Essential Install | Day In The Life: Avande UK
This impressive
build will have a
mixture of day-one
automation and up-
grade paths too
Avande UK created
bespoke light-
scenes, but also
made the interface
easy so clients can
create their own
Since then Ashley has gathered together an
impressive team, all with different responsibilities, but
most importantly, all with a very strong and skill set to
bring to the table. An install ‘super-group’ if you will, so
under one roof the company has an expert in every field.
The project we were visiting consists of two tower
blocks, made up of 168 apartments. From the ground
to the 14 th floor, Avande is responsible for the standard
electrical wiring installation, some pre-wiring for AV
and some mood lighting. After this it starts to get more
interesting with apartments on floors 14-26 having
day-one automation capabilities courtesy of a Crestron
system controlling lighting, HVAC, and door-entry.
Some pre-programmed lighting scenes were being
finalised during EI’s visit, however the team stressed
that the system will enable users to easily create their
own should they wish. The company has designed
all the bespoke lighting panels, button engravings,
keypad layouts and scene setting as well as the Crestron
touchscreen interface. Up on the top of the building,
where if you thought the views from the lower floors
were good, you are frankly in for a very pleasant shock,
there are two duplex penthouses with two story high
windows and roof garden. The fix in these homes is
pretty much the same as in the other apartments, just
on a larger scale and of course the company is hoping
the occupants will be keen to add more automation and
AV to the system, as of course they are, like the more
standard apartments, all pre-wired to take any type of
upgrade the customer wants.
Ashley says: “This part of the work can really surprise
you, ones where you expect to convert quite a lot of
the occupants, can disappoint a little and some where
you don’t expect much, can really deliver. However, the
trend these days is very much on increased conversion,
the awareness is higher and frankly the industry has got
better at selling it. Every home buyer on this project will
get a pack showing them exactly what the options are,
giving them a clear upgrade path.”
Avande is also responsible for fitting out the
communal areas which includes the main reception,
where the concierge needs to control all of the shared
areas as well as the safety aspects of the building. This is
all achieved with the Crestron controls also automating
the lighting, heating and zoned audio throughout the
communal areas. Other communal areas include a gym,
a pool, Spa and residents lounge and eventually (when
the site is finished next door) an underground 26 seat
cinema. With cinema tech having come on so much in
recent years, you can tell Ashley is particularly keen to
get started on that aspect and deliver something really
special for the residents.
Taking the tour, the obvious thing that hits home is the
scale, Ashley warns: “Attention to detail on these projects
has to be absolutely first class. Because of the size and
the pressure to deliver on time, mistakes get expensive
fast. That is another reason we like to have control of the
whole project because there are no surprises and we
can plan and test everything. For this project, we had
already built up a strong relationship with the main M&E
contractor, building trust like that is one of the biggest
assets we have. To win a project like this is more complex
now. It used to be pretty much solely based on price.
September 2017 | 55