A computing device includes a housing, a front housing segment, a keypad assembly and a rigid panel. The front housing segment includes a void. The keypad assembly includes a substrate and a key structure layer. The key structured layer includes a plurality of key structures. The keypad assembly is configured to extend the key structure layer at least partially through the void so as to enable user access to the individual key structures of the key structure layer. A rigid panel is structured to secure to the front housing segment so as to combine with the key structure layer. The panel includes an arrangement of cross-members that define openings, where each opening is dimensioned to fit around at least one key structure of the key structure layer.