door balancing. A tenant should never have to wonder whether the front door will lock that night because a crew left mid-job — so the entrance was left operational and secure at the end of each work day.
Removing the original side-lite panels to prep the opening for the new framing.
Vestibule Design & Specifications
A commercial vestibule is the transitional entry space between the exterior door and the interior lobby, and getting it right means balancing appearance, durability, accessibility, and security. The new entrance system was built around commercial-grade specifications:
- Framing: commercial-grade black aluminum, for a premium, contemporary look and long-term corrosion resistance
- Glass: tempered safety glass throughout, meeting code requirements for entrance glazing
- Doors: a coordinated outer and inner door configuration that controls drafts and building access
- Hardware: commercial hinges, closers, and locking hardware rated for high-traffic entrances
- Side lites: new side-lite panels matched to the framing to maximize daylight into the entrance
- Fit: specified to suit the existing opening, entrance traffic, and the building's security needs
The new commercial front entrance door in black aluminum framing.
The new inner vestibule door with commercial-grade locking hardware.
The Finished Result
The completed entrance transformed the front of the building. The black aluminum framing created a premium, modern appearance that instantly upgraded the property's street presence — and the improvements went well beyond looks: stronger security, smoother daily operation, and far less ongoing maintenance than the aging system it replaced.
New tempered-glass side lites matched to the black aluminum framing.
Interior view of the new vestibule doors and hardware from the lobby.
The new side-lite panels bring clean daylight into the entrance from inside.
The Impact: Before & After
- Aging aluminum vestibule and doors
- Worn, failing door hardware
- Fogged, dated side-lite glass
- Reduced curb appeal and security gaps
- Ongoing entrance maintenance calls
- Modern black aluminum vestibule system
- Commercial-grade hinges, closers & locks
- New tempered safety glass and side lites
- Stronger security and premium curb appeal
- Lower ongoing maintenance going forward
Why Property Managers Choose Parker Custom Security
Entrance projects on occupied buildings have a way of exposing contractors who can't keep quality, safety, and scheduling straight around residents. Parker Custom Security has installed and repaired commercial doors, entrances, storefronts, intercoms, and access control across NYC since 2003 — so working around tenants, older construction, and existing openings is familiar territory.
- Over 20 years of commercial installation experience in NYC
- Occupied-building experience — careful scheduling and secure access around residents
- Custom fitting and frame modification for older Queens and NYC openings
- Licensed, bonded, and insured for commercial and multifamily work
- Commercial-grade materials on every project
- Property manager partnerships — a single point of contact from assessment to finish
Serving Apartment & Commercial Buildings Across Queens & NYC
This project was completed in Flushing, and Parker Custom Security installs commercial vestibules, storefronts, and entrance doors for apartment buildings and commercial properties throughout Queens and the greater New York metro area. Contact our team for a free on-site assessment.
Upgrade Your Building's Entrance
Get a free, no-obligation quote for a commercial vestibule, storefront, or entrance upgrade from Parker Custom Security. We serve apartment buildings and commercial properties across NYC, Westchester, and Northern New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace a commercial vestibule in NYC?
The cost of a commercial vestibule replacement in New York City depends on the size of the entrance, the number of doors and side-lite panels, the framing material and glass specification, the condition of the existing opening, and any masonry or structural work required. A single entrance door replacement is a smaller project than a full vestibule system that includes multiple doors, side lites, and adjacent glass sections like the one completed at 140-60 Beech Avenue. Because every building entrance is different, Parker Custom Security provides an on-site assessment and a written scope before quoting, so property managers know exactly what the project includes.
Do you need a permit to replace a building vestibule or entrance in NYC?
It depends on the scope. Like-for-like replacement of doors, glass, and hardware within an existing opening is often treated as ordinary repair, while work that alters the size of the opening, changes egress, or affects the structure can require Department of Buildings involvement. Fire-rated and egress doors also carry code requirements that must be met. Parker Custom Security evaluates each project against the relevant NYC requirements and advises property managers on what is needed before work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project.
How long does a commercial vestibule installation take?
Most commercial vestibule and entrance replacements are completed in a few days, depending on the number of doors and panels, the condition of the existing framing, and whether masonry or structural adjustments are needed. Demolition of the old vestibule, installation of new framing and glass, and final hardware adjustment are typically staged so the building entrance remains usable at the end of each work day. Parker Custom Security coordinates the schedule with building management to keep disruption to tenants to a minimum.
Can a vestibule be replaced without closing the building entrance?
In most cases, yes. Occupied multi-tenant buildings cannot simply shut their main entrance for the duration of a project, so the work is phased to keep the entrance secure and accessible while it is underway. At the Flushing project, the crew protected building access during demolition and installation and made sure the entrance was operational and lockable before leaving the site each day. This phased approach is standard for Parker Custom Security's work in occupied residential and commercial buildings.
What are standard commercial vestibule dimensions and design considerations?
A commercial vestibule is the transitional entry space between the exterior door and the interior lobby, and its design has to balance appearance, durability, accessibility, and security. Framing is typically commercial-grade aluminum in a finish such as black, bronze, or clear anodized; glass is tempered safety glass for code compliance; and hardware includes commercial hinges, closers, and locking systems rated for high-traffic use. Depth needs to allow doors to swing and accommodate accessible clearance, and the outer and inner doors work together to control drafts and building access. Parker Custom Security specifies each vestibule to fit the existing opening and the building's traffic and security needs.
What is the difference between a vestibule and a storefront entrance?
A vestibule is an enclosed transitional space with an outer and inner set of doors that buffers the building interior from the street, while a storefront entrance generally refers to a single glazed aluminum entrance system at the face of the building. Both often use similar commercial aluminum framing and tempered glass, and both improve appearance and access control. Many apartment and mixed-use buildings in Queens use a vestibule configuration at the main entrance because it improves security, reduces drafts, and creates a more finished lobby. Parker Custom Security installs both vestibule and storefront entrance systems.
Does Parker Custom Security work with property managers and co-op boards in Queens?
Yes. A large share of Parker Custom Security's commercial work comes from property management companies, co-op boards, condominium associations, and building owners across Queens and the wider New York City metro area. The team is used to coordinating with building management, working around tenant schedules in occupied buildings, and delivering a clean, professional entrance that reflects well on the property. Parker Custom Security has served commercial and multi-tenant buildings throughout the region since 2003.
