Technology Tip

Solutions for Cable Management

• By Clint Strong
• 08/01/15

Many universities and colleges recognize the growing need to provide their students and faculty access to technology throughout the campus. However, many historic campuses date back to the mid-1850s, with many of the current academic and administrative buildings having been built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Due to the age of much of the infrastructure most universities are ill equipped to conveniently bring power, data and A/V access to where it is needed for today’s technology.

Finding the solution needed to bring power, data and A/V access and cable management to every classroom, library and office can be a daunting task, and often core drilling is seen as the only option. Core drilling involves drilling holes in the concrete floor slab, installing conduits through these holes and routing them beneath the floor slab to the new poke-through device. With trenching, a portion of the concrete floor slab is saw-cut and removed. Conduits and electrical devices are put in place and the floor slab is then patched with new concrete. Many are discovering, though, that the costs of core drilling and trenching are too expensive. According to a recent RSMeans study, avoiding core drilling or trenching and using an alternative method can save 50 percent or more.

The growing need for retrofitting campuses is unabated and institutions must think beyond solutions invented nearly a century ago. The keys to success are to effectively and affordably bring power, data and telecommunications from the wall to wherever it is needed while having the flexibility to adjust and grow as technology continues to evolve.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .