Clean Bill Of Health
Security check-up proves successful for Idesco and Adelphi University
- By Monique Merhige
- November 01, 2016
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
70TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ADELPHI’S
SCHOOL OF NURSING WAS
THE FALL 2013 GROUNDBREAKING
FOR A NEW BUILDING TO HOUSE
THE NEWLY RENAMED “ADELPHI
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING
AND PUBLIC HEALTH.” WITH DOORS
OPENED DURING THE SUMMER OF
2016, THE NEW LEED CERTIFIED
INNOVATIVE NEXUS BUILDING AND
WELCOME CENTER ALSO KNOWN
AS THE CENTER FOR HEALTH INNOVATION
IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART ADDITION
TO THE ADELPHI UNIVERSITY
CAMPUS IN GARDEN CITY, N.Y. THE
L-SHAPED BUILDING HOUSES THE
UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF NURSING
AND PUBLIC HEATH, THE OFFICE
OF UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS, THE
OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS, THE
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT,
AND STUDENT AFFAIRS- THE
LEARNING CENTER, THE WRITING
CENTER AND THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC
SERVICES AND RETENTION.
This massive 90,000 square foot 3-story
building includes underground and topside
parking for 300 vehicles, adding a level of
convenience for students and staff. The building
also contains high-tech laboratories and
learning spaces, allowing students to gain a
first-class education.
This modernly designed building also houses
five seminar and conference rooms for classes
and students/faculty. On the second floor of
the Nexus Building, students will find the
nursing instruction space that is used solely by
nursing students and includes classrooms and
ultramodern simulation labs. There are 10
examination rooms designed for different
nursing scenarios including an intensive care
room, a delivery room and even a “home care”
room set up to look like a person’s home. Each
exam room has a closed-circuit TV to observe
the student’s performance.
This innovative addition to the Adelphi
University campus will surely provide its students
with an optimal level of education, better
preparing them for real-life scenarios
within the medical field. The entire campus
spans 75 acres and currently has nearly 8,000
students from 43 states and 45 foreign countries
enrolled at the University, making it
imperative to continue implementing the
right high-tech security solutions whenever
an expansion takes place.
COMMITMENT TO SECURITY
SPANS DECADES
Adelphi is a world-class, modern university
with excellent and highly-relevant undergraduate
and graduate programs in College of
Arts & Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced
Psychological Studies, Honors College, Robert
B. Willumstad School of Business, Ruth S.
Ammon School of Education, University College,
College of Nursing and Public Health,
and the School of Social Work. With its main
campus in Garden City, N.Y., and its centers
in Manhattan, Suffolk County and Poughkeepsie;
“Adelphi University is no stranger to
security and has long been committed to
maintaining a comprehensive safety and
crime prevention program to help protect all
members of the Adelphi community."
"With the assistance of students, faculty and
staff, and through the cooperative efforts of the
Garden City community and local law enforcement
agencies, this program has contributed to
what we believe is an excellent record of safety
since its inception in 1896,” said Gene Palma,
assistant vice president of Public Safety & Transportation at Adelphi.
As a result, Adelphi University is currently listed as one of the top 50
safest colleges in the United States according to backgroundcheck.org
and 13th safest in New York State according to Niche.org. The university
has built a solid reputation and position of strength when it comes
to safety due to its proactive philosophy and building the right team of
people around them that consists of security professionals and electronic
security contractors that are true experts in the field.
One particular electronic security contractor—Idesco Corp., a leading
New York City security integrator has made quite an impact on the
university over the years and has been the trusted security advisor/
partner for almost a decade. Adelphi has been working closely with
Idesco for the past eight years and has built a solid relationship that has
stood the test of time.
From its initial large-scale security project, where the university was
looking for an experienced security integrator to handle an IP Video
upgrade campus wide; the relationship evolved over the years and has
reached new ground with the construction of the Nexus building.
