Suppliers Step Up

Throughout the project, Idesco’s team maintained constant contact with its distributors and manufacturers to ensure a smooth process. Being that this was such a large-scale project with an enormous quantity of products, timing played a crucial role during the multiphase enterprise. For example, each lock required an approximate 12-week lead time, and Troiani says the suppliers were exceptional in their ordering and shipping coordination.

“While we had done similar projects, they were not of this scale,” he says. “The main challenges lied within the lead times and programming of the electric locks. That portion of the project was completed in stages.”

Specifically, the access control system is based on an S2 platform with 393 ASSA ABLOY PoE locksets, three lanes of Boon Edam turnstiles with card readers and three ADA-compliant gates with card readers. There are roughly six doors that contain traditional HID readers, with either a magnetic lock or door strike tied into the S2 panel. A verification station, which contains a red/green LED for guards on duty, was added for after-hours access.

Elsewhere, the intrusion detection component of the solution includes door contacts and sounders at entry stairwells and roof doors, which send alarms to the command station. The video surveillance system incorporates two S2 NetVR 700 recorders with 162 Axis IP cameras and three analog elevator cameras. Idesco also installed more than 150 Bogen speakers for paging and emergency communications.

The cameras and access control devices are integrated within the S2 system, which also includes Cisco 2160 48-port PoE switches, some 6,000 feet of CommScope 10Gbps fiber and approximately 205,000 feet of Category-6 cable for locks, cameras and voice & data.

“One challenge we faced was certifying cable,” says Troiani. “We would test and certify a cable run, and sometimes another trade would come in and accidentl
y cut or damage it. This resulted in unanticipated extra time in order to repair and recertify the broken cable run.”

According to Troiani there was never much question what type of platform the high-rise dorm project would be based upon. “Pace already houses IP-based access control and video systems, and Idesco has made it a standard to use all IP-based systems across the board,” he says. “IP locks have been used at other Pace installations with Idesco as well.”

Solution Is In Session

The now installed system is monitored by Pace’s full-time staff from the guard stations and fire command room. The end user is also able to view the system from its remote offices. Any intervention from a training or technical standpoint can usually be handled from offsite by Idesco through its network connectivity.

“Since it’s an integrated system, it’s a one-stop shop; one place to view all assets. The systems are easy to learn for new guards and employees,” says Troiani.

Ironically, according to Troiani, one of the most noteworthy aspects of this project was its speed – or pace. All the floors had to be finished in a timely manner to meet the deadline of students moving in during July 2015.

“Going forward, the only aspect we would like to see done differently is having the ability to be onsite sooner,” he says.

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