TECHNOLOGY
@Work
//
Multi-Tenant Security
Casa Costa Condos Enhance Security & Boost Energy Efficiency
Casa Costa is a mixed-use condominium and commercial property located at the heart of the waterfront district in Boynton Beach, Fla. The community enjoys a diverse population of family residents, retirees and seasonal residents occupying 407 total units — 395 residential and 12 commercial.
The property had an end-of-life legacy security system that was challenging to maintain at a reasonable expense. Because a majority of the community residents are not present at the property year round, access control credentials were not easy to update or distribute. Neither the existing security system nor the out-of-date HVAC systems integrated with the building management system (BMS), so managing the facility with the seasonal load and population by leveraging the access control system was not possible.
“We knew there was a way to achieve enhanced security and safety, energy efficiency and overall convenience for building occupants, and needed a service provider with the necessary experience and background to guide us,” said Danilo Cajina, maintenance engineer, Castle Group.
Alpha Security and Fire Alarm Services Inc., along with LenelS2 and parent company Carrier Global Corporation, presented a fully integrated solution to provide Casa Costa with the confidence to operate a safer, more efficient facility. The three-phase project addressed security, HVAC and building management.
Alpha Security took on the first phase of the project, installing a LenelS2 NetBox access control system that utilized much of the existing panel hardware, causing minimal disruption to the community and residents as well as providing major cost savings.
“For Casa Costa it was important that we capture all of the information in their current system and seamlessly bring it over to the new system — the NetBox solution made that possible,” said Brian Pinnock, president of Alpha Security.
IMAGE COURTESY OF LENELS2
“None of the seasonal residents needed to be re-credentialed,” Cajina added. “Their access control keys and fobs just continued to work.”
The access control system integrates with existing door and elevator readers as well as a secure garage parking management system. The facility is now also able to control access to shared spaces, including a gym and swimming pool on the fifth floor. Because shared spaces are now within the scope of the access control system, the facility is able to easily revoke access to communal areas if any resident self-reports as COVID-positive, helping to maintain a healthy facility.
The final phase of the project included programming and commissioning the building management system, which allows building systems and data to be managed by the BACnet i-Vu building automation system controllers. The integrated system utilizes LenelS2 NetBox access control data, like building or room occupancy, for greater efficiency.
“We always attempt to operate a building as efficiently as possible without sacrificing occupant comfort,” said Matt Crawford, project manager, controls, Carrier. “The project at Casa Costa exemplifies that approach.”
Boon Edam Inc. announced that IMB Bank in Australia has installed a series of Boon Edam entrances, including all glass revolving doors, slimline optical turnstiles and a swinging access gate at its new building in Wollongong, New South Wales.
The exterior of the building has two Boon Edam Crystal TQ all-glass revolving doors, which create a striking first impression. Inside the main lobby, there are three Speedlane Lifeline Swing optical turnstiles, including one wide lane suitable for disabled access. In another interior location, there is a Winglock Swing access gate that separates off a designated meeting space.
IMAGE COURTESY OF BOON EDAM
Hanwha Techwin announced that Round1 Entertainment, a multi-entertainment facility offering bowling, arcade games, billiards, karaoke and other activities in an indoor facility complex, has chosen Hanwha cameras, NVRs and WAVE VMS to secure several of its U.S. facilities.
Until recently, security at Round1 centers in the U.S. focused mainly on internal and external theft. As the company began building more Sports Challenge zones, however, it started seeing an increase in litigation from visitors making claims about injuries. To protect the company against false claims, Round1 decided to increase data retention requirements at their facilities to store footage for two years to allow staff to go back and review incidents and determine the validity of any claim made against the company.
IMAGE COURTESY OF HANHWA TECHWIN
IDIS’ end-to-end video is protecting a new, purpose-built visitor center at Canterbury Cathedral, part of a $34 million renovation project transforming one of the UK’s UNESCO Heritage sites. The seven-year program, preserving and safeguarding the 15-centuries-old masterpiece of English Gothic architecture — and mother church of the worldwide Anglican communion — includes the addition of a new welcome center for visitors. The center, housing retail facilities, a viewing gallery and community studio exhibition space, is protected with a best-in-class video solution that combines discrete monitoring with high-performance image capture.
“The IDIS end-to-end solution allowed us to present this important customer with a compelling business case, with no upfront or ongoing licensing fees, extended warranties and a low total cost of ownership,” said David Stokes, divisional director, Hall & Kay Security Engineering. “The solution is also highly flexible and scalable, thanks to long-term hardware support and forward- and backward-compatibility, which future-proofs the cathedral’s investment.”
IMAGE COURTESY OF IDIS
BriefCam’s software platform is now in place at the National Mall as part of a $3.3+ million technology donation led by Convergint Technologies. By making surveillance video footage searchable, actionable and quantifiable, BriefCam can help the National Park Service (NPS) and the United States Park Police (USPP) ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors to the National Mall’s monuments, museums and parks.
“BriefCam is thrilled to collaborate with Convergint and other industry leaders to deliver innovative technology solutions for the National Mall and surrounding monuments,” said Seva Liokumovich, BriefCam’s director of strategic technical solutions. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration and helping to provide a memorable, engaging and safe experience for the thousands of people who visit annually.”
