Case Study

Boston Commercial Real Estate Company – Apps Without Cell Coverage Are Useless

An existing two-story property in Cambridge, MA was renovated by The Davis Companies to include new construction of two additional stories. The renovated and expanded building included a restaurant on the first floor, workout room, game room and collaboration areas for its tenants. The Davis Companies’ construction efforts included adding electric vehicle charging stations in the associated parking garage for the convenience of its tenants.

The Challenges:

1. No bars. No charge.

Multiple electric vehicle charging stations were installed in the parking garage for tenant convenience.  However, the charging stations could not be used.  It required an app and without any cell coverage in the parking garage, no one could get a charge.

2. No Cell Coverage throughout Common Areas

The new construction offered tenants many amenities including a vast open foyer with high ceilings.  The property included a beautiful workout room and multiple areas designed for collaboration. But, in all these areas there was no cell coverage:  no downloading music or listening to a podcast while on the treadmill, no ability to dial in another participant to join the collaboration, no ability to call a cab or use one’s Uber app to get a ride. Low-E glass installed as part of the new construction repels cell signals.

The Davis Companies needed a solution for this newly constructed commercial property in Cambridge and they found KTS.

The Solution:

KTS designed and installed one Wilson Pro cellular BDA to provide reliable cell service in the parking garage, throughout the lobby and common areas of the property.

Challenges:

Every building has its nuances and challenges.  For a newly redesigned building with high ceilings and in some areas no ceilings, the aesthetics are critical.  KTS designed the placement of the dome antennae and incorporated panel antennae to maximize coverage while blending with the internal decor.

Benefits/Impact:

• Tenants can charge their vehicles.
• Tenants can enjoy the facilities and amenities offered in this property including the workout room, the spacious lobby and collaboration areas while knowing they have consistent, reliable coverage.
• A lobby monitor was required by the City of Cambridge to display public transportation information.  With close proximity to Alewife Station, the display includes bus and train schedules and with the installed cellular BDA, the monitor displays the location of a person’s taxi, Uber or Lyft.