Team Spotlight: Lock Shop

Mention a lock shop, and most people picture keys, cylinders and a quick lock change. Those services are part of the work—but for the UC Davis Facilities Management Lock Shop, they are only the beginning.

Team Lead Richard Knee and team members Rodger Young, Matthew Emert and Kyle Morrill maintain what Knee describes as “all things that fold, slide, swing or roll.” That includes doors, gates, frames, closers, access-control components and nearly every kind of opening found across a campus that functions much like a small city.

The four-person team brings approximately 50 years of combined UC Davis experience and close to 100 years of experience overall. That depth matters because their work rarely fits neatly into a single trade. A service call may require the mechanical aptitude to diagnose an unusual failure, low-voltage electrical knowledge for AggieAccess, carpentry skills to correct a door opening that is no longer square or level, and locksmithing expertise to make the entire assembly function as intended.

The team makes an important distinction when describing its role: “We are not security; we are access.” Their responsibility is to ensure people can enter and exit spaces appropriately while the doors and hardware they maintain meet accessibility, fire and egress requirements.

Life safety is central to every repair. A door cannot simply latch; it must operate correctly in an emergency and comply with applicable codes. Team members build that knowledge through in-house and external classes, lessons gained through years in the field, and close collaboration with campus partners, including the Fire Alarm Shop. While AggieAccess is managed by the UC Davis Police Department, they also work closely with the AggieAccess team on access-control installations and related low-voltage wiring. 

Priorities become especially clear when critical campus work is at stake. Animal care and research needs come first, followed closely by other research and teaching needs. A jammed door, failed key or shifted frame can prevent employees from doing their jobs—or make it difficult to secure an animal area. Calls from the California National Primate Research Center and poultry facilities can be among the most urgent.

Responding effectively begins with communication. Customers know what they are experiencing, but they may not use the same technical language as the trades team. The Lock Shop and Customer Experience Center work together to gather concise information, identify what is happening and determine the right response.

In facilities where doors or frames have shifted, the solution may extend well beyond replacing a lock. The team may need to diagnose the cause, readjust the door and frame, and confirm that the opening is both functional and secure. That ability to look at the complete system—rather than one piece of hardware—is a defining part of the team’s work.

The same approach guides improvements to aging infrastructure. Older concealed door closers, for example, can be difficult to access and replace. When appropriate, the team updates the opening with a surface-mounted closer, adding the backing needed for a reliable installation. The result is hardware that performs well and is easier to service in the future. For the Lock Shop, innovation is often practical: modernizing existing conditions to improve reliability, maintenance and long-term campus operations.

With no traditional apprenticeship program in place, much of the team’s development happens through hands-on learning and intentional cross-training. Experienced team members proactively pass along specialized knowledge—for example, Young is training Morrill in electrical work—so the shop’s collective expertise continues to grow.

That knowledge-sharing reflects a team culture built around a common goal. Each person understands that everyone on campus is connected through service: “We are all customers.” Whether someone needs help selecting updated hardware, changing an opening or diagnosing an unfamiliar problem, the Lock Shop is available to answer questions and find a workable path forward.

Keys and locks may be the most visible parts of the job, but the Lock Shop’s larger contribution is access: keeping campus openings safe, code-compliant, maintainable and ready to support the teaching, research, animal care and daily work happening behind every door.