making smarter connections

Not long ago, firms hired the phone company to install phone lines; they retained alarm system companies for security installation; their audio-visual equipment consisted of slide and overhead projectors in their conference rooms; and they’d never even heard of data networks. Occasionally, these installations were enough to meet the daily needs of these companies. More often than not, however, these afterthoughts to building design underperformed, fell short of integration, and were unable to withstand the long-term growth of the companies who invested in them.

But times have changed.

Special Systems

Today’s digital communications technologies demand a newer, more effective means of creating reliable voice, data and security systems. And this demand is gaining attention among today’s enlightened companies. Recognizing the need for smarter, faster, more flexible systems in order to increase their real estate values, make better connections to a more technologically sophisticated employee and improve operations, companies have begun to work with Special Systems Designers to develop holistic technology solutions, and have contributed to what is now the fastest growing side of any architectural design service.

These dedicated audio, video, telecommunications, data and security design professionals work diligently to deliver highly integrated, sensitive systems that consider the anatomy of a space, support and elevate the corporate culture and mission, and ultimately form the nervous system of a company.

How does Special Systems Design achieve this? One word: Convergence. These professionals collaborate closely with interior designers, architects, and MEP and structural engineers to share knowledge and align objectives. They get involved at the early stages of design, making decisions that will ensure the symbiotic interaction of spaces and systems. They strive to create “transparent technology,” reliable systems that function seamlessly and invisibly without concern from their users. In the end, clients benefit from this convergence of services and professionals by getting a work environment that meets all of their needs and secures their leadership in the marketplace.

Voice Systems Design

Data Systems Design

Audio-Visual Services

Wiring Infrastructure Systems

Physical Security Systems Design

Project Administration and Management Services

Pre-design Services

Site Development Services

Wireless Systems Design

Bidding and Negotiation Services

Tony WhaleyRCDD/NTS/WD/CWP/CTSVice President

Mr. Whaley has over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and specializes in information technology, structured cabling systems in classified and non-classified facilities, video distribution systems, and wireless LAN systems design. He served for 20 Years as a communications and electronics maintenance chief in the U.S. Army, and has experience in HF, VHF, UHF, and satellite radio design,

installation and repair. Mr. Whaley is the chief architect of BICSI’s Wireless Design Reference Manual, an internationally recognized guide on designing wireless communictions, and sits on the BICSI Registration and Specialties Supervision Committee as a developer of the RCDD and other certification exams.

Darren VicanRCDD/OSPVice President

Mr. Vican has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services, distribution services, construction, training and consulting industries. He specializes in the areas of telecommunications cabling infrastructure, outside plant infrastructure, high-speed optical fiber data transmission systems, unshielded twisted pair voice and data systems, data transport hardware and software, cable television systems and security systems. His diverse technical experience includes the design, installation, and management of sophisticated telecommunications systems.

David LabuskesRCDD/NTS/OSP/CTSVice President

Mr. Labuskes has more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology (IT), systems analysis, IT project management and consultation, and structured cable and network development design. Working as an IT and business executive and design professional, he has a global portfolio of public and private sector projects around the world that focus on innovative and cost-effective technology solutions. Mr. Labuskes is a frequent speaker and author on technology and the built environment, and a leading member of several prominent industry organizations. He serves as chairman of the BICSI TI&M Committee responsible for all of BICSI’s reference documentation, is an active participant in the international standards body TIA and the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society, and is a member of the Industry Advisory Board for NSCA and the InfoComm Strategic Planning Committee.

Tony WarnerCTS-D/CSI, CDTPrincipal

Mr. Warner serves as the Director of A/V Design and has more than 10 years of professional experience in a variety of A/V disciplines, ranging from broadcast systems to large presentation systems. He is among the fewer than 100 individuals worldwide to hold the A/V industry’s top design certification, the CTS-D. As an active member of leading industry organizations, including ICIA and BICSI, he is involved in a joint endeavor to create and publish a new comprehensive A/V design reference manual. He also contributes to various A/V publications that address new trends in A/V technology and commercial construction.

Industry Leaders

Peter O’ConnorRCDD Principal

Mr O’Connor draws on more than 16 years of experience to help clients anticipate and overcome communication challenges. As project manager, communication system designer, and leader of the Healthcare Special Systems Design Team, he offers a hands-on management approach from project conception through completion. He specializes in the evalutation and design of medical technologies including integrated operating rooms, patient entertainment systems, nurse call systems, interactive user-training software, wireless communication, infrared location strategies, HL7 integration, and management reporting systems.

Your TeamWell-versed in a range of disciplines from telecommunications and A/V to security and IT solutions, Special Systems Designers boast an architectural, interiors and engineering foundation that enables an easy transition onto a project team at any stage of design. Accustomed to working closely with a range of consultants and vendors, these savvy professionals speak the languages of both the project team and your IT department, thereby ensuring smooth and productive project administration.

