Diebold Makes Big Splash in Miami Beach
One of the nation’s most fashionable new condominium and hotel complexes – South Florida’s St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort – was outfitted with a stylish solution from one of the industry’s elite security designers. Diebold’s seamless project stitched together IP video, access and elevator control, intrusion detection, and more to bag the Integrated Installation of the Year Award.
All photos courtesy Diebold Inc. by Mike Butler Photography
Phase two of the project covered the resort’s north condominium tower, and phase three focused on the hotel tower. Each phase involved similar implementations and integrations to those completed for the south condo tower, with the exception of the security command center and security server room. Some of the specific brands selected were Aiphone, Altronix, American Dynamics, HID Global, Lenel and Software House.
“The general specifications for the project afforded Diebold the opportunity to make our own technology choices,” says Jim Lash, director, IT implementation, Diebold Electronic Security. “As we learned more about how the facility was going to operate, we considered a variety of technologies and applications to support the property’s needs. In our final selection, we chose systems and software protocols that we had experience integrating and knew would work well together.”
Achieving Integrated Efficiencies
The heart of the resort’s security operations is the security command center, where operators sit at an advanced workstation console to monitor cameras, access control systems, door alarms, intercom stations, duress buttons and other systems. Several flat-screen monitors mounted on the wall in front of the console enable tiling of video images. Operators can also drag images from desktop monitors to the video wall for a highly visible view of alarm conditions.
“We have never seen a system like this, and the way the security technology interfaces with other enterprise systems is incredible,” says Garces. “When we have a duress alarm, the cameras in the vicinity pop up on the main screen. The patrol feature on the pan/tilt/zoom cameras around the resort gives us great area coverage on our decks and perimeter.”
The project’s most unique aspect is the fully integrated destination control system that incorporates the guest reservation system, in-house key card access control system and elevator system through a single credential. Ironically, this was not part of the original plan but came to fruition based on close collaboration between Diebold, the property owner and other contractors.
“St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort originally planned for separate visitor management, access control and elevator systems. However, during the planning stages new technology came to market that would enable a fully integrated system,” says Barreto. “Upon learning about the technology and recognizing the efficiencies it offered, we approached the property owner and shared our vision for how the overall system could be integrated to simplify operations.”
Here’s how it works: When a guest arrives at the hotel and is registered through the reservation management software, that information is populated into the access control database. The access control system is integrated with the elevator system so when the guest’s card is swiped at the elevator, the LCD screen displays the assigned elevator car and automatically only takes the guest to his or her floor. Guests also have access to amenity floors.
“The development of such unique solutions in the midst of a major construction project is rare, as each party is typically focused on completing specific tasks,” adds Barreto. “Here, we stepped back and had in-depth conversations about how we could leverage technologies to expand capabilities beyond a traditional security system.”
That level of partnership is part and parcel to how Diebold operates. The integrator knows full well how the success of a large construction project rides on closely coordinating with a variety of general, electrical and elevator contractors, as well as the property owner’s IT group. Thus regular onsite meetings were held with each trade to review various aspects of the project.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping communication lines open with all partners throughout the entire project,” Barreto says. “Knowing when and where infrastructure would be available enabled everyone to work around tight schedules and coordinate their portion of the overall project.”
Diebold’s attention to detail and careful planning paid off in another way for the client when a notable efficiency for the hotel tower was identified. Instead of running all device cables to a single floor, as was required in the condominium towers, cables from every three hotel floors were connected to an enclosure located on one of those floors. The enclosures were then networked to the central server. This cut labor and cable costs.
Delivering Long-Term Satisfaction
One of the chief challenges encountered during the proceedings came in the late stages. The property owner surprised everyone with a request to accelerate the production schedule to accommodate a preopening ceremony at the resort.
“The property owner cut our timetable roughly in half, from about 120 days to less than 60 days,” says Casanova. “Obviously, this placed some additional pressure on us to complete the project on time. Our flexibility and commitment to delivery enabled us to meet the new deadline and have our systems fully operational for the preopening.”
Having risen to that and seemingly any challenge, Diebold wrapped up the project and continues its relationship with the delighted client by providing preventive maintenance and service. Its ongoing contract also calls for security consultation as needed.
In the meantime, Garces and St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort continue to gain new appreciation for the multitude of capabilities and functionality the new solution affords them.
“We continue to develop additional applications that enhance the operation, as well as the security of our property,” he says. “For example, we’ve been able to leverage the system to conduct productive and conclusive investigations. It’s also been helpful to management in reviewing footage to observe staff performance and behavior. And the ability to customize control on our p/t/z dome cameras has been a great enhancement to our operation.”
Much like the well-heeled beachgoers who ar
e now safely soaking up the sun’s rays at St. Regis Bal Habour Resort, Diebold is basking in the limelight that comes with official recognition for excellence via the Integrated Installation of the Year Award.
“We believed going into the award selection process that we had the best integrated security installation, recognizing that the other three organizations certainly had strong entries,” says Byerly. “To rise to the top of those impressive installations is a testament to Diebold’s ability to navigate and manage highly sophisticated, innovative and effective security integrations that meet our customers’ needs.”
Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine has spent nearly 15 years with SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. He can be reached at (704) 663-7125.
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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