A World of Data ARTEL INC.
Ultra builds high-tech global network operations center.
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May/June 2012 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN
NORTHEAST | GENERAL CONTRACTING
This building holds ARTEL's Network Operations Center.
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GENERAL CONTRACTING | NORTHEAST
A World of Data Ultra builds high-tech global network operations center. Story by James Broussard Photos Courtesy of ULTRA Company, Inc.
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RTEL, a global managed network services provider and information technology company —founded in 1986 has your number, so to speak. ARTEL’s Network Operations Center manages the transmission of sensitive information with the United States government, as well as sensitive commercial information such as financial data, including credit card numbers entered by individuals daily through internet transactions. The company has an expansive array of monitoring devices world wide, including every continent but Antarctica, which, you can imagine has limited coverage needs. The network operations center, in Herndon, Virginia connects them all. Referred to as the “management spot” Bob Cupples, ARTEL’s Director of Operations, states “it monitors all of the network component globally.” Recently ARTEL finished designing and implementing a “new world-wide high speed network connecting satellite teleports and customer locations worldwide” said senior network architect Bill Sullivan. “This network is probably 100 fold
larger than anything we had in the past,” said Couples, “and the network operations center is a 100 fold stronger.” A new state-of-the-art facility to accommodate the sophisticated operations became essential. A Network Operations Center to serve as ARTEL’s epicenter for the massive quantity of global information under their contract obligations entailed requisites to integrate and monitor dozens of satellite teleports, along with new fiber optic networks, and compliance with strict government security mandates. The facility had to be built to perfection with “no room for error.” ULTRA Company Inc, a commercial design-build firm specializing in high security facilities was contracted to handle the design/ build of the ARTEL facility. Ultra provided ARETL with pre-construction services on the original design concepts and budgeting. The design and construction teams assessed ARTEL’s critical elements and expansion possibilities of the facility, which monitors at least 55
{HERNDON NETWORK OPS CENTER} SITE GM/GC (DESIGN/BUILD CO.) Ultra Company INTERNATIONAL FIBER PROVIDER Cable & Wireless DATA CENTER HOSTING Equinix
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NORTHEAST | GENERAL CONTRACTING
ULTRA COMPANY ultracompany.com | 703-378-5856 Founded 23 years ago, ULTRA Company, provides commercial real estate construction and development services throughout Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The high security division’s construction and security experts create turnkey solutions for SCIFs, closed areas, high security rooms, NOCs, server rooms along with general commercial construction services. ULTRA's capability includes planning, consulting, design/build, engineering and implementation of secure facilities, including package preparation for CSA submission and accreditation. Through their comprehensive program; including networks and cabling, AV equipment, security systems — even furniture, the time from concept to commissioning is reduced drastically.
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OPPOSITE PAGE: The Networks Operations Center monitors at least 55 different satellites as part of its international network. The control center contains a state-of-the-art video center. THIS PAGE: Miles upon miles of fiber optic cables were necessary to have the Center ready for its world-wide mointering. Pictured are two of its satellites and one of the dishes used.
satellites, and completed the design in an aggressive time frame. Some final design and engineering decisions were tabled until construction phase began to move the process along quickly which works with a design-build concept when the builder is involved from the beginning. A county approved peer review firm was contracted to handle the initial review process thus streamlining the overall process to obtain a building permit. The entire scope of work had to be accomplished quickly and with razor sharp precision. President of Ultra Michael Piantedosi said, “the Center was built out and delivered in less than 12 weeks even with the Christmas holiday period being in the middle of the schedule.” Adding difficulty to the complex high security requirements of the Center, and the normal challenges associated with a fast-track project, the building was occupied with tenants who were hyper-sensitive to the construction related noise. To accommodate tenants and the building owners
Ultra ran both day and night shifts to maintain an aggressive schedule for the job. “Noisy” work was performed nightly and on weekends while weekday shifts focused on “quiet” work. “The highly responsive subcontractors, coupled with our extensive in-house trades’ personnel, allowed us to maintain a high level of production and superior quality control,” said Piantedosi. In addition to the complex construction demands of a secure facility, the overall project scope required multiple technical experts in various fields to deliver a Center meeting ARTEL’s requirements. Piantedosi recognized a team approach by all vendors was paramount in successfully interfacing government security standards —IT, AV and facility systems, and a custom designed energy management system. Enormous construction demands with a tight deadline loomed large. The client’s detailed needs and requirements evolved during the fast paced design and construction phases.
“The major mechanical and electrical systems of the building required significant changes. We had no time or room for excuses. Early in my 30 year career I learned excuses are for people who want to be in second place,” said Piantedosi. Neither Cupples nor Sullivan was at liberty to speak about the detailed project scope. “We incorporated full site security features to meet the needs of government and commercial customers.," said Sullivan. ARTEL could speak about the stateof-the-art video wall which is 26 ft long and 5½ ft high, composed of LED monitors tied into video processing equipment that allows it to become one seamless image that can be divided based on the needs of the Operations Center. The video wall can be used to show network monitoring tools, network diagrams, and maps of network sites. They can even show near real time broadcast television to keep up to date on world events.
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Commercial General Contractors Ultra Company’s Secure Facilities Division creates turn-key solutions for Government and Industry clients
SCIF’s • Closed Areas • Restricted Areas • Operations Centers • Vaults As the only end-to-end provider of services in the Washington DC Metro Area, we guide your firm from concept to implementation of your Secure Facility. Pre-Construction Services: • Current and Expansion Needs Assessment • Conceptual Planning • Budgeting and Value Engineering • Security Plans • National Intelligence Directive Compliance • Design, Engineering and Permitting
Our One-Stop Facility Team Will Complete: • High Quality and Fast Track Secure Construction • Back Up Power and HVAC Systems • Full Access Control and Security Systems Providers • CCTV, AV/VTC, Communications & Networks • Secure Hardware and Software Systems • Furniture And Fixtures Our Expert Team Puts Your Facility On-Line With: • Preparation Of Accreditation Packages • Submission Of Documents To Cognizant Service Authority • Ongoing Follow Up and Auditing Programs
For additional information about planning, design/build and implementation of a secure facility, or to schedule a consultation, call us today at 703-378-5856 or email info@ultracompany.com
14522 G Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151 | (703) 378-5856 Visit Us At : www.ultracompany.com
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