In addition to creating technology solutions that more effectively weave systems with a building’s design, this collaboration provides the best breeding ground for efficiency and innovation. The slightest modification in the structure of an auditorium or conference room, for example, can have a dramatic impact on the quality of the A/V output. Not only does the convergence of architects and A/V specialists prevent this problem, but it also opens up the possibility for a structure that actually enhances the facility’s operations and, in turn, the experience of the user.

Sometimes, the deadline is the most critical and inflexible parameter of a project. However, quality cannot be sacrificed for time—a fact that is especially important when communication from a nation’s leader hinges on it. When the RTKL Special Systems Design team was asked to relocate the broadcasting headquarters for President George W. Bush’s January 2004 State of the Union address, they had to create a comprehensive telecommunications network—all in less than a month’s time.

Watching the Clock

“The President’s speech came in loud and clear, and all thanks to you and your team,” read an email from the Architect of the Capitol to Darren Vican, RCDD/OSP, sent the night of the January 2004 State of the Union address. Given a little more than a month to relocate, re-cable and supply the entire media broadcasting equipment headquarters for one of the country’s most important political events, the RTKL Special Systems Design team responded to the pressure to create a comprehensive telecommunications framework within a very limited time frame.

In the fall of 2003, with construction underway for the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), the headquarters that originally housed the media broadcasting equipment used for the State of the Union was scheduled to be demolished. Just weeks before the speech, RTKL, already heavily involved with the CVC project, was commissioned by the Architect of the Capitol to design and oversee the relocation of existing

broadcast facilities and to ensure that all equipment and cabling infrastructure were firmly in place so that the President’s speech could be broadcast around the world.

The design team conducted a series of studies throughout the site, including the House and Senate galleries, and determined that it was necessary to bring down the entire Capitol Hill broadcast system during the relocation—a process that faced an indefinite delay with Congress in session until at least mid-December.

With a limited time frame, designers faced a series of challenges that had to be resolved in order for the broadcast to proceed. Four rooms of decades-old infrastructure that included thousands of fiber optic cables had to be consolidated into a single space. The new center for the broadcast equipment was to be located in the CVC site—an area entrenched in the middle of a construction process that

OBJECTIVE Relocate, re-cable and supply the media broadcasting equipment headquarters for the President’s 2004 State of the Union address

SERVICES

Telecommunications

LOCATION

Washington, DC

2004 State of the Union Address

The Bigger StoryRTKL creates a legacy at the new U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

The U.S. Capitol, one of the most recognizable structures in the world, needed a dynamic visitor center that would serve as a reception area and educational showcase where three million annual visitors could gather while awaiting entry into the building. The RTKL-designed 580,000-SF center aims to strengthen the building’s security and preserve a general atmosphere of free public access. As part of the design and construction resolution process, the RTKL Special Systems team collaborated with an extensive range of private firms and governmental organizations to create a telecommunications framework that functions within the historical and architectural constraints associated with the landmark building.

Designers were challenged by the fact that the network infrastructure needed to accommodate the three “buildings” that comprise the Capitol— the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the public visitor area—as well as the other offices on Capitol Hill. The solutions, though classified, have been categorized as A+ by the Architect of the Capitol and effectively resolve the needs, budgets, and standards of all organizations and entities involved.

lacked a roof to shield it from blustery winter weather. The new broadcast center was required to service not only the State of the Union address, but also the post events that would take place inside the rest of the Capitol—requiring a complex re-cabling scheme inside the 200-year old building, a structure with cable managed by more than 20 federal entities. Finally, the January 2004 State of the Union address was to be the first to be shown in HDTV, introducing new technology standards into the re-cabling process.

Working around the clock, RTKL co-ordinated with multiple subcontractors and oversaw the entire design, engin-eering and installation process. In addition to the alternate broadcasting area in the middle of the CVC site, designers created eight locations that could operate as secondary points between the main broadcasting site and media trucks.

For the cabling and telecommunications equipment that passed through the Capitol’s trademark rotunda, a room that would be completely visible during the broadcasting of post events, designers needed to find a way to combine the unsightly appearance of cabling with the room’s historic aesthetics. Working with the Architect of the Capitol’s historians and curators, the design team decided to create a mini telecommunications room in a small structure that on the outside appeared to be an authentic version of the rotunda’s signature document boxes. The innovative solution also included a poll box to house broadcasting equipment, placed on the Capitol steps and designed to blend seamlessly with the building’s classic architecture.

Working until fewer than two hours before the State of the Union was scheduled to take place, the team identified, labeled and re-terminated by hand the strands of fiber optic cabling

that were needed for the broadcast, and worked with media teams to check equipment. The project was completed on schedule, with 90 minutes to spare.

The 2004 State of the Union and all post events were seamlessly broadcast to the United States and the world; and the success of the design team, evidenced only to the public by the smoothness of the broadcast, was widely praised by the Architect of the Capitol and Capitol Hill authorities. As a result of the design team’s ability to deliver within extreme time constraints, RTKL has been widely recognized by various, traditionally disparate federal agencies as a leading expert on Capitol Hill’s comprehensive telecommunications framework.

The Need For SpeedMeet your project’s budget and timeframe

Whether the timetable to achieve your goals is a few weeks or a few years, your A/V, telecommunications, security and data consultants must implement careful design studies that result in lifecycle cost-benefit ratios integral to your mission and business objectives. From IT strategic planning to voice and data network architecture to wireless systems or structured cable design, Special System Designers can help you to understand your technology—and work within your resources to create a realistic timeframe and budget.

Efficient and well-coordinated execution of site feasibility studies, current and future needs evaluations, system selection and support, infrastructure design, and vendor bids all play a role in meeting your project goals. Cutting through the confusion that often comes with comprehending multiple managers of service providers, Special Systems Designers help to manage your resources and ensure that your project fits into the big picture.

A flexible floorplan helps organizations respond quickly to changing workforce and security needs, a strategy that is all the more important for those working to keep a nation safe from outside threats. RTKL’s Special Systems team provided secure telecommunications infrastructure to the Defense Threat Reduction Center—and helped to ensure its important mission could continue as efficiently and effectively as possible today and into the future.

Ready for Change

The new Defense Threat Reduction Center (DTRC) at the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) headquarters complex required the fastest, most secure telecom-munications infrastructure available. In a project that reflected the seamless convergence of RTKL’s disciplines, Special Systems Designers were challenged to complete field studies, reroute existing utilities and ensure that all systems remained fully operational during construction in a very limited time frame. The innovative solution, one of the first and largest of its kind in the industry, combines a centralized fiber system with a zone cabling system, maximizing flexibility and efficiency while minimizing construction and maintenance costs.

The fiber optic systems of the past have featured cabling that is routed to and from a series of telecommunications rooms: an expensive solution, given the cost of operating and maintaining stringent HVAC conditions in each room. However, for the DTRC, Special Systems

Designers housed all fiber optic cables in a collapsed backbone (a network configuration that consolidates routing in one place, thereby reducing maintenance and troubleshooting) that only required one central telecommunications room in the core of the building for network engineering equipment. In doing this, the team decreased the space needed for telecommunications rooms that serve the communications system, thereby increasing the amount of space available on each floor for workstations.

The zone cabling system provides additional flexibility and accommodates long-term growth. By splitting the horizontal cabling into two main sections, the zone cabling system can change with the office layout by eliminating the need to replace the entire horizontal cable in moves, adds or changes. Evenly spaced zone boxes suspended within the ceiling carry wiring and cabling for voice and data networks, keeping the floor space open for multiple arrangements of workstations. Cable runs from the

OBJECTIVE Add 301,000 SF to the existing 301,000-SF Defense Logistics Agency building, part of the headquarters for the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which reduces the threat of nuclear, chemical, biological, special and conventional weapons

SERVICES

Architecture, Engineering, Programming, Space Planning and Interior Design, Survey and Geotechnical Reports, Parametric Design and Cost Estimating Services

LOCATION

Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Defence Threat Reduction Center

central telecommunications closet to the network ports and then directly to the workstation desktop. If workstations are added or moved, cable running from the box to the workstation simply needs to be added or moved, resulting in no change to the rest of the network. Uniform cabling lengths between boxes and desktops help to further reduce costs and minimize design and implementation time and resources. Designers were able to use and install pre-manufactured cables that had been thoroughly tested before reaching the site.

The innovative design solution used for the DTRC was met with resounding success. The design team was one of the first in the industry to use the combination of the centralized fiber system and the zone cabling system, setting a precedent for increased productivity and room to grow in cost-effective, flexible workspaces.

”We view Special Systems Design as an evolutionary process. While design must stay at the forefront of technology, designers must also be attuned to the fact that companies and organizations are constantly changing. And at RTKL, we strive to create design solutions that can anticipate, predict, and accommodate those changes.” Tony Whaley, RCDD/NTS/WD/CWP

Can Your Company Keep Up?How to ensure you’re best prepared for what’s next

As business propels along at the speed of the market and as an organization’s mission evolves, so does the need for systems flexibility. With the world’s technological capability doubling every two years, your company must plan for the rapid evolution of systems and support necessary reconfiguration. With considerations like the changing role and culture of the workforce, the unpredictable nature of security needs, and the capacity of telecommunications and data systems to store and move key information systems, adaptability keeps productivity high and companies from outgrowing their spaces as the world changes around them.

Special Systems Design must consider scalability, the ability for a company to grow (or downsize) in a manner consistent with the business mission. Keeping current on trends and changing technologies contributes to the creation of open systems that enable modification and adoption of new technologies. In the end, companies are empowered with the right balance between advanced technological need and the ability to retain value in a fluctuating corporate real estate market.