BUILDING LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH SECURITY
INTEGRATOR PROVES BENEFICIAL
The relationship started in 2008 when Idesco provided various ID
badge printers and video cameras to the university. In 2009, Robert
Hughes, the associate director of Public Safety and Transportation at
Adelphi had recommended that Idesco join in the bidding process for
the IP video upgrade project at the campus. After winning the bid due
to their experience in the education market and seamlessly upgrading
the campus to IP video while ensuring that the new video surveillance
solution ran on the campus network successfully; Idesco proved to the
university’s top administrators that they were the right choice and a
valuable member of the Adelphi team for the long-term.
The relationship evolved over the years where Adelphi looked to
Idesco for guidance and education on the latest security technology
available in the industry. In a world where new security technology is
ever changing, Idesco was right by Adelphi’s side bringing the new
technology to them.
When the university announced the new Nexus Building and started
to break ground in 2013; there was no question on who should
handle the implementation of the new CCTV security system. Idesco
once again rose to the occasion and provided more than 50 state-ofthe-
art IP cameras for the interior and exterior of the new Center of
Health Innovation building.
“Idesco has been working with colleges and universities throughout
the New York City area for more than seven decades and continues to
build long standing relationships that have stood the test of time like
Adelphi,” said Andrew Schonzeit, president at Idesco Corp.
Working with Idesco over the years has been an absolute pleasure
from a professional and personal standpoint,” said Gene Palma, assistant
vice president of Public Safety & Transportation at Adelphi. “Idesco
brought the university to IP Cameras and stood by us through the entire
process. Their response to new work and most importantly, responding
at the speed of light when a problem arises is second to none. The Idesco
team has been available to us day and night and even weekends and can
always be counted on at all times to do what is right.”
Idesco and Adelphi have proven that collaboration and teamwork
pays off in the long haul.
“No matter what challenges we faced during the security installation,
we all collaborated together as a team to make things right,” said
Michael Troiani, service manager at Idesco. “Adelphi’s security team
and their IT department is really top-notch and one of the best groups
that we ever worked with.”
As with any security installation, encountering unexpected challenges
are part of the process. From the public safety point of view, a
huge challenge included ensuring all cabling and installation was coordinated
with drawings, general contractors, and subcontractors. There
were several changes that occurred and required things that were different
from the original plans; but having Idesco there to collaborate
with and handle all issues helped keep the project on track.
Another challenge encountered included an issue during the planning
stage where a couple of areas throughout the building that needed
cameras were missed.
“During the building construction, there was $600,000 worth of
equipment delivered that needed to be protected from theft,” Hughes
said. “We were missing a camera at an important entry door and called
on Idesco to help save the day. Idesco quickly came to our rescue and
installed the camera the same day once again delivering the superior
customer service that we have grown to depend on.”
HEALTHY DOSE OF SECURITY
Keeping the new building protected with a state-of-the-art life safety
and security system was the number one priority at the university.
Adelphi is a role model to its community and has become a trusted advisor to other Long Island campuses to show how the latest technology
can be used to protect college campuses. This new building was no
exception to the healthy dose of security that Adelphi continues to
inject campus wide. The university was looking to protect every entry
point of the New Center of Health Innovation building.
To accomplish this, a combination of fixed, PTZ and license plate
recognition IP cameras were installed in the hallways, lobbies, sitting
areas, elevators, roof, parking areas (exterior and underground), and
exit ramps. The underground parking garage is covered by six 180
degree cameras while the parking deck has two PTZ cameras installed
with two units housing 4 fixed and one PTZ camera at both entrances.
This provides the university with views of all areas at all times which
keeps all entrances covered. The outdoor cameras used were Axis
6000-e IP cameras. Overall, the university has been using a combination
of analog and IP cameras and finds that having both systems on
campus offers back-up with two types of coverage in case one system
goes down. With over 350 cameras on campus, Idesco was able to
build on Adelphi’s existing IP system and only had to add a storage
unit to extend storage time.
A few days after the exterior parking lot cameras were installed,
Adelphi was able to assist the police by pulling footage from the exterior
PTZ cameras after there was a vehicle accident on South Avenue
in front of the new building. In addition, the cameras have been used
to capture motor vehicle thefts and prevent larceny and theft of items
located in parked cars.
