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 .

About the Author

Clint Strong, CEO of Connectrac® (www.connectrac.com), is the company’s founder and a licensed architect. Connectrac is the new standard in modular, bringing cable management in all interior applications, supplanting expensive core drilling with its floor-based wireway. Contact Clint at [email protected].

Featured

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Splendora Independent School District (SISD) in Splendora, Texas, recently broke ground on a replacement facility for Greenleaf Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) for the project.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

    Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

  • California School District Starts Construction on Public Safety Center

    The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) recently announced that construction has begun on a new public safety center that will house the district’s safety and security programs. According to a news release, the James Ramos Center for Public Safety will measure in at 17,140 square feet and contain the district’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, and cadet program.

Digital Edition