Seamless communication in daily tasks, or even more importantly, during a crisis situation, is critical to carrying out a workplace’s mission. September 11, 2001 served as a shocking reminder of this fact to the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO). Working with the RTKL Special Systems team, SEMO implemented reliable systems that could help withstand—and help predict—the unexpected.

Predicting the Unexpected

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) reevaluated its security operations and determined that a sweeping program of upgrades was necessary to ensure optimum performance in a crisis situation. Aware of the positive response to RTKL’s telecommunications upgrades

of the SUNY school system, SEMO commissioned the Special Systems Design team to do a series of upgrades to the office’s network and facilities.

Prior to September 2001, the governor and state officials were taken to a central bunker 40 feet underground to direct response operations in the event of an emergency. If officials were unable to

OBJECTIVE Provide extensive upgrades and new solutions to connectivity, redundancy in case of a crisis situation and security for New York State’s Emergency Management Office

SERVICES

Planning, Programming, Conceptual Design, Architecture, MEP and Structural Engineering, Interior Architecture, Telecommunications, Security, Force Protection

LOCATION

Albany, New York

New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO)

reach this operations center, they would meet in another secure location and dial into SEMO’s computerized network to oversee emergency management. However, the decades-old response procedures relied heavily on telephone systems, did not guarantee connectivity, and lacked an online framework where different agencies could share information—all conditions that could potentially prove detrimental to a rapid response effort.

RTKL embarked on a re-design of the SEMO response network. Designers conducted statewide field surveys, developed procurement documents for equipment, services and a system prototype, and coordinated with federal agencies to secure grant resources for the project budget. The four-part design solution introduces innovative technology and new, sophisticated networking methods to crucial areas of SEMO’s emergency response system.

The comprehensive design framework for operational, security and infra-structure upgrades to SEMO’s data network allows hundreds of authorized users to securely access the fully redundant network from remote locations during crisis operations.

To ensure that SEMO could successfully implement the changes, RTKL Special Systems Designers developed a plan that included a detailed project time frame and all necessary technical and administrative oversight needed to achieve the goals of the project.

Network upgrades also encompassed the design and procurement support of a new wireless and fiber optic network that could connect a series of remote sites in the state and serve as a redundant, supportive community network. The Emergency Announcement Broadcast System utilizes a hybrid design of KU satellite, point-to-point microwave and HF radio supporting voice, video and data broadcasts through compartmentalized infrastructure.

To ensure that the governor would be able to connect to the response team and headquarters, designers created a state-of-the-art, mobile video conferencing solution that incorporates TRANSCOM video feeds, and SEMO and private provider CATV feeds. The system also upgrades SEMO’s Video Switching System to an Internet Protocol (IP) based system that enables remote connectivity via satellite or the Internet. Using a briefcase to house the satellite

system and one-touch controls, the governor can quickly connect and interact in real time with the emergency operations center and key state officials, regardless of his location. Finally, RTKL Special Systems Designers worked extensively with SEMO officials, the state police and the state executive staff to test the suitcase and outline guidelines for its transportation and use.

The innovative design solution provides a high-tech, cost-efficient response framework that improves day-to-day operations and will help provide support when it is needed most: in an emergency.

Are You Reliable?Ensure that your systems are there when you need them most

The peace of mind that comes from the security of your data, systems, employees, and environments is crucial to your productivity. Special Systems Designers work closely with clients to meet diverse requirements, anticipate potential threats to ongoing operations and deliver holistic, reliable solutions that stand the test of time. Once design is complete, reliability depends on flawless documentation, exhaustive testing, and careful commissioning to ensure that design standards are met.

In addition, contract administration services and post-contract services facilitate reliable systems from the very first day of operation. Reliability is different for every project and depends on recommendations made by designers who have carefully studied a company’s cost of losing operations against the cost of preventing that loss.

“There’s nothing more alarming than learning your systems have failed you, especially when you need them most. The best telecommunications, security and network solutions are virtually invisible: Their function and quality are assumptions, not exceptions.” David Labuskes, RCDD/NTS/OSP, CSI

The value of smart, cutting-edge technology spans markets, disciplines and oceans. At the same time, understanding of a company’s unique goals and geographic circumstances can be equally important to designing effective corporate facilities. When Huawei Technologies began work on a new data center they hoped would position them at the leading edge of Shenzhen’s booming high-tech industry, RTKL’s vast international experience and deep understanding of the culture of collaboration proved to be the key factor for the project’s success.

Speaking your Language

For its new corporate data center, Huawei Technologies wanted an environment that would express their mission and position them as a technology leader in one of China’s fastest growing cities. The new

data and command center, they hoped, would express a modern architectural scheme supported by a telecommunications framework that would enhance productivity and accelerate growth.

OBJECTIVE Design two 6,000-SF levels of raised data center floor space and a 3,600-SF command center and observation space

SERVICES

Architecture, Interior Architecture, MEP Engineering and Telecommunications

LOCATION

Shenzhen, China

Huawei Technologies

There was one major barrier, however: Designers not only faced the cultural differences that commonly arise when working in the international arena, but the terminology of the cutting-edge technology they were using did not translate into Chinese. Although it required a great deal of patience and proved trying at times, ultimately this challenge led to a higher level of innovation and collaboration—and a stronger project.

