Page 12 - Campus Security & Life Safety, November/December 2019

Elevating Video Capabilities
Los Angeles Convention Center keeps an open mind about security solutions
Open Platform
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The Los Angeles Convention Center attracts millions of visitors each year and is renowned internationally as a prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibi- tions. Located in downtown L.A., the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) offers nearly one million square feet of exhibit hall, meeting room and amenity space, hosting 350 events annually. With full-service business centers, food courts, a 299-seat theater, 48 freight docks and on-site parking for 5,600 vehicles, the facility relies on its video security and surveillance sys- tem for a wide range of uses.
Since opening in 1971, the LACC has since undergone moderniza- tion and expansion, including the recent addition of more than 300 security cameras unified by open platform video management soft- ware (VMS) from Milestone Systems. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone division of AEG, the leading sports and live entertainment company in the world, assumed facility management of the city-owned LACC in December 2013.
Years of Involvement
According to John Russell, president of RD Systems, who has been the integrator involved with the LACC for nearly 15 years, the center has always had video. But, it came to a point where the system needed substantial expansion and improvement. A few years ago, LACC management approved a phased upgrade approach to the previous analog hybrid video system, with the goals of increasing its use and upgrading its quality and capabilities.
“The convention center has hundreds of events every year, and there are a lot of moving parts,” Russell said. “Having high-quality video available in key areas helps the center mitigate risk.”
With security always a prime concern, the center also relies on video to help capture non-security-related occurrences to resolve issues around accidents, damage to the facility or injuries.
Three primary groups within the LACC use the video system: Security, Parking and the Food & Beverage Group. According to Rubin Lechuga, vice president of security and guest services at
12 campuslifesecurity.com | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019