The Fourth Utility: Information Technology

Henneman's Team Goes Behind the Scenes to Build IT Infrastructure

A Conversation with Tim Cole, RCDD

With today’s information technology being so integral to the success of a building, now more than ever IT planning must happen early in the decision process. That’s where Henneman’s IT Team comes in by designing information technology systems, working closely with mechanical and electrical counterparts at Henneman Engineering.

Henneman’s IT Team focuses on designing technology systems that are coordinated during design and construction.  The team works closely with owners and architects to plan telecom room sizes and placement, service provider access, conduits, cable tray, and risers in multi-story buildings.  Henneman designs universal copper and fiber optic cabling solutions that work with voice and data, in addition to overhead paging systems, security access control, cameras, audio visual and other systems. 
  
Tim Cole is Department Head for Information Technology at Henneman, based in Madison, Wisconsin and has more than 20 years experience.   He and his team have completed projects in many industries including healthcare, financial services, higher education, office and commercial buildings.  

He describes what Henneman’s IT Team does as building the information superhighway into a project.  “We build the fiber optic networks, the copper networks, the connectors – all the components behind the scenes that make the building’s information technology function,” says Tim.

“We work with owners to carefully plan the infrastructure of a building,” Tim explains.  “It is not typically anything a user can see or touch.  I like to use the example if you were to take one of our building designs and turn it upside down and shake it, the things that stay in the building are the things we do.  We focus on wiring, trays, racks, etc.  Things that would fall out of the building like telephones, computers and software are not the things we do.”

An example of one of Henneman’s larger IT projects is for Edward Jones, the large financial planning firm.  Currently the IT Team is providing all the technology design for the new headquarters in St. Louis and another in Tempe, Arizona.   

In St. Louis, Henneman designed the underground utilities including conduits and manholes as well as underground cable.  Inside the building, Henneman’s work includes designing and installing copper and fiber optics as well as network cable and overhead paging.  The IT Team also designed the communication rooms that house all the equipment.

Tim explains that with today’s sophisticated technology, his team acts as the fourth utility provider to make sure all systems are integrated.    “Today owners and architects realize that technology design must be part of the initial planning process and it’s important for us to get involved upfront.  We understand that our clients must have perfectly running networks from the day they move in or they can’t operate their business.  Our training gives us a broad view and vision of how the technology needs to be integrated.”   

Tim says he and the IT Team at Henneman find their niche very gratifying.  “We guide both architects and owners through the entire process to give them the best technology suited for their project.  What we do is very visible and hands-on, yet it’s behind the scenes.  It’s very rewarding to help the community whether for a hospital, a higher education facility or building.  We are a specialty that others can rely on.”

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Todd Dunn, P.E.

Vice President – Electrical Engineer

Todd Dunn likes to solve problems -- especially the electrical engineering kind.  As the leader of Henneman’