Flexibility and reliability were key goals in the design for the new data center. The facility can support 40 Watts/SF in 20,000 SF of space and can be expanded at the same load density up to 40,000 SF. The backbone for the data center floors comprises 144 RG58 coaxial cables, 3466 multi-mode fibers and 568 CAT6 cables per level. The backbone between each telecommunications room (TR) that serves the command center and other office space includes six single-mode fibers and 12 multi-mode fibers. Horizontally, the data center cabling consists of four RG58 cables, 96 multi-mode cables, and eight CAT6 cables for each head-end cabinet. Peripheral cabinets are equipped with 12 multi-mode cables and 12 CAT6 cables. Second-floor WAO’s and first-floor command center outlets also feature CAT6 cabling.

The 50-micron multi-mode fiber technology used in the center enables information to be transmitted over longer distances at a higher bandwith, allowing for increased networking options. While the use of 50 micron fiber is becoming increasingly common all over the world, the Huawei data center project was one of the first facilities to use the technology in China. The precision and care required to install the material required heavy involvement

from RTKL in all stages of implemen-tation. Through a team of interpreters, designers developed and adapted construction documents, worked with the Chinese contractors on extensive performance testing and conducted a series of site visits to ensure correct usage and placement.

The cost-effective design solution, achieved within a limited time frame, exceeded client expectations. Working through cultural and language barriers, the Special Systems team was able to successfully design and implement state-of-the-art technology that will help Huawei maintain a leading edge over global competitors.

“Our international work—often in rapidly developing markets—involves building a bridge between languages and cultures. The highly specialized and constantly evolving nature of Special Systems Design often means that some of our terminology has yet to exist in other languages, and it’s our job to achieve that understanding with the client.” Tony Warner, CTS-D/CSI/CDT

Why Choose RTKL?A wider reach means a smarter result

At RTKL, we’re about more than just buildings. While we have the experience and the know-how to deliver well-designed places to a variety of clients, merely meeting your functional needs is not enough to fulfill our mission. On every project we do, our clients around the world are ensured access to our best talent and resources. And because of our international experience and culture of collaboration, our clients benefit from our shared knowledge—across disciplines, across markets and across oceans.

How do we get there? By doing what we do best. We offer an unparalleled breadth of services that bring holistic solutions to even the most elusive design challenges. From urban design and architecture to branding and telecommunications, our comprehensive approach ensures a stronger, better-coordinated product. And we think that when you succeed, we succeed.

From architecture to engineering to graphic design, RTKL designers collaborated across sectors to create the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. The 80,000-SF facility, a recipient of numerous awards, includes a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure that ensures smooth day-to-day operation for an estimated 20 million annual visitors.

The design scheme establishes primary communications service to the building by extending four trade size 4 conduits from the property line and into the first floor entrance facility (EF). A series of trade size 4 conduits extend from the EF up to each telecommunications room (TR), and the Equipment Room (ER),

and a fourth-floor A/V room connects back to the main EF. A/V outlets consist of one RG-6 cable home run back to the A/V equipment room. The main backbone riser includes high-pair-count ARMM rated Category 3 copper cable for voice (originating in the EF) and a 6-strand multi-mode fiber for data (originating in the ER). All backbone and tie cables terminate into separate voice or data racks that house rack-mounted patch panels.

The horizontal portion is made up of three Category 5E plenum cables for data and voice services to each outlet, and emphasizes flexibility– cables can easily be changed in the TR to allow for any combination.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and CultureBaltimore, Maryland

* Joint venture, The Freelon Group and RTKL Associates Inc.

Seamless operation in an award-winning cultural facility

Reinventing systems for renovated spaces

San Antonio Marriott RivercenterSan Antonio, Texas

Towering 38 stories into the San Antonio skyline, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter is an integral part of the Rivercenter mixed-use development. The award-winning building features distinctive, regionally-oriented architecture and provides essential meeting and lodging space. Complete convention facilities include a 60,000-SF of meeting space and a 40,000-SF ballroom. In addition to designing the original building, RTKL recently re-

designed the entire conference center in an aggressive renovation which sought to minimize facility downtime. The renovation involved a significant change to the volume of the grand ballroom by removing the entire ceiling and permanently exposing 30’ of plenum space. This created a challenge for RTKL’s acoustics and audiovisual design team – a problem which was solved through extensive computer modeling of the space.

On the edge of downtown Baltimore, this 350,000-SF Class A corporate tower, built on top of an existing Baltimore Gas & Electric building, provides a gateway to the city’s east side and offers highly visible office space. The design program

A flexible scheme that could accommodate multiple tenants

AT A GLANCE

Inside Plant - Riser

200pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 2,000’

300pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 750’

350,000 SF Project

Copper Category /Length

Fiber Type/Length Inside Plant - Riser

12-strand Multi-mode Data – 2,800’

750 East PrattBaltimore, Maryland

for the building’s telecommunications system required a flexible scheme that could accommodate multiple tenants and their customized build out requirements.

