PROJECT
building technology
Feds Upgrade Denver Digs State-of-the-art security solution and LEED designation renew federal office building.
T
he extensive renovation of the César E.
To achieve the security goals set forth by the FPS, Di-
tively transformed it into a state-of-the-art,
dier designed and installed a complete security and sur-
high-performing green facility and earned the prop-
veillance solution from Panasonic, Secaucus, NJ, includ-
erty a Leadership in Energy and Environmental De-
ing a network of 46 indoor and outdoor i-PRO HD 720p
sign (LEED) Gold certification.
security cameras. The fixed-dome i-PRO cameras capture
The sustainable design strategies secured the building
more frames/sec. with a wider range than the previous
a 75-yr. lifespan, made use of locally available materials
analog cameras. The cameras also feature day and night
and recycled steel, and projected a 32% reduction in water
modes, face detection, auto back focus, fog and high-light
use and a 30% reduction in energy costs. In addition to
compensation, and high-profile streams for simultaneous
building improvements and sustainable-design strategies,
real-time monitoring.
a key priority of the renovation was a complete overhaul
To maximize the cameras’ capabilities, Didier also in-
of the building’s existing security and surveillance system.
stalled four i-PRO NV200 SmartHD network disk record-
The building is a ten-story, 180,000-sq.-ft. facility that
ers in the command-and-control room, where the video
is home to seven federal agencies and acts as a gateway to
from the HD cameras is channeled, displayed in real time
Denver’s Civic and Justice Center—the largest saturation
on four 47-in. monitors, and stored for playback when
of federal buildings outside of Washington. The federal
necessary and for archiving purposes. The network disk
agencies in residence provide a variety of services to city,
recorders use real-time face-matching technology and can
county, state, and national communities, supporting
simultaneously display live images from as many as 16
more than 400 employees and nearly 100 visitors each
cameras, allowing all cameras to be monitored at the same
day. Originally constructed in 1984, the building was due
time in the command center.
for architectural and security renovations to better accomTop. The César E. Chávez Memorial Building is a ten-story, 180,000-sq.ft. facility that is home to seven federal agencies and acts as a gateway to Denver’s Civic and Justice Center. Above. Camera improvements allow a security team to control and monitor the entire building from one secure location.
Want more information? The resources below are linked in our digital magazine at cbpmagazine.com/digital/mar2015.
Circle 4 on the Reader Service Card. Visit the i-PRO series product page. Download the Panasonic Video Surveillance Reference Guide. Download the Panasonic Video Surveillance Catalog.
22
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
MARCH 2015
cbpmagazine.com
Rocks Amphitheatre, and other projects with the FPS.
Chávez Memorial Building, Denver, effec-
modate and protect employees and visitors.
Due to these improvements, the command center allows easy access for a limited security team to control and
A security systems officer with the Federal Protective
monitor the entire building from one secure location. The
Service (FPS), a federal law enforcement agency that pro-
system’s flexible design enabled the team to leverage exist-
vides integrated security and law-enforcement services to
ing power lines to reduce installation costs, and the hous-
federally owned and leased buildings, facilities, and
ings were specifically chosen to ensure cameras could be
properties, commissioned the work. His primary goal
taken out of their enclosures quickly and easily for any
was replacing the existing, aging analog system with a
necessary adjustments or repairs.
new, IP-based surveillance system to better protect the
“Because the system was end-to-end Panasonic, it
people, building, and property, and provide more ad-
made things easy for us because everything just works to-
vanced perimeter surveillance around the exterior of the
gether seamlessly and is easy to deploy,” said Didier.
building. While analog security systems are quite effec-
The security-systems officer with FPS and the local
tive, it was decided that a building of this size would be
security team at the César E. Chávez Memorial Building
better served with an IP-based surveillance system, elim-
were pleased with the results. Since the system deployed,
inating the existence of additional cords and wiring and
it has brought reliability and consistency, delivering clear
creating easier viewing of live feeds from all cameras in
HD images of the interior and exterior of the building
one central location.
with no equipment failures or other issues.
Steve Didier of Didier Denver was brought in to com-
The security solution created a reliable system that
plete the security overhaul. Didier Denver’s portfolio in-
delivers complete coverage and recording for the entire
cludes the installation of the Postal Inspectors’ camera
building. The integrated network runs smoothly and ef-
system that has been implemented in Post Offices
ficiently to supply full visual access and secure video
throughout Colorado, the Denver Bronco’s stadium, Red
storage. CBP
