Building systems can look settled on a drawing and still leave the owner with a problem in use. An IT closet needs more cooling than planned. A conference room has the equipment but cannot support the meeting. Turnover drawings do not match what was built.
These articles examine the decisions behind power, HVAC, data, AV, life safety, and other building systems—from early coordination through operation and handover.
By Arthur Katz, Contributing Columnist Rats and mice have become a serious problem for New York businesses this season. While they are year round pests,
The calendar is only one input. Equipment condition, operating environment and the consequence of failure should determine the maintenance strategy. Originally published October 2012. Updated
In 2012, the question was how much separation broadcast systems needed from corporate IT. Fourteen years later, broadcast itself runs increasingly on IT infrastructure. Originally
In a television studio, the floor is not simply a finish. It is part of the production environment. Originally published August 2012. Updated October 2026
The cleanest conference-room installation starts long before anyone plugs a cable into the table. Are you looking for ideas on how to hide cables in
Behind a live television broadcast is a facility where the building, technology and operation all have to work at the same time. Have you ever
By Garry Brinton, Contributing Columnist At the beginning of the PSMJ Project Management Bootcamps the attendees usually list the traits of a good project manager.
The displays, cameras and collaboration platforms will change long before the conference room does. Design the room so today’s technology works without making tomorrow’s difficult
For an article It’s Too Cold! It’s Too Hot! — Thermostat Wars in the Workplace, I consulted with the facility manager of a large corporation
“I’m too hot! I’m too cold!” Does your office resemble both a tropical island and a tundra on the same floor? Originally published November 2011.
The credential may have changed. The more important question is how the access-control system fits into the building, the operation and the organization’s security requirements.
Your employees may be ready to move. That doesn’t mean the business is ready to operate. Technology planning for an office relocation used to focus
Power disturbances can become business interruptions when critical technology is not adequately protected. Lightning and voltage surges can damage sensitive electronics and interrupt the systems
Equipment-intensive rooms can create cooling requirements that the building’s normal HVAC system was never designed to handle. IT rooms, conference rooms and other spaces can
Many landlords require low voltage cabling such as Ethernet inside the wall cavity or floor channel to be run in conduit. When planning cable runs, consult with
