 |
| The speaker in the A-BUS system can be used by
the ComPoint system. |
|
On Long Island, N.Y., vast stretches of
undeveloped land have been steadily transformed into a multitude of new
residential and commercial properties for close to three decades. While other
areas have suffered from a declining number of new building projects, Long
Island has kept rolling along, with demand for new homes and potential for
retail and corporate building not letting up for a moment.
Westbury is such a community and a destination of sorts, thanks to its shopping
and fine dining choices, and at one time, a world-class raceway, Roosevelt
Raceway.
From 1940 to 1988, Roosevelt Raceway’s half-mile harness racing dirt track was
considered one of the preeminent tracks of its kind. After years of profit
losses, the site was acquired by a group of investors in 1984, with a promise
to bring a long-needed facelift to the raceway. Instead, years of neglect only
continued until the doors were permanently closed four years later.
Fast-forward to 2008: Westbury continues to be a major draw for new residents
and new businesses. Shopping malls, luxury retailers and restaurants dominate
the region surrounding the Raceway’s former home on Old Country Road; this 51-acre
property is now undergoing a major renovation of its own.
As part of a $400 million project scheduled to be completed within the next
three years, the Beechwood Organization is building Meadowbrook Pointe, a
development with more than 700 condominium apartments, duplexes and attached
houses.
Anchoring the community is a 25,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse which will serve as the
main venue for activities for residents, all of whom will be active singles and
retirees. When completed, the clubhouse will be an all-encompassing community
center and entertainment facility, with a large ballroom, lounge and a bar that
leads to two swimming pools, a public barbecue pit, business center, gymnasium
and separate sports bar with 14 televisions, and – in a nod to the past –
betting terminals.
With all of the advanced technology that goes into such a project, it is easy
to assume that something as seemingly basic as an intercom system would be an
easy choice to make.
However, as Laszlo Tordai of Media-Wire Inc., Stony Brook, N.Y., observes, the
trick is to find an option that offers seamless integration with the overall
audio system rather than a series of unsightly add-ons that clash,
aesthetically and sonically with the main multiroom system.
“Intercom systems are often added to an existing system, but not integrated
with it,” Tordai says. “It’s something that is often added as a second system,
on top of the primary audio, rather than becoming a part of it.”
Tordai is particularly familiar with the subject. He and his partners George
Pertot and Paul Drossel own and operate Media-Wire. Their specialties encompass
home automation and multiroom audio as well as low-voltage installations and
structured wiring; in short, the foundation of any whole-house (or whole-clubhouse)
installation.
 |
| The intercom system is used throughout the
facility, including the retail areas and locker rooms. |
|
“With the clubhouse, we were presented with 21
points,” Tordai relates. “In each section, we installed a Russound A-BUS
system, which is our ‘upgrade’ system throughout the complex. So when it came
time to spec the intercom, we took a hard look at their ComPoint product, since
it actually integrates with the overall system.”
Tordai cites ComPoint as being a time and money-saver because it did not
require add-on phones and speakers. Instead, ComPoint conveniently meshed with
the A-BUS whole-house audio system when, for example, the front desk needs to
communicate with fitness center locker rooms.
“Lockers are usually big and echo-y; not exactly an ideal environment for
paging members,” Tordai observes. “ComPoint allowed us to utilize the A-BUS
speakers while adding additional stations for private conversations.”
As Tordai describes it, the A-BUS keypad at the concierge desk controls the
volume for large spaces, such as lockers and the lounge. Because the keypads do
not have much power to output, ComPoint instead utilizes speaker output for
crisp, clear sonic resolution that is easily heard by members and employees.
“Our customers will appreciate how easy it is to access the system throughout
the facility, but as far as we’re concerned, one of the best things about
ComPoint is that we don’t have to be concerned about how well the intercom
works alongside the A-BUS system,” Tordai notes. “It’s as efficient and simple
a solution as you’re going to find.”
