Calgary High-Rise Office Complex Completes Sustainable IP Intercom Upgrade

3-minute read time

Summary 

• A high-rise office complex in downtown Calgary wanted to upgrade from analog to IP intercoms across multiple elevators, parkades, and emergency call stations to improve safety.

• Convergint chose NVT Phybridge Power over Ethernet (PoE) innovations to help enable the new IP intercom system. 

• The flexibility of the NVT Phybridge portfolio allowed Convergint to easily adapt mid-project, leveraging existing two-wire and coax cabling where needed to ensure reliable performance in every environment. 

• The organization maintained its commitment to sustainability by minimizing electronic waste and aligning with its LEED building certification. 

Challenge 

A premier high-rise office complex in downtown Calgary was operating an analog intercom system that no longer supported modern communication, reliability, or integration requirements. The complex required a SIP-capable IP intercom solution to enhance communication and seamlessly support call recording. However, the project faced significant challenges: 

• Infrastructure complexity: 113 analog intercoms that operated on two-wire cabling needed to be upgraded with no head-end strategy in place. 

• Elevator integration issues: The existing two-wire runs in the high-rise elevator systems had multiple splits and junctions, leading to signal degradation that was too unreliable for IP. 

• Space and power limitations: Alternative solutions would have required 113 separate media converters and power supplies, demanding large head-end enclosures and electrical upgrades. 

• Operational disruption and cost concerns: A rip-and-replace strategy would have created major business disruption, cost overruns, and harsh environmental impact. 

Solution 

Convergint Technologies selected NVT Phybridge PoE innovations to overcome the project’s infrastructure and deployment challenges. The solution’s flexibility allowed Convergint to minimize head-end equipment, reducing space, hardware, and power requirements. Initially, the project team used the existing two-wire infrastructure to connect the new IP intercoms. However, the deployment team discovered new challenges in the elevators, as multiple splits, junction boxes, and poor grounding reduced signal strength. Fortunately, each elevator’s traveler cable had a spare coaxial cable, allowing the team to pivot without redesigning the network. The team easily incorporated the NVT Phybridge 1701+ extender innovations, leveraging the coaxial cables to enable IP intercom in the elevators.

Rather than installing network switches throughout the building, switches were centralized in elevator control rooms, delivering PoE power and data down the coax cable to intercom devices inside elevator cabs. The result was a simple and secure network that reduced IDF closet requirements and ongoing management costs. The upgraded SIP-based intercom system also integrated directly with the property’s Genetec security platform, enabling advanced functionality like audio call recording. 

Result 

With the support of Convergint Technologies and the flexibility of NVT Phybridge 1701+ innovations, the twin-tower office complex successfully transitioned to a modern IP intercom system without the cost, disruption, or complexity of re-cabling. By leveraging existing two-wire and coax cable runs, the team minimized risk, complexity, deployment times, and network costs – all while reducing physical space and ongoing energy requirements. 

The new SIP-based intercom system now provides crystal-clear audio communication across all 113 IP intercom devices, including 45 elevators and six parkade levels. The system provides improved audio clarity, reliability, and responsiveness, critical for emergency scenarios in both elevator cabs and parking structures. The integration with Genetec further enhanced the system’s capabilities, enabling automatic audio recording. 

Beyond technical performance, the upgrade had a positive operational and financial impact. Centralized switching reduced the need for distributed infrastructure, streamlining ongoing network management while lowering long-term operating costs. “This project was about helping the organization deploy a modern IP intercom solution to improve communication and safety,” said Alberto Olazabal, Convergint Technologies. “By using NVT Phybridge’s flexible solutions, we avoided unnecessary infrastructure costs and gave the customer a robust system that met their safety, sustainability, and integration goals. They now have a future-ready platform that delivers immediate value and long-term savings.” 

Sustainability 

The team demonstrated true environmental and operational leadership by embracing innovations that enabled the reuse of existing assets. The organization modernized communication and safety by repurposing its existing network infrastructure, reinforcing their unwavering commitment to sustainability. This forward-thinking decision reduced electronic waste and material consumption, perfectly aligned with their LEED Platinum certification and whole-building approach to environmental responsibility. This strategic move not only minimized the ecological impact of their digital transformation but also enhanced cost efficiency and operational excellence. 

About Convergint Technologies 

Convergint is a global leader in technology enabled security and safety solutions. They help protect people, assets, and reputations by equipping organizations with the capability to confidently manage complex risk, compliance, and deliver impactful business outcomes. They combine local expertise with global scale to serve customers across verticals.

About NVT Phybridge 

Our mission is to help organizations maximize their IP migration return on investment by providing high-quality network solutions that are robust, secure, simple to implement, and environmentally responsible. NVT Phybridge is a global leader in PoE network innovations that eliminate the reach and cable type limitations of traditional PoE switches. Our diverse and award-winning portfolio of long-reach PoE switches and extenders help organizations deploy the latest IP technologies over any new or existing single-pair UTP, coax, multi-pair UTP, or 2-wire infrastructure without high costs, complexity, business disruption, or security concerns.