Sometimes the solution for keeping properties safe under low-lighting conditions is to employ video surveillance that operates in such conditions rather than to install motion-responsive emergency lighting. LVC Companies, Minneapolis, opted to do just that to protect visitors and property at the Minnesota Zoo.

Lighting and security

The 32-foot-high, 1.25-mile-long Treetop Trail enables visitors to enjoy bird’s-eye views of the zoo. Perched on poles lining the path of a retired monorail track, a world-class video surveillance system includes 24 i-PRO security cameras.

“Video surveillance systems are really at the leading edge of the security industry because they’re getting those visual representations and allowing analytics or A.I. overlay to be put to use for different security and property protection purposes in different types of settings, including public places, retail, business and banking,” said Mike Botten, LVC sales manager.

LVC also updated the zoo’s entire video surveillance system network, bringing all the security cameras online into a single, secure, state-of-the-art server. The 25-megapixel WV-S8573L and 33-megapixel WV-S8574L models are said to be the industry’s thinnest multidirectional outdoor cameras with high-performance artificial intelligence  engines. They offer advanced A.I.-powered analytics and operation, color night vision and built-in 360-degree infrared LED for enhanced low-light monitoring. The 4K WV-S25700-V2LN model also has a vandal-
resistant domed housing.

Coordinating surveillance technology with other campus and building security, access and emergency systems can be critical, Botten said. 

“The requirements for integration between video surveillance and access control systems have never been more important,” he said.

Customer service offerings

“Advancements in video surveillance technology offer multiple benefits,” said Dan Johnson, marketing and communications manager for LVC. “We’re offering things like analytics, heat mapping and people-­counting systems that help retailers maximize customers’ experiences, including what aisles customers are visiting most, what are the peak traffic times to adjust staffing, are there long lines at the checkout, and what are the impediments to positive customer experiences? We help them with all of that.”

LVC also delineates different customer service offerings—installation and service and maintenance, which includes troubleshooting and 24/7 security monitoring. LVC’s maintenance and monitoring business segments are growing steadily, Botten said.

LVC installs, maintains and represents cutting-edge products made by more than 40 manufacturers of video surveillance, intrusion detection systems, access control, emergency intercoms, fire alarms, life safety and fire suppression systems. As a result, LVC workers must be constantly familiar with new products and technologies.

“Technology consultants need deep product knowledge to answer a customer’s needs,” Johnson said. “Say a customer has an idea of what they might want, and they’ve been educated by the marketing materials. Now, they want to talk to someone who can answer the hard questions to tailor a system to their specific needs. That’s us. Our vendor partners are actually helping us provide all the information and tools our customers need so they can get the most from the latest technology.”

LVC got its start installing fire alarm systems in 1982. By 1994, the contractor began installing security systems. It opened an office in Tempe, Ariz., in 2009, acquired three Minnesota-based fire protection companies from 2016 through 2017, and started a national security division in 2019.

LVC continues to expand its services and take on new roles, thanks to growing demand for fire prevention and suppression, video surveillance, security and building controls, electronic building access and security monitoring. In the process, the company has forged a reputation as a leader in systems integration where limited-energy technology, also known as low-voltage, is spurring rapid change.

“We’re required to integrate control of rooftop or air-handler units, smoke dampers and elevators for fire and life safety management,” Botten said. “This integration has been going on for many years. In more recent years, we’re seeing more requests for the integration of smart building technology principles on the security, fire and life safety aspects of our business.”

Eleven on the River

In addition to the Minnesota Zoo, LVC electricians have also worked on a residential tower known as Eleven on the River in Minneapolis. LVC designed and installed the building’s fire alarm, life safety, security, structured cabling and emergency communications systems.

Security enhancements for the 42-story, 118-residence structure include more than 60 network-based Hanwha IP video surveillance cameras, plus integrated access controls featuring 40 LenelS2 card readers to safeguard exterior entries, stairwells and shared amenities.

LVC engineered a fiber communications trunk to serve as the backbone of the distributed antenna system (DAS) and other networks. It also installed horizontal cabling within condo units to support wireless access point networking, sound reinforcement and TV distribution.

To provide residents with advanced home system performance and customization, audiovisual systems were tied to personal structured media centers. Additional cabling supports Eleven on the River’s security and energy management networks.

Emergency communications

LVC also installed a voice evacuation fire alarm system known to excel in large-scale applications. The system was built on Notifier by Honeywell’s Onyx 3030 platform.

Other notable additions are platforms for supervising and monitoring the fire sprinkler system—including fire pumps—and for controlling elevators in fire alarm conditions, plus stair pressurization and post-fire smoke exhaust systems.

LVC also designed and installed two-way emergency communications to ensure connections with areas of refuge and elevator landings. The Aiphone stand-alone video intercom and DAS system maximize emergency communications.

The project exemplified a growing trend of providing DAS to assure emergency communications for first responders.

“That’s probably our biggest foray into emergency management, not only providing the systems that protect the building, but a wireless network that can support first responders,” Botten said.

The Eleven on the River project required working through a complex, multiphase construction schedule amid COVID restrictions and coordinating with other building trades. Success rested heavily on LVC’s carefully disciplined approach and ongoing efforts to secure personnel highly skilled at limited-energy work.

Many apprentices and journey-level electricians have received recognition from the Minnesota Statewide Limited Energy JATC while working for LVC and gaining hands-on experience.

Botten credits the company’s growing customer base to keeping personnel and customers abreast of technological developments and property management trends.

“Not only are we interpreting what our customers want, we’re providing technological solutions to solve their needs,” Botten said.

LVC Companies