Case Study

University Relies on KTS as it Rapidly Expands

The Situation

This rapidly growing university counted on KTS to upgrade their infrastructure and to support significant campus growth.  Their most recent expansion included the construction of two large buildings to house more than 500 students plus a fitness center and academic and community spaces.

KTS was instrumental in working with the general contractor and subcontractors to plan and sequence this significant construction project that spanned multiple years. 

The Work

KTS was charged with designing and laying out the data closets throughout the two buildings. The closets were small and were shared with electrical panels so the design had to accommodate multiple panels while adhering to National Electric Code (NEC) codes for proper access. As a result, the design had to be precise and compact.

Once the physical closets were built by the construction team, KTS technicians terminated and tested the network cables. Then, they labelled and documented all cabling. The network’s single mode fiber was then connected to the campus single mode fiber system (which had previously been installed on the campus by KTS).

KTS also terminated and tested the cabling at each closet. The fire alarm multimode cable for the buildings was connected to the campus multimode fire alarm cable, and terminated and tested by KTS. Additionally, KTS terminated and tested the cables for the security camera system, the elevators in the buildings and the emergency “Blue Light” phones which had been added to this new residential area of campus.

Challenges

The biggest challenge of the work was scheduling. KTS needed to wait until the data closets were built to work on them. As is typical in constructing multi-floor buildings, the structured cabling work was scheduled after construction milestones were achieved. KTS’ work was sequenced starting first with the 4^th floor, then the 3^rd, 1^st and 2^nd floors.

Late in the project, it was decided to add an additional data closet, requiring reconfiguring and additional design work to accommodate this change. The closet would include a First Responder Bidirectional Amplifier (BDA), which also led to redesign to accommodate the BDA system and additional electrical panels.

The final KTS work was dependent on the completion of each individual dorm room to be move-in ready. As rooms were completed and the final coat of paint was dry, KTS terminated the station end of the network jacks in each room, the final touch before students moved in.

Benefits/Impact

The buildings opened in August of 2026. After a grand opening celebration, the campus welcomed the over 500 hundred new students who would be the first to occupy these two new residence halls. Students are pleased with their new accommodations and the design which fosters community. The university is delighted to know that those students can rely on fiber optic cabling that will support their ongoing needs, wireless access that is dependable and cell coverage that is consistent and reliable; students’ safety and productivity are assured by these solid connections.