Planning a Build-Out? Sort Out the Low Voltage Early

A good part of our work is new construction: network cabling, security cameras and door access for offices, suites and multi-tenant buildings. The projects that go smoothly have one thing in common. The low voltage work was planned early, alongside the architect, the general contractor and the electrician.

The projects that don't go smoothly usually involve someone realizing, after the drywall is up, that the conference room needs data drops or that nobody planned for a camera at the back entrance. Fixing that later is possible, but it costs more and rarely looks as clean.

Here's what we typically go over with clients before construction starts.

Where every device will actually go

We go room by room: desks, printers, TVs, phones, wireless access points, cameras and card readers. Each one needs cable, and most rooms should get a couple of spare drops for whatever comes next. It's far cheaper to pull an extra cable now than to open a wall in two years.

A proper home for the network equipment

The network rack needs its own space with power, ventilation and room to grow. A storage closet shared with the mop bucket is a common compromise, and it usually causes problems down the road.

Wi-Fi that works in the actual building

Metal studs, concrete, glass and elevator shafts all affect wireless coverage. We plan access point locations around the real floor plan and keep guest Wi-Fi on its own network, separate from business systems.

Cameras and door access

For cameras, the questions are what needs to be covered, how long recordings should be kept and who needs to view them remotely. For door access, it's which doors get card or fob readers and how access gets added or removed when people come and go. In multi-tenant buildings, each tenant's access has to be managed separately from the common areas, and that's much easier to design up front.

Ordering internet service early

This one surprises people. Internet providers can take weeks to install new service, especially in a new building. We recommend ordering it as soon as there's an address, and considering a backup connection if being offline would stop the business.

Bring us in during design

We work with architects, builders and property owners across Chicagoland on network infrastructure, cameras and access control for new construction. If you have a project coming up, take a look at our construction services or send us the plans. We're happy to give input before anything is finalized.