A backbone infrastructure caters to existing and potential tenants. Four trade size 5 conduits extend from the property line into a substation junction box. Two sets of three trade size 4 rigid conduits extend through a series of junction boxes into separate fourth-floor telephone and CATV entrance facilities. Telecommunications rooms (TRs) are stacked with floor slots and connect back to the main entrance facility via six trade size 4 EMT conduits from the fourth-floor TR, and the CATV rooms are located on specific floors and stacked with floor slots. All TR’s link to the entrance facility with a 12-strand multi-mode fiber and a 200 or 300-pair ARMM rated Category 3 copper cable. The TR’s are outfitted with wall-mount fiber and copper termination fields, a cable tray system and sleeves into the corridor. Room, conduit, cable tray and cable sizes are all calculated based on usable square footage.

KPMG and Cisco Systems sought to develop six broadband solutions centers strategically located around the world. For the first project in New Jersey, RTKL teams were charged with two objectives: to assure the proposed office location was electrically and mechanically capable of meeting the needs of N+I redundancy, and to undertake design studies that would gauge client reaction to space types, adjacencies and estimated infrastructure costs. An overall design requirement was the creation of network infrastructure that would reach new levels of quality and durability.

The design of the network infra- structure supports a 10,000-SF data center. Approximately 25,000 SF of interior office design supports KPMG consultants and additional client incubation labs that can function on the KPMG network or isolated from it with their own demarc and infra-structure. The data center features tiered distribution of the network

to IDF cabinets using single-mode and multi-mode fiber, as well as Coax and Category 5E UTP copper cables. Multiple layering of support pathways allowed extraordinarily dense cable distribution to be effectively managed. High-quality cable management ensures that required moves, additions or changes are possible with the simple move of a patch cord.

Another innovative aspect of this project involved the incubation labs. These labs were designed with a network infrastructure that could either be part of the rest of the distribution system with minimal patch cord reconfiguration, or could be isolated entirely from KPMG’s network and provide for an independent stand-alone network. This design supported the mission of the space of supporting start-up entrepreneurial firms through several early phases of operation: first as an entirely supported entity and then eventually as an entirely independent entity.

Reaching new levels of quality, maintainability and flexibility

AT A GLANCE

Category 5E, 105,000 ft. (20 miles)

35,000 SF Project

Copper Category/Length

Fiber Type/Length Single-mode: 10,000 ft, 62.5/125, Multi-mode: 45,000 ft.

Data Drops 700 voice and data drops

Flexibility, high density pathways with multi-tier design for flexibility

KPMG Broadband Solutions CenterLiberty Corner, New Jersey

Faced with increased demand for meeting space, the IADB needed a dynamic new facility that would provide functional space for the bank’s business meetings and cultural and community events. In addition to architecture, engineering, interiors, graphic and lighting design, RTKL was commissioned to provide a Special Systems framework that enhances and supports the many functions being held in the building.

The space limitations in the new conference center required a complex and creative design solution, with systems arranged in a plant formation. Designers created a redundant link between two existing fiber and copper backbones and the new facility. An intricate conduit pathway re-routes all existing and new fiber optic and UTP copper cabling.

Complex and creative systems serve a dynamic new facility

Inter-American Development BankWashington, DC

Sited on a scenic nine-acre riverfront site, the Wilmington Convention Center and Marriott Hotel offers visitors a state-of-the-art convention and hospitality experience. The two-level, 130,000-SF facility includes a 34,000-SF exhibit hall, multiple ballrooms, an outdoor balcony and event space, and a planned observation deck to overlook a new marina to the north. The 260-room hotel links to the convention center and showcases an all-glass double-height lounge, restaurant space, and an event lawn with access to a riverfront promenade. The challenge to the design team was to provide a comprehensive yet flexible telecommunications

framework that could service the diverse range of activities occurring in these spaces. During the design process, the Special Systems Design team worked closely with city officials to address site utility issues related to the telecommunications framework for incoming services to the site and future utility right of ways. The team also collaborated closely with the project’s architects and engineers to formulate cost-saving designs that could accommodate the future growth of either facility. The final scheme includes provisions for voice and data, as well as CATV, CCTV, security and the latest in A/V systems.

Shaping a hospitality experience

Wilmington Convention Center and HotelWilmington, North Carolina

As one of only five finalist submissions selected in a competition to design the new NATO headquarters in Brussels, RTKL created a telecommunications infrastructure that met NATO’s challenge: Accommodate the complex structure of the organization and its evolving role in the field of international security.

