San Diego’s Portside Pier opened in June of this year, offering residents four distinct waterfront restaurant concepts in a unique architectural setting that encompasses 1100 seats including 600 outdoor.
According to AV-ators President Jared Magoon, who designed and integrated the Control4 automation system, most of the building runs automatically every day, including the lights, climate controls, outdoor firepits, audio system, video displays, and even the security system and surveillance cameras.
At the start of each day, a cleaning crew disarms the building’s alarm system, initiating a bright “clean-up” lighting scene that foreshadows the day’s scheduled automations. Before the kitchen crew arrives, the climate control systems set the entire space to a comfortable working temperature. Half an hour before opening, the Control4 system sets the lighting scene in each restaurant, all four venues begin playing music specific to their style and clientele, and all the TVs turn on and set to various sports channels. All of this occurs automatically without any human interaction, as does the shut-down routine at close of business.
As the day progresses, 17 ambient light sensors keep track of sunlight and allow Control4 to intelligently adjust lighting levels on more than 140 lighting loads. Later, a “twilight hour” lighting scene slowly dims to nighttime levels. Other considerations, such as TV programming for the building’s 20 TVs and five digital signage menu boards, are left to staff with easy and intuitive programming.
Throughout the 40,000-square-foot building’s indoor and outdoor spaces, 130 in-ceiling and surface mount speakers provide audio; two Shure SM58 microphones and a single body/lavalier mic are also integrated into the sound system with the ability to be used in any or all audio zones.
Distribution of audio and video signals is through a Binary MoIP system^ over Cat6. The AV network, combined with climate sensors, security panels, and an enterprise-grade Araknis networking solution, required installation of more than 20 miles of low voltage cabling.
The hardest part Magoon says, was complying with new CA Title 24 Energy Compliance requirements, which include nation-leading regulations for daylight harvesting, demand response energy reduction, and more. “We actually exceeded the requirements through careful planning, with the help of automations and the energy monitoring capabilities of Control4.”
For security, 71 integrated surveillance cameras record to three 12TB 32-channel NVRs and can be viewed remotely through the Control4 app. While most system control is operated through local iPads in each restaurant, 10 Control4 configurable keypads offer hardwired lighting control.
For system maintenance and remote support, AV-ators installed Wattbox power strips and OvrC-capable power conditioners.
