School District U-46
U-46 South Elgin High School — Beacon Academy
In 2020 MSA and Stadia Video joined forces to develop plans for the South Elgin High School Digital Arts Modernization Project called the “Beacon Academy.”
The project consisted of a complete replacement of the school’s TV Studio, Control Room and Broadcasting Booth. All equipment was replaced in order to turn this area into a modern TV Studio with remote control capability, receiving AV input from their gymnasium and stadium for broadcasting live athletic events. A mobile vehicle studio was also designed allowing for broadcasting events from other high schools in the District.
The control room included video and audio monitors and control stations and an intercom system for the operators to control the system and communicate with the studio broadcasters.
Due to all the enhanced electronic needs, a new electrical, lighting and mechanical system was installed to support the new systems.
A new studio broadcast set was provided that includes new lighted backdrop, anchor desks and tables. All of which bring a professional look to the new studio.
The students being trained on this new system will allow them to transition from the school environment and be employed in the field of digital media and broadcasting.
Featured Projects
Hawk Hollow Middle School
In 2024 Hawk Hollow Elementary School was converted to a new middle school. The existing 53,000s.f. facility received a new 93,000s.f. addition that includes: new classrooms, library, main office, cafeteria, stage, gymnasium and an auxiliary gym that serves as a storm shelter. Completely new mechanical systems were installed throughout the building including boilers, pumps, roof-top units, fan powered boxes and building management system.
A fire protection system was extended into new addition areas for full building sprinkler coverage.
Domestic water was extended into the new addition areas to handle toilet facilities, drinking fountains, science labs, culinary arts and to service a full-fledge kitchen.
A new 2000amp electrical service was provided for the new building addition due to its size. A new 100KW natural gas emergency generator was installed to provide back-up power to mechanical heating systems, security and life safety devices including emergency lighting.
The existing building and new addition received all new high efficiency LED lighting and controls system.
The facility also received a complete new intercom and clock system and addressable voice notification fire alarm system. Security was also improved throughout the existing building and new addition with added intrusion detection, Software House access control and Genetec/Axis high definition camera systems.
Network connectivity was established throughout the building with Category-6A cabling and Cisco 2.4/5Ghz dual band wireless access points.
Their state-of-the-art cafetorium received a new audio, video and ETC theatrical lighting system for periodic school performances happening throughout the year.
Bartlett High School
In 2021, Bartlett High School decommissioned an obsolete cogeneration plant and replaced it with an internally mounted 250KW Cummins natural gas generator system that provides emergency power to Life Safety and Non-Life Safety systems throughout the building. Each system was provided with its own dedicated automatic transfer switch. The existing paralleling cogeneration switchgear was also replaced with a new Square-D QED-2, 4000amp, 277/480v, 3ph, 4w switchboard that powers the entire building. Multiple distribution sections with circuit breakers were installed.
Larkin High School
In 2024 Larkin High School had their existing ETC Sensor theatrical lighting control system upgraded with new ETC Sensor-3 control processors and thru-power dimming modules. The new universal modules provide a way of converting each module from either a dimmer, relay or constant circuit device remotely by using compatible software. New DMX gateways were also installed on all lighting battens for control of all new LED theatrical lighting that the Owner is currently adding to the system. New house lighting control stations and an emergency house lighting bypass system was also installed.
In addition, the existing 500watt incandescent house lights were replaced with new 58 watt LED recessed can lighting and controlled though a 0-10VDC gateway system. This system replacement not only provides better lighting, but reduces energy and mechanical loads throughout the space.
