In the world of technology, to us, this means a lot of different things such as:
- Including all inaccessible IT cabling and infrastructure in conduit and raceways so that once obsolete or outdated alternative wiring can be installed efficiently and without damage to existing finishes.
- Installing a fiber backbone network in buildings that has capacity to distribute both wired and wireless internet service throughout for today’s requirements and can be increased without infrastructure modifications.
- Selecting quality equipment and wireless access points (WAPs) and locating them appropriately for maximum efficiency while not causing interference with each other.
- Creating strategic relationships with national service providers and specialty consultants so that efficiencies and project lessons learned can more easily “travel” from project-to-project.
- Working with service providers to provide faster internet speed to the most popular content such as YouTube and Netflix.
- Intentionally locating USP power receptacles for easy access to charge devices.
While all of the above can, and most of the time does, come at a cost premium, at Capstone we also look back, on a project-by-project bases, and ask ourselves if some of the old, more traditional technology infrastructure requirements like coax TV cabling, hardwired data drops and DOAS cell phone boosters are truly needed and if not, can they be eliminated. This thoughtful approach ensures that the student housing building that we are designing is current and with the times upon opening but also can be adapted and last well into the future.