Going Where the Technology Is (Part I)

P1 Building Technologies Division Sees Expansive Future

“Our job is to always know where the technology is going – and make sure we’re ready for the opportunities.”

Led by Operations Manager Danny Farnan, the Building Technologies division at P1 Group is growing, and they see a bright future for the low voltage/special systems in which they specialize.

One major capability that has been recently brought in-house to the group is Audio/Visual (A/V). This is due in large part to the hiring of Client Development Manager Mark Rau.

“We’re excited to have Mark on board. His long tenure in the AV business brings an expertise that allows us to go after more global AV opportunities,” Danny said.

THE BIG 3

P1 Building Technologies Capabilities

Structured Cabling, Fiber  & Networking

• Inside & outside plant structured cabling
• Copper/fiber optic splicing & testing
• Wireless Networks

Security systems

• Surveillance CCTV and Access Control systems
• Intrusion detection systems
• Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)
• Data center solutions

Audio/Visual

• Sound systems
• Video teleconferencing systems
• Digital signage
• Sound masking systems
• LED video wall systems
• Emergency notification & paging systems
• Video presentation systems
• K-12 intercom & clock systems

Senior Project Manager Jeff Dallas notes that P1 Building Technologies has always been performing (but not necessarily self-performing) much of the work listed above.

“We have been the installer for the ‘parts and smarts’, but what we wanted was to bring more of that in house,” Jeff said. “Now, more of that specialty work has been integrated internally so we can self-perform it.”

“The markets in which we’re specifically expanding include access controls, CCTV and special systems, and especially A/V,” Mark added.

Partnerships Play a Critical Role

“In any business, relationships drive revenue,” Danny said.

“We have, and will continue, our solid relationships as subcontractors to partners like Johnson Controls, Siemen’s, Securitas, and other electrical contractors.”

But for Building Technologies, relationships go one step deeper to ensure our technicians provide a level of expertise and quality others can’t.

“In our particular business, we must have strong relationships with our industry supplier partners, like American Dynamics, Avigilon, and RS2 to name just a few,” Danny said.

“Our technicians are highly certified which provides a strong value-add to our offerings.”

Danny says through strong partnerships with these suppliers, P1 technicians become certified, trained experts who can assess customer needs and expertly install the technology that best meets those needs.

Infrastructure and Internal Customers

Within large P1 electrical projects, Building Technologies has had scopes of work the size of the electrical capacity or, in some cases, larger.

This drives home the fact that, at the end of the day, the internal P1 network is where the best leads often come from.

“We are our own best salesmen,” Mark said. “When internal P1 divisions understand what we do, and vice versa, we can make those connections and generate more opportunities for each other.”

Building Technologies has grown in conjunction with the Electrical division of P1, and will continue to be a close partner in many electrical jobs.

But Mark says the division also hopes to develop its identity specifically within low voltage/special systems.

“Where we fall is the infrastructure of communications and special systems within the Electrical division,” Mark said.

And “infrastructure” is often as big as it sounds.

“Solar, electric vehicles, charging stations with digital signage, are all examples of rapidly growing markets,” Mark said.

Danny notes that infrastructure around these growing markets is where the work is.

“The infrastructure required for these technologies markets generates work not only for Building Technologies, but for the other divisions at P1, from fabrication to electrical to Millwright and beyond,” he said.

Mark Rau recently demonstrated the capabilities of Acclaim Plus series (Absen) LED video board technology in the Lenexa Training Room. The flexible signage allows customers to build to whatever specifications they desire with the “box moving” distribution concept. It can be wall-mounted, hung, or stacked from the floor, built in a variety of shapes and sizes using a series of smaller units that create one seamless digital art experience.

Big Goals for the Future

Danny says the division’s growth goal is to double in size over the next three years.

“We’re expanding our capabilities to better serve existing customers and generate new ones,” he said.

“We want to be able to serve our existing customers in any location they need across the U.S.

The opportunities are all around. Not only does Building Technologies hope to move into more national markets in tandem with P1’s expected growth, there are untapped prospects in P1’s already established markets.

“We have great offices in areas with a need for what we do, including Wichita, Las Vegas, and St. Joseph. We haven’t even tapped those markets yet,” Danny said.

Technology is the future, so we’re all looking forward to seeing what’s next for P1 Building Technologies.

The Building Technologies Team is:

Danny Farnan, Operations Manager; Jeff Dallas, Senior Project Manager, RCDD; Mark Rau, Client Development Manager; Mike McClammer, Building Technologies Project Manager; David Becerra, Superintendent, RCDD; Kristi Berglund, Electrical Engineer/Estimator