An Architecture-challenged Home Theater Installation
Dec 18, 2006 12:00 PM
The following information is courtesy of the 2005 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Designers' Choice Awards. For more information on how to become a member of CEDIA, or information on its awards program please visit www.cedia.org or call (800) 669-5329.
2005 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Winner
Designers Choice Awards: Best Intergrated Home
Level VI ($700,000-$925,000)
Electronics Design Group’s client wanted the ability to manage his estate home’s whole-house audio, lighting, pool/spa, and security from several key areas, and to do so in a simple, intuitive manner. The client wanted a high-performance media room system with a plasma TV that delivered superb video and audio, as well as an easy way to manage and access his large database of CDs. The client also wanted to network his PCs, and have an easy way to simultaneously get on the Internet from many locations.
The client, who owns an investment firm, and his wife are in their early fifties, empty nesters, living in a 20,000-square-foot estate home. It was designed to give their kids plenty of room when they visited, allowing them to enjoy themselves.
This estate had an unusually high great room ceiling, measuring 56ft. from floor to ceiling. The great room connected the two wings of the estate. We faced several challenges during pre-wiring, which lasted over a period of six months. The pre-wire took place in the middle of winter in the frigid cold—the house sits on top of a mountain and is very windy at the peak.
Getting the wires into the ceiling was also a challenge, as was trimming out the speakers. The post and beam construction along with ample amounts of steel made it difficult running wires through the house, so the pre-wire went slow and steady.
Electronics Design Group worked very closely with the general contractor, architect, and client to do as much up-front preparation and documentation in advance of the pre-wire. They coordinated closely with the electrician and other subs on the project to make certain they were providing them with the information they needed to accurately execute any aspect of their job that involved their specifications.
The completed installation features a new, functional system. Global lighting control from AMX in-wall and wireless touchpanels gives the client the ability to easily get around the large estate with confidence. Global audio control with a preset turn on volumes and zone selection makes turning on a single room, floor, or the whole house easy with one-button preset commands. “All Page” on the Panasonic digital telephone system is one of the client and his wife’s favorite and most utilized features. Locating each other in a house of this size is no small task. “All Page” allows the homeowners to get a hold of one another quickly and easily. Satellite presets with icons for TV and digital music via AMX touchpanels provides instant access to what they want to watch or listen to. No more sifting through menus trying to find what they want, or remember channel numbers. Macro commands on the media system’s two-way panels can turn on the TV and dim the lights, or turn off the system and turn them back on to a desired level. This adds the WOW factor to the room and it is fun.
Equipment list
| Time and Expertise Worksheet | |
| Task | Hours |
| Client Interviews | 32 |
| Electronic Design and Engineering: | 132 |
| Proposal and System Documentation Preparation: | 40 |
| Project Management: | 100 |
| Pre-wire/Rough-in: | 800 |
| Trim-out: | 480 |
| Shop Time for Racking and Testing: | 80 |
| Programming: | 80 |
| Final Installation and Calibration: | 16 |
| Client Instruction: | 8 |
| Interior Design and/or Architecture by your Company: | 0 |
| Interior Design and/or Architecture by Others: | 3200 |
| Project Management by Others: | 300 |
| Other time: builder's interior designs, drawings done on paper: | 0 |
| Total Hours to Complete: | 5268 |
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