Technology Checklist for a New Commercial Building

New construction is the least expensive time to create sensible pathways, network rooms and cable routes. Waiting until finishes are installed can turn a straightforward cable run into disruptive retrofit work.

Identify available internet providers early, where service will enter the building, where provider equipment will terminate and whether a secondary connection is needed. Rural and mountain sites may need additional lead time or alternative connectivity planning.

Plan adequate wall or rack space, ventilation, electrical service, UPS requirements, grounding where applicable and access for service. Multi-floor or large buildings may need intermediate distribution locations connected by fiber.

Count workstations, phones, printers, access points, displays, POS devices and other networked equipment, then plan spare capacity. Include ceiling locations for wireless access points and consider future devices before drywall is installed.

Wireless coverage should be designed from the floor plan and expected occupancy. Phone systems, paging/intercom, restaurant POS, conference-room technology and cloud services may all depend on the network and should be coordinated rather than designed independently.

Camera, access-control and other regulated security work should be coordinated with the appropriately licensed security provider. Fire-alarm requirements should be handled according to applicable code, design and licensing requirements. WNC IT Pro can coordinate IT/network infrastructure with WNC Security Pro where separate regulated security services are required.

Label cables and patch panels, retain test results where provided, document network-room locations and keep a useful record of the infrastructure. Good documentation reduces future service time and protects the investment made during construction.