The resulting design supports the various missions of a major campus development, from world-class conferencing facilities to recreation fields. Designers were challenged by the required levels of zoning for multiple

member states that were to be serviced by the primary facility yet also required their own secured networks. To solve the problem, the team proposed that the base-building infrastructure be implemented in increments, similar to a service provider’s build-out of a new community telecommunications infrastructure. Responding to the constraints of a modest budget, the design team conducted in-depth analyses on the most effective way to support the life-cycle costs of implementing, using, and maintaining the proposed design solution.

New NATO HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium

A multipurpose, cost-efficient design solution

In the heart of downtown Baltimore, RTKL was commissioned to design the Hilton Convention Center Hotel. Adjacent to the convention center and historic Camden Yards, the 750-room hotel is a contemporary environment that provides essential space for a steady influx of convention attendees. As part of a multidisciplinary team, Special Systems Designers crafted a state-of-the-art scheme that would ensure smooth operations and cater to diverse guest needs.

The system’s foundation comprises a structurally sound cabling and conduit framework. The cable system installed allows maximum flexibility for future growth. Cables can be added, removed, replaced, or upgraded at any point without major rehabilitation or operational interruptions that would pose as an inconvenience to guests.

Efficient operations for an essential downtown facility

Baltimore Hilton Convention Center HotelBaltimore, Maryland

The telecommunications framework for the 110,000-SF headquarters of the American Council of Life Insurers integrates a series of shared spaces, including a major facility with dedicated video-conferencing, a divisible multi-purpose room with rear projection capability, and a business center with guest workspaces.

The main backbone riser comprises 200-pair ARMM rated Category 3 copper cable for dial tone, two 25-pair ARMM copper cables for T-1 access, and a 4-pair STP Category 5 cable for future high-speed use. The cables originate in the service entrance facility and extend to the 8th floor Network Operations Center (NOC). From the NOC floors, telecommunications rooms (TRs) are fed with a 12-strand multi-mode fiber for data and high-pair-count Category 3 copper cables for voice. All backbone and tie cables terminate in separate voice or data racks housing rack-mounted patch panels. Three Category 6 cables for data and voice services to each outlet comprise the horizontal portion, and cables can easily be changed in the TR to allow for multiple combinations. Some of the sublet spaces were designed to allow ease of moves, adds, and changes with flush ceiling-mounted consolidation points. Certain areas required flush floor-mounted floor boxes. In total, there are approximately 665 outlets and more than 2,800 data and voice cables.

AT A GLANCE

Inside Plant - Horizontal

Data: 315,000 feet CAT 6 Plenum UTP

Voice: 136,000 feet CAT 6 Plenum UTP -400 feet CAT 3 Plenum

110,000 SF Project

Copper Category /Length

Data Drops (cables)

Data – 1,958

Voice – 845

Inside Plant - Riser

Voice: 500 feet, 25pr, CAT 3 ARMM

100pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 700’

100pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 300’

Linking a series of shared spaces

American Council of Life InsurersWashington, DC

Highmark Data Center required a Special Systems framework that would respond to security requirements for diverse corporate and federal clients. Starting with a framework of concentric rings at the project site, the design encompasses multiple layers of protection that respond to all levels of security needs. Starting at the facility’s edge, the ring design provides deterrence, detection and delay that increase toward the areas of maximum security at the core. The first ring comprises ornamental and chain link fence fabric, microwave and infrared

sensors, CCTV cameras, and electronic vehicle barricades. The second ring adds perimeter and revolving doors, proximity card readers, additional CCTV cameras and intercom stations. The final ring includes electronic locking hardware and dual fingerprint and proximity levels of authentication for entry to the facility’s core. A control center monitors the entire system around the clock, and the security systems are integrated into the IT network for easy access by managers worldwide.

Highmark Data CenterHarrisburg, Pennsylvania

Rings of protection for diverse data center clientele

RTKL moved their headquarters from downtown Baltimore to a new warehouse-inspired building in the historic, waterfront neighborhood of Fells Point. Openness and collaboration —fundamental to RTKL’s corporate culture—provide the backbone for the building’s interior, including a complex information technology system designed to enhance the experience of employees, clients, and additional corporate tenants using the 215,000-SF facility. The building’s architecture includes dual risers and entrance

facilities that support redundant routing from the service provider through to the desktop. A 14-inch raised floor includes space for cable infrastructure built into the base building to accommodate a wide variety of tenant needs. The building’s success— it was 100 percent leased in fewer than four months in the economically disparaged 2002-2003 marketplace—has been attributed in large part to the flexiblity of the building’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Flexible, redundant infrastructure as an important part of a collaborative whole

Bond Street WharfBaltimore, Maryland

Ceiling mounted consolidation points used in open office areas. This allows greater flexibility for MAC’s.

In conjunction with a dynamic program of architecture and engineering, the RTKL Special Systems Design team was commissioned to provide services for four new student residences at Lafayette College.

