Page 32 - Security Today, August 2017

Gearing Up for the Challenge
Securing and protecting one of the largest U.S. sporting complexes BDy Chuck Han
esigned as a destination sports facility, the LakePoint Sport- ing Facility in Emerson, Ga., hosts top athletes from across the United States participat-
ing in nearly 50 competitive sports. From bas- ketball and volleyball to wake boarding and baseball, LakePoint boasts more than 1,300 acres of land and five million square feet, with amenities to accommodate not only top ath- letes, but also family, spectators, athletic pro- fessionals and recruiters.
While the goal of this campus was to pro- vide a facility for athletes to compete, it was the family, friends and spectators who had a big impact on how it was designed. In addi- tion to exceptional views for each sporting event, the facility is large enough to entertain families and large groups long after their child has finished competing.
As with any sports complex, security and safety is a primary concern—not only for the athletes, but for the hundreds of spectators and staff as well. With sporting fields and fa- cilities spread over such a large plot of land, the challenges of monitoring and securing the state-of-the-art complex are as unique as the competitions it hosts.
The Integrators: Selecting the Right Partners
After meeting with local business owners and reviewing a number of regional and state-wide integrators, it quickly became clear that LakePoint would require two part- ners: one to manage security and another to manage fire protection. With a focus on securing a low-voltage provider, executives chose LOUD Security Systems as the facil- ity’s security integrator. The 10-year contract ensures continuity as the complex establishes itself as a sports destination, while also pro- viding the flexibility to build on existing sys- tems if needed. Critical Systems, a frequent partner of LOUD Security, became the fire integrator for this unique project.
Even with two integrators, it was impor- tant to select a single hardware and software provider to reduce complexities between se- curity and fire monitoring. Honeywell was selected for its wide product assortment in- cluding fire alarms, security cameras, intru- sion, access control and wiring. By using Honeywell, LakePoint security staff can consolidate both security and fire data with- in a simplified system.
“What drew us to the project was the enormity of the indoor and outdoor space.
When working on a campus like this, they needed to be prepared for safety issues that fall outside of a standard office building sce- nario that would be more specific to families and young children,” said John Loud, presi- dent of LOUD Security Systems. “With all the activity and people, this project shared many of the same challenges as modern theme parks.”
Challenging Installations:
Securing Free Span
Buildings
In the center of all the baseball and lacrosse fields, LakePoint features the largest free span building in North America, sitting at 170,000 square feet. Depending on the schedule for
the day, the building is equipped to be recon- figured into 12 hardwood basketball courts or 24 volleyball courts, an open area for cheer- leading competitions, a space to host wres- tling matches and endless other activities.
The number one requirement of the building: no columns allowed.
With 65 foot ceilings, and no columns or interior walls, the installation of the se- curity and fire systems became significantly more complex than typical sports facilities. Beyond these two problems, the ceiling is consumed by essential sporting equipment from basketball hoops and scoreboards to volleyball nets and wall dividers. There was virtually no easy place for LOUD Security and Critical Systems to install the fire and
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