BAS integration Links Six Buildings at New Justice Center

The New Orleans Juvenile Justice Center is comprised of six buildings, and includes the Youth Study Center and an adjacent Juvenile Court Building. The 60,000 sq.ft. Youth Study facility serves as the City’s secure detention facility for boys and girls younger than 18 years old. A 47,000 sq.ft. Juvenile Court Building consisting of courtrooms and administration offices was the last phase of the project to be completed. Funding for this $32 million project comes from FEMA recovery dollars, insurance, and City bond funds.

“Automated Control Systems worked closely with the city of New Orleans, the architects and the engineering firm to design the facility with systems integration in mind,” said Wayne Durr, vice president, Automated Control Systems. “Systems integration was critical, because of the varied uses of the buildings. The HVAC, video surveillance and security systems had to seamlessly integrate as some buildings had continuous occupancy, while others had various levels of restricted access.”

The project includes Schneider Electric I/A HVAC controls with integration to Schneider Electric Continuum card access, Pelco/Endura video security and Stenophone intercom, all integrated with a PLC/SCADA system. The buildings contain approximately 230 cameras and 177 door readers. A central command center is located in the Youth Study Center with an additional command center in the adjacent courts building. In addition to security, the integration includes HVAC components such as chillers and variable frequency drives (VFDs). There are also two data center/server rooms within the complex, for the study center and the courts, which are linked to the HVAC BAS via a BACnet interface.

The completed Juvenile Justice Center complex includes a fully integrated access control and surveillance system with a centralized control room console containing data storage and network capabilities designed to provide for successful operation now and in the future. The Access Control System interfaces with onsite badging equipment so that access to specific buildings and areas within the complex can be restricted on an individual basis. This allows for tightly controlled access throughout the complex to ensure the security and safety of staff, visitors, police, court personnel and detained youth.

“Automated Control Systems, like all InsideIQ member firms, is equipped to handle complex integration projects because they have access to high-level technical training offered by InsideIQ,” said Leroy Walden, president of the InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance. “In addition, our members share best practices and experiences so each firm is knowledgeable of the latest technology and techniques available to complete any integration challenge.”

The engineering company on the project, Lucien T. Vivien Jr. & Associates of Metairie, conducted meetings with Automated Control Systems and Schneider Electric to discuss the needs of the design and how to make it cost effective, fully integrated and at the same time, easy to use. “The greatest impact that Automated Control Systems had on the design was the open line of communication that was established between them, the engineering team and Schneider Electric,” said Raymond Conigliaro, principal, Lucien T. Vivien Jr. & Associates. “This open communication protocol that we established was pivotal to the success of this project.”

Recalling his experience as a facility manager, Conigliaro noted that “Engineering in a silo is a sure path to unsuccessful designs and improperly constructed systems and facilities. With the right people communicating, any design is achievable and can be a success. That was certainly true in this case.”

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