Net Scaling Solutions: The Village at Rockville Project
The Challenge
We recently completed a major infrastructure overhaul at The Village at Rockville, a retirement community in Rockville, Maryland. The facility is substantial, a four-story building with three wings serving both independent and assisted living residents.
When we arrived on site, the existing communications infrastructure was severely outdated. The voice, data, video, and wireless systems were fragmented and unreliable, causing consistent problems with internet connectivity, cable television service, patient monitoring systems, and emergency communications. It was clear that patching the old system wasn’t going to cut it anymore, we needed a complete teardown and rebuild.
Our Approach
To minimize disruption to residents and staff, we executed the project in phases, working through one wing at a time. This allowed most of the facility to maintain service while we demolished and replaced the cabling in each section.
We designed and installed a comprehensive structured cabling solution using quality Leviton and Superior-Essex components. The backbone infrastructure included:
- 6-strand multimode fiber optic cable for high bandwidth backbone connectivity
- 25-200 pair copper cabling for voice systems
- RG11 coaxial cable for video distribution
For horizontal distribution throughout the building, we deployed 1,057 individual cable runs:
- 402 Category 6 cables dedicated to voice communications
- 434 Category 6 cables for data networks
- 221 RG-6 coaxial cables for cable television
- Strategic placement of wireless access points to ensure complete WiFi coverage
The Results
The transformation was significant. Where residents and staff once struggled with unreliable connectivity, they now have seamless access to high-speed internet, clear cable television, integrated patient monitoring, and dependable emergency call systems.
The Category 6 infrastructure supports modern VoIP phone systems and provides the bandwidth needed for today’s data-intensive applications. The fiber optic backbone ensures the system can scale to meet future needs without major reconstruction. The coaxial distribution delivers consistent video quality throughout the facility.
Most importantly, we executed the entire project in compliance with ANSI/TIA/EIA standards and BICSI best practices, ensuring not just that it works today, but that it’s built to last and meet professional industry standards.
This project exemplifies what structured cabling should accomplish in a critical care environment: improved operational efficiency, enhanced resident safety, and reliable service delivery through properly designed and installed infrastructure.
