One Card and One Meta Directory—Each student as well as each staff and
faculty member on campus has a smart card. The smart card provides both
physical and network access. Access to buildings, such as student access to
dormitory rooms, is performed through proximity smart cards. The card is
also used as a debit card for purchases of books and food, as well
as checking out materials from the library. Behind the scenes is a meta-
directory database coordinating data and database updates between sys-
tems. This allows credential and identity management across systems, such
as access control, human resources, student records, as well as identification
and access to e-mail, the Internet, and intranet access. Such a database pro-
vides campus-wide management to student, staff, administrators, and visi-
tors providing both improved physical and network security.
Ave Maria established a new paradigm for the design and integration of
building and communications systems and provided the university with the
opportunity to achieve unprecedented new capabilities while drastically reduc-
ing costs. It reflects the evolution of building systems to an IP network, finan-
cial advantages for building owners to integrate their systems, and the
important role of building systems in controlling energy usage and costs.
State of Missouri
In 2005, the State of Missouri initiated a high-performance asset manage-
ment strategy for their real estate portfolio.
Overview
The state owned or leased over $4 billion of real estate and was spending $300
million a year for acquisition, renovation and upkeep. While parts of the ini-
tiative addressed space planning and conditions assessment that could drive
capital planning, the state also announced a plan to reduce building energy
consumption by 15% by 2010.
The energy plan was motivated by constant increases in energy costs,
operating costs, and deferred building maintenance backlogs. Achieving the goal
required that the state’s energy management, technology, and communications
became a critical part of its overall asset management strategy. The implementa-
tion included utility billing, metering data and automated enterprise manage-
ment. The energy management, technology and communications are the focus
of this case study.
To execute the plan, the state utilized a performance contracting vehicle
with an energy service company (ESCO). The ESCO analyzed the buildings,
Case Studies 207