It's our experience here at ACS that the most successful projects are engineered and documented well in advance of actual construction. Early documentation of your audio/video distribution, home integration, network, lighting, motorized shades, and security needs in the design phase ensures accurate coordination between your architect, interior designer, builder and all subcontractors involved. Initial plans specify all the build requirements your team of professionals need to know.

Before you begin a project, whether partnering with ACS or working with another integrator, it will help to be familiar with the documentation involved.

Prewire Drawing Set

“Prewire” refers to the installation of cables and wires during a new home’s construction, including the AC electrical wiring and low voltage, home systems cabling. Remember, many wireless devices still use proprietary communication protocols, making them incompatible with other manufacturer’s products. Also, prewiring is a permanent upgrade to your home, increasing its value at sale time.

When IMAX bought ownership stake in Prima Cinema recently, it was like watching two good friends become a couple in your favorite romantic comedy: A match made in Hollywood!

Separately, Prima Cinema and IMAX are brands in which ACS have collaborated for some time. Prima allows subscribers to screen theatrically released films in their own homes, a popular option for many ACS customers in New York, Southern California, and the South Florida regions, while the IMAX Private Theatre solution began offering 2D and 3D systems (with floor-to-ceiling screens and state-of-the-art sound) for individual ownership just this year, and we’ve been a Certified Technology Partner since the beginning.

The agreement with Prima Cinema enhances IMAX’s ability to deliver a premium, end-to-end in-home entertainment experience, combining the best of IMAX’s immersive images and sound technology with the opportunity to view current theatrical titles.

While screening a new release at home has long been a wish for many film buffs, studios have hesitated to deliver first run films to the home due to concerns of privacy. However, Prima has recently signed deals with Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures as a direct result of their encryption technology to prevent illegal copies of movies.

Prima also provides exclusive at-home opening premieres for movies such as "Lone Survivor" starring Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana, "About Time" starring Rachel McAdams, and "Dallas Buyers Club" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

At ACS, we certainly enjoy working with residents to help make their home technology dreams come true. That said; what about business? So much of today’s connectivity and integration can be incorporated into your life at the office, not integrating these solutions is taking a chance on clients leaving with the impression that you’re out of touch. When you partner with ACS, your modern office guarantees you’ll make the best first impression every time.

How we work

Our goal is to accomplish your systems integration while maintaining your office’s interior design. We work with you, your architect, contractor and designer to incorporate everything seamlessly into your remodel, renovation or new construction project. Our goal of increasing the productivity within your newly-upgraded business can include one or more of the following services:

Conference Rooms: Plasma screens. LCD projectors. Video and audio conferencing. Why not bring all your network capabilities into the board or conference room? Boardroom control systems let you control a wide range of electronic equipment (audio, video, projection, lighting, screens, blinds, security and communication) from one central location.

Video Conferencing: Reduce travel costs with an in-person experience that can transform your business and allow you to make decisions faster. With real-time remote video conferencing, meetings can take place with true interaction between all participants. An effective telepresence platform is a great collaborative solution that improves your working relationships and productivity.

ACS is determined to be your resource for all things home integration. To that end, we wanted to focus this newest edition to our blog on a key integration partner; Control4.

Imagine receiving an alert from your phone while you’re away from home that says your garage door is open, and then it gives you the option of closing it. Or imagine pressing a button as you leave the house and your AC shuts off, your lights go out, and your alarm system powers up. Then, when you return home, another button push brings up the lights you have selected for that time of day, turns on your music or queues your television to your DVR. Such progress is no longer limited to your imagination and such functionality and ease-of-use has made Control4 a preferred entry-level solution for home integration.

Who is Control4?

Control4 is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company that has made value and the customer experience its priorities since 2003. Control4 emphasizes usability within their product offerings, bringing you control over virtually everything in your home from almost anywhere you happen to be, whether you’re at the office across town or on vacation halfway across the world.

For an all-in-one home integration system, there are few packages that can beat the ease of use that Control4 provides. Keep in mind, this total integration system must be installed professionally by an authorized dealer, such as ACS.

Looking for a simple way to improve your property appeal, make your life easier AND reduce your energy costs at the same time? Then ACS has your solution with home lighting controls!

If you haven’t explored how connecting your lighting system can add a whole new dimension to your life, consider: Imagine having your lights dim automatically, enacting preset “scenes”(like “dinner party” or “kid’s night”) so only the fixtures you need come on, in the colors you’ve set for that scene; imagine getting up at night and walking to the kitchen, and the lights in your path automatically fade on and off  so you don’t have to feel around for switches or startle anyone with excessively bright bulbs; or imagine your lights interacting with other home systems such as motorized window shades, security systems, thermostats and whole-house control and integration systems to maintain the temperature and economize energy use.

There are a multitude of systems available, in a variety of configurations and price points. ACS can offer a fully-wired system if you’re building a home or addition or new office space. Or you can opt for a wireless system that transmits commands over radio frequency signals instead of wires. A combination of the two works for many projects. We’ll recommend the solution that makes the most sense for your expectations, including options for:

Outdoor lighting

With astronomical timer, lights turn on automatically at dusk and adjust the settings to coincide with the changing daily sunset.

Photocell Sensors

Placed near motorized window treatments, these sensors read how much natural light is entering a space and trigger the opening or closing of shades or drapes to harvest daylight while protecting your valuables from excessive sun exposure.