The clients came to us after an exhaustive search for an Integration Firm. Upon meeting them we established and documented their wants and needs for their large new residence and prepared a budgetary analysis. The expectations were that all subsystems throughout the home would function together on one autonomous platform.
Ease of use and intuitiveness were one of the number one requests and one that we hit the mark on in this project. Every family member and relative that uses the system comments on how simple it is to operate. Designing and executing a technologically elaborate yet easy to use intuitive system is the hallmark of a successful installation.
The Client’s expectations were not only met, they were exceeded.
The Build
The integrated systems span all areas and every room within this three level 15 000 square foot residence, as well as the indoor pool, outdoor areas and tennis court.
These sub systems include, Lighting Control, Shading, Humidity monitoring, Security, CCTV, Gate control, Audio and Video. The expectation was that control would be from In wall touch panels as well as smart phones and web tablets. Remote access was integral to their lifestyle given their work and travel schedules.
Upon hearing the established requirements, we chose Elan Home Systems teamed with Lutron as the consummate choice. The system consists of 132 Lighting and Fan loads, 36 Motorized Roller Shades, 11 Security Cameras, Alarm System with 2 partitions and 85 zones, Humidity Monitoring, Temperature monitoring, Gate Control, Garage Door Control (5 of them), 13 zones of Video, 17 zones of Distributed Audio and a full Anamorphic Theater Room.
Control of this large residence is from strategically placed in wall touch Elan panels, in wall mounted I-touches, as well as the client’s smart phones and web tablets.
Lutron keypads are all throughout the home and feature lighting scenes and local shade control raise and lower.
Equipment is housed in two large racks in a dedicated conditioned rack room as well as in structured panels (both network and Lutron enclosures) throughout the home’s 3 mechanical rooms.
We designed a dedicated gaming room for the family, complete with 3 gaming stations, a large screen TV and a pool table.
A key requirement was that the very large and grand Great Room have an Audio and Video presence. What might seem like overkill in some rooms fit perfectly in this space. We wall mounted a 90 inch LED TV flanked by Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamonds for the distributed audio. The outcome in the Great Room is simply Breath taking
The Process
With great planning comes great success, this project is indicative of that. Client meetings, decision maker walkthroughs and Ease of integration of the products chosen, all come together to contribute to an impressive finished product.
We stayed in contact with the electrical contractors at every turn to ensure that each specified fixture, fan and motor load was accounted for properly in the overall lighting system design. It is amazing how something as miniscule as someone selecting a different light fixture can turn out to be a large issue when the system is commissioned.
Proper Project management and communications between Integrator, Builder, Designer and Trades can stop potential problems before they happen.
The Outcome
What was accomplished on this project was the streamlining of many difficult (on their own) to use subsystems onto one platform that provides an intuitive user interface with one learning curve.
We have given the clients peace of mind while traveling or away from the home as they can remotely see any subsystem, the subsystem’s status, and if needed, affect change on that subsystem.
Remotely the client can allow trades or service people into the home. The client can view the cameras to see who exactly is there, verify the service vehicle, open the Gates, open a garage door and disarm the alarm. That process is reversed upon the service person leaving the property.
While traveling the clients can verify the comings and goings of the house keepers, landscapers, snow removal, pool servicing technicians and dog walkers. Simply by checking the alarm history and the camera footage they can see all activity in and around the property, all while within the Elan g app on their smart device.
Audio and Video can be summoned to any room of the home through the Elan distributed audio system. Go to any touch panel or smart device and chose from any one of; Sirius Radio, Music Server, Airplay, Online Streaming services or Local FM Radio.
The 1080p Video is matrix switched to any one of the home’s 13 Televisions plus the theater. Just pick up a Remote, choose your name from the menu, and your content appears on the Television you are in front of.
Humidity and temperature status is fed back to our system. Email alerts are generated if certain predetermined levels are breached. The exotics woods throughout the home have little tolerance for large humidity fluctuations, the same holds true for the vegetation in the indoor pool area.
Lighting Control is handled by Lutron and is logically distributed over three high voltage dimming enclosure locations in three mechanical rooms. A home such as this deserves to be lit a certain way to accentuate the subtle nuances of its intricate design. This is easily accomplished with the flexibility a proper lighting system affords the client. Lighting scene changes and timers can be easily manipulated and stored by the client. For more elaborate system changes we can remotely access the system and make changes from the office, thereby not impacting the client’s busy lifestyle.
Automated Shading throughout home contributes not only to design and décor, but also to heat harvesting and heat rejecting. Given outside ambient temperatures and the Home being in “Away” mode, the shades will react to changes in sunlight and temperature to either open (harvest sunlight) or close (reject sunlight) and contribute to the home’s efficiency by reducing the need for air conditioning or geo thermal heat depending on the season.
The Conclusion
In this home there are many complex, difficult subsystems. Having them all come together within one easy to use Overall Control System is what a home of this caliber deserves.
The ability to bring this unique, diverse project to fruition and experience the look on satisfied client’s faces is a gratifying feeling indeed, a feeling made possible by our attention to detail, listening and acting on the client’s needs and proper project management within our firm.
It is amazing to see what can be accomplished when a passionate group of individuals unite toward a common goal, to produce the best Integration work possible, on time and on budget.
