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Twenty minutes outside of Tucson and east of the main campus of the University of Arizona lays a 1,345-acre site, the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park. Originally developed in 1978 by IBM, the site and facilities were purchased by the University in 1994. Today, 2 million square feet of developed space is home to 30 technology companies and 6,200 employees.
The student base of the University of Arizona, at approximately 35,000 students, is an important source of potential employees for the technology companies. Nearly 90% of the Park’s companies employ University of Arizona graduates while half the tenants use students for internship programs. Currently, the companies located within the University’s Science and Technology Park contribute $1.87 billion annually to the Southern Arizona economy.
Recently, the Park opened a three-story 72,000 square-foot facility as part of their five-year Phase 1 expansion plan. The newly constructed facility is designed for use as multi-tenant offices and laboratories geared towards technical research and development. The interior design of the building is completely modular. Depending on the tenant’s space requirements and needs, work zones can range from 1,200 to 50,000 square feet. The building was designed to meet the needs of technology companies that are in a state of transitional growth. “We’re looking for both small companies that may need less than 1,000 square feet as well as larger ones that may need tens of thousands of square feet,” states John Grabo, Park director of marketing and international programs.
The modularity of the interior building design provides for options such as raised floors, demountable walls and conference rooms. However, the most attractive feature of this facility is its high-speed and flexible cabling capabilities, which include a fiber optic backbone and a Category 5e, with optional fiber connectivity, warranted system to the desk. The highly advanced structured cabling layout includes a complete system package from Draka-Molex Cabling Systems, a partnership between Draka Comteq USA and Molex Premise Networks (www.drakamolex.com). The system package was designed by Dennis Manes, RCDD, Convergence Group (www.convergencegroup.org), a division of NTDS, Native Tele-Data Solutions, Inc. (www.ntds.org).
Zoning Out Cable
The cabling infrastructure was based on zone distribution for multiple tenants within this complex. “Because each tenant’s needs varied, from small to medium sized operations, we wanted to make sure that everyone was equipped with the same high speed voice and data capabilities, “states Manes.
The definition of zone in this facility equates to 1,200 square feet per zone. Each zone is defined by support beams located on the floor. Some companies may require only one zone or as many as eighteen for each floor. “I specified 50 pair of voice cabling, 50 pair of data cabling and a 6 strand 500/500 bandwidth multimode fiber to each zone to ensure all bases are covered for today’s tenants as well as for tomorrow’s,” states Manes.
Zone distribution cabling for each floor includes one cable distribution box per zone. There is one IC (intermediate cross connect) closet per floor, which provides the fiber optic backbone to each of the distribution boxes. “The fiber optic cable selected for the backbone between the closet and the distribution boxes is an indoor plenum-rated cable,” explains Scott Scholz, Western regional manager for Draka Comteq, USA, Inc. “This is a tight buffer cable which is highly flexible and can easily handle the rigorous above ceiling plenum environment while accommodating the changing needs of the tenant turnover expected in this facility,” he adds.
For voice and high-speed data applications, the fiber optic cable is terminated into a ceiling mounted Premises Distribution System (PDS). Each PDS accommodates a fiber distribution panel for backbone termination, a 110-style connecting block for phone and a Category 5e 24-port patch panel for data connectivity. “The patch panels, provided by Draka-Molex, have patented IDC V-shaped contacts that flex rather than fatigue when terminated. This is necessary to this installation environment as the patch panels hold up to many moves adds and changes,” states Steve Gosciminski, with DataCor, the manufacturer representative.
From the distribution box, the horizontal cabling is pulled through the telecommunication pole and then terminated at each desk to a 4-port Synergy™ wallplate housing four DataGate™ jacks, two for voice and two for data. The Draka-Molex Category 5e cabling allows the Park to offer VoIP (voice over IP). “This is a voice system through the computer where a small screen pops up for incoming calls. This system offers voicemail, voice forwarding, voice recognition, voice messaging and can even turn voicemail into an e-mail,” states Manes.
Have it Your Way
“One of the Park’s objectives for this facility was to offer a broad spectrum of modular furniture systems that could readily be reconfigured with the least possible downtime between tenant occupancies. The other objective was to be able to provide a highly flexible communications system that could also be readily reconfigured to maximize use of the rental floor space while minimizing long-term costs. It was my challenge to put this package together,” states Manes. Manes came up with a flexible design in partnership with Nancy Schneider of Goodmans Furniture, by utilizing Herman Miller modular furniture systems. “Due to the multitude of products and configurations, the Convergence Group, along with Goodmans Furniture, could offer a variety of office furniture configurations, becoming one of the few who could boast a ‘have-it-your-way’ office for companies in transition,” notes Manes.
The office layout solutions include movable wall panels, which can be floor-to-ceiling, or a unique open wall system, known as the “Resolve®” system. With the movable walls, panels include full or half walls and can even include an enclosed conference room. The Resolve system is based on workstations with limited open space and a high concentration of desk and office furniture. Both layout solutions offer unique pathways for data, voice and power cables through the ceiling. The Resolve system offers overhead trusses that can hold 100 pair Category 5e cables and can be easily laid in and accommodate a large bend radius. All the cable can be brought down to the desk through either a powered pole or wall access point.
Due to the unique zone layout, additional looped cable is stored in the ceiling and in the modular walls to allow for future moves and future growth. “When we installed the cable we allowed for 20’ of fiber optic cable take-up reels in the ceiling because the distribution boxes can be moved within a 20’ radius. In addition, we looped extra Category 5e cable within the walls of the modular furniture to allow for any reconfigurations,” stated Lyle Steeber, RCDD, General Manager with NTDS, the cable installation company for this project. “The Herman Miller furniture that offers overhead trusses, or bridges also allows for future expansion and pivoting of cable,” adds Mark A. Roberts, service manager with NTDS.
“This facility is appealing to transitional companies because the tenants, who move in after one has moved out, do not incur initial set-up charges due to the zone distribution system, and they are easily able to move walls and furniture per their needs,” adds Manes.
“This facility was designed with all the bells and whistles. And, because the cabling was installed by Native Tele-Data-Solutions, a Draka-Molex certified installer, the system is backed by a 25-year Draka-Molex Cabling Systems Product, System Performance and
Application Assurance Warranty,” notes Manes. “Draka-Molex offers additional assurance with third-party testing,” states Scholz. “By partnering with ITS ETL SEMKO (www.etlsemko.com), Draka-Molex participates in ongoing testing and industry standards performance verification, allowing peace of mind for our customers, such as the University of Arizona,” he adds.
This is the first of three similar buildings to be added in this Park. There are also plans to build a convention center, hotel and a golf course. “This is part of the five-year expansion plan that will add 1.9 million square feet of mixed-use development to the park,” notes Grabo. “This plan will provide local companies the opportunity to expand or relocate within a research park environment. Graduating students and interns also benefit with career opportunities,” he notes.
Because the Science and Technology Park is an extension of the University of Arizona, the Park’s tenants can take advantage of the following resources: on-site university courses for Park employees; an extensive library system; cultural events such as concerts, performances, lectures and seminars; and, an on-site University office directly linking Park tenants to University services as well as economic development and associated organizations available throughout the state.
All the new facilities and expansion phases, which will be added to the Science and Technology Park, will offer the same Draka- Molex Cabling Systems high-speed data and phone capabilities. “We hope that this expansion will enhance Tucson’s position as a desirable location for relocating companies, while adding technological capabilities to the Southwest,” adds Grabo.