The innovative systems support 300+ residents and feature inside and outside plant design. The inside plant consists of a shielded, Category 7 IBM ACS Gold data infrastructure. Video infrastructure is home run to the local

telecommunications room, and the standard between telecommunications rooms includes multi-mode and single-mode risers for data and Category 3 ARMM for voice. Data and voice infrastructure is centralized, and telecommunications rooms are properly sized for future hierarchical network support. For the outside plant, designers re-routed the existing data backbone. The coordinated ductbank design supports low voltage data, telephone, and security networks.

Comprehensive support for student residence facilities

AT A GLANCE

Inside Plant - Horizontal

IBM Category 7 S/STP Data – 35,000’

Category 3 UTP Voice – 42,000’

Coax RG-6 Video - 25,000’

90,000 SF Project

Copper Category /Length

Data Drops (cables)

Data – 384

Voice – 465

Video - 268

Inside Plant - Riser

25pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 200’

50pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 900’

100pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 50’

150pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 200’

RG-11 coax Video – 500’

IBM ACS Gold Shielded cable system used for Data Centralized Telecommunications Room.

Fiber Type/Length

Outside Plant

25pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 200’

50pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 900’

100pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 50’

150pr, Category 3 ARMM Voice – 200’

RG-11 coax Video – 500’

Outside Plant

12-strand 50 micron Multi-mode Security & Life Safety – 1,000’

24-strand Single-mode Data – 1,000’

Lafayette CollegeEaston, Pennsylvania

Combining modern infrastructure with a historic framework

A seamless transfer

U.S. Capitol Building, House Interior Closet RenovationWashington, DC

U.S. Senate Telecommunications Entrance FacilityWashington, DC

While the Capitol Visitor Center is a dynamic, 580,000-SF addition to the historic Capitol building, the construction process significantly altered the telecommunications framework within the existing facility. RTKL was commissioned to design and manage a new and improved systems infrastructure that would replace the back-bone distribution infrastructure of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.

Existing conditions in the 200-year-old building, built before electricity was used and lacking in vertical passages and telecommunications space, presented numerous challenges to the design team. To resolve the problem, designers collaborated with more than 23 federal agencies and entities that manage cable infrastructure in the Capitol building. The resulting solution balances the needs and objectives of all parties involved, and was completed within both budget and schedule constraints.

A 1999 validation of design survey revealed that the primary tele-communications entrance facility for the U.S. Senate was slated for demolition in the early stages of the Capitol Visitor Center construction. RTKL was retained by the Architect of the Capitol to design a replacement entrance facility to support the U.S. Senate in the Capitol Building. Designers were challenged to create a new infrastructure without any sign of service interruption to the Senate offices.

The design team explored and evaluated a number of design solutions before making recommendations to decision makers. The approved solution creates a secure, state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes more than 6,000 pairs of copper, and hundreds of strands of fiber optic cable that were installed and implemented in the construction process. The complicated transfer was well-received by the U.S. Senate, who reported no service interruptions during or after the transition.

At RTKL, we’re about more than just buildings. Instead, we pride ourselves on developing long-lasting, meaningful relationships that help companies manage their real estate portfolios. How do we get there? By doing what we do best. We offer an unparalleled breadth of services that, when integrated, bring holistic solutions to even the most elusive design challenges.

Always at our table: great architecture. We deliver high-quality buildings that meet your real estate goals as much as they redefine aesthetic ones. We take that model to the next level with interior design, bringing efficient and comfortable environments to assist in your daily operations, making our workplaces truly work. And if architecture is the show, our signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics and collateral materials are the guides, reaching out and fostering physical connections that increase productivity and foster brand loyalty. But a well-designed building is only as successful as the relationship it forms outside of its walls. With an extensive portfolio in planning and urban design, we look at the spaces between buildings, public areas, landscaping, links to transportation, and use of resources and infrastructure.

With building for the future comes a need for flexibility and agility in everything we do. Some of that is achieved through the connections we make to communities. The rest is accomplished with our intelligent

engineering, Special Systems, and applied technology services. By tightly integrating these systems with the plan and design of buildings, we ensure fluid, cohesive, sustainable environments that will operate smoothly today and down the road.

Our process springs from a tight-knit corporate culture that fosters collaboration and teamwork. Though we boast offices all over the world, we are organized by practice group, rather than geography, thereby ensuring that every project benefits from the partnership of our most talented people. We bring experts from all disciplines together to serve on hospitality, corporate, public, retail and entertainment, sports, mixed-use and residential projects. With so much experience in such a wide range of disciplines, we have found we offer a unique perspective that spans these sectors.

Ultimately, with RTKL you’ll find a talented, knowledgeable team of experts that blend an appreciation for the human experience with a steadfast understanding for your bottom line. Since our start in 1946 as a two-man office in Annapolis, Maryland, we have designed award-winning buildings, communities, environments, and engineering and telecommunications systems. As we continue into the new millennium, we look forward to decades more of working closely with you, while designing places that capture the human spirit today and into the future.

Bare Essentials

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