Case Study: Enhancing Security and Network Infrastructure at Terrapin Grove Apartments & Percy Thomas Senior Center
Overview
Terrapin Grove Apartments, a three-story, 94-unit senior living complex, and Percy Thomas Senior Center serve the senior community of Stevensville, Maryland. Together, these properties encompass a combined total of over 80,000 square feet and are connected to facilitate resident access to recreational activities. Terrapin Grove is managed by the Queen Anne’s County Housing Authority, while Percy Thomas Senior Center falls under the Queen Anne’s County Department of Aging.
Project Scope
We undertook a comprehensive retrofit of both buildings to modernize their security and networking infrastructure. Our work included:
Retrofitting Cat6 cabling throughout both facilities to support a robust security and network system.
Installing over 100 cloud-managed security cameras across the property to enhance resident safety and improve management awareness.
Implementing an advanced IPVMS software system for seamless monitoring and rapid access to recorded footage.
Upgrading access control at Percy Thomas Senior Center, including retrofitting the front automatic door with a solenoid lock integrated into the new system.
Overhauling and reorganizing network infrastructure to improve reliability and efficiency.
Challenges & Expertise
A significant challenge was retrofitting Terrapin Grove Apartments, a fully finished three-story building with hard ceilings, making traditional wiring methods difficult. This required a high level of expertise in low-voltage cabling and strategic pathway planning to ensure minimal disruption while maintaining the building’s integrity. Despite these challenges, we successfully installed structured cabling to support the new security system.
Security Enhancements
The over 100-camera installation now provides comprehensive surveillance coverage, greatly improving the safety of residents and enhancing property management’s ability to respond to incidents. While the camera systems for each property remain separate, both are cloud-managed, allowing for centralized monitoring and management from a single interface.
Network Infrastructure Overhaul
We also undertook a complete overhaul of the network infrastructure at both properties. The Percy Thomas Senior Center, which experiences heavier network usage, required careful planning to avoid disruptions. We executed the network cutover after hours, ensuring a seamless transition for staff and residents. Additionally, we relocated and reorganized network equipment into a secure, well-labeled rack, improving accessibility and long-term maintainability.
Conclusion
By modernizing the security and network infrastructure of Terrapin Grove Apartments and Percy Thomas Senior Center, we significantly enhanced both safety and operational efficiency. The project showcased our ability to execute complex retrofits in finished multi-story buildings while maintaining seamless operations. Our expertise in structured cabling, cloud-managed security solutions, and network overhauls has provided Queen Anne’s County with a future-proof system designed to support the safety and connectivity needs of its senior residents for years to come.