The University Department of Public Safety and Transportation,
located on the lower level of Levermore Hall and in the Public Safety
Command Center in front of Levermore Hall, provides Public Safety
services 24/7. The department consists of an assistant vice president,
two associate directors, one captain, three lieutenants (one of which
manages the transportation and parking services), five sergeants (one
of which is the crime prevention supervisor), and 40 carefully selected
and trained male and female officers, many of whom have law enforcement
backgrounds. Public Safety Officers provide vehicle, bicycle and
foot patrols of the entire campus, parking lots, buildings, and residence
halls; protect life and property; in concert with Health Services ensure
that those sick or injured receive prompt medical treatment; respond
to and investigate reports of crime; enforce traffic regulations, fire
safety, and conduct crime-prevention programs and seminars.
The Department of Public Safety and Transportation maintains a
close working relationship with the Garden City, Hempstead, Nassau
County, Suffolk County, Poughkeepsie and the New York City police
departments, all of which provide police services, including criminal
investigation and emergency services.
Although Adelphi Public Safety Officers are not peace officers and
therefore do not have authority to make arrests as such, they do provide
crime-scene services pending the response of the law enforcement
agency concerned. Officers have the authority to issue parking and
moving violation summonses on campus, and have the authority to request identification of persons on campus. The University maintains
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Garden City Police Department,
which has geographical jurisdiction to investigate alleged criminal
offenses that occur on the main campus in Garden City. The police
department and the University’s Department of Public Safety communicate
on an almost daily basis discussing types of incidents occurring
on or in proximity of the campus.
Furthermore, the department has a close working relationship with
members of the New York City Police Department’s first precinct covering
the Manhattan Center, the Suffolk County Police Department,
covering the Suffolk Centers, and the Poughkeepsie Police Department,
covering the Hudson Valley Center. Each department is contacted
annually or as needed to ascertain whether any Clery crimes
occurred that impact reportable crimes. In addition, Public Safety
maintains close relationships with other local and federal law enforcement
authorities.
“We live in uncertain times. We are vulnerable to natural, accidental,
and human caused hazards. In order to decrease the impact of
such events, and to ensure that the University can restore normal operations
as quickly and as efficiently as possible after an emergency, we
have developed an Emergency Operations Plan and have created a
university Emergency Command Center. Adelphi’s emergency planning
is based on planning principles and best practices and will serve
as the University’s guiding document during incidents affecting Adelphi
students, faculty, staff, visitors or facilities.” said Christine M. Riordan,
Ph.D., and president of Adelphi University.
ADELPHI REBRANDS, CONTINUES TO
EVOLVE WITH IDESCO BY ITS SIDE
In addition to video surveillance, Adelphi uses ID Card badging
solutions that require all staff and students to carry ID badges while
on campus. Their access control system is integrated with the university
public safety database system allowing access based on privileges
permitted; providing an extra layer of security. The university purchased
two ID badge printers from Idesco (XID 580IE) that offer
lamination in addition to pre-printed ID Cards. Idesco pre-prints
the emergency numbers on the back of the ID cards, while Adelphi
prints information on the front of the cards in-house that includes
the person’s name, identification number and school logo. Adelphi
has recently rebranded the university’s logo and has changed the university
colors to Brown and Gold.
From the beginning stages of providing Adelphi with an education
on IP Video to helping the university expand the campus; Idesco is
right by its side guiding them along the way on the newest security
technology available to keep the university on top of their security
goals. With no new construction projects on the horizon, future
plans for Adelphi include upgrading older buildings with newer
security technology and continuing to educate other campuses on
how to improve safety and security. Idesco and Adelphi will continue
to work together for years to come and be the pillar of the community
when it comes to safety. “We look forward to working with
Adelphi for the long haul and being there for the university whenever
they need us,” Schonzeit said. “Working together as one cohesive
healthy team is the key to any successful security project and keeping
customers educated on the ever changing technology
is imperative.” Adelphi will continue to
evolve over the years and remain the role model
for campuses around the nation.
This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of Campus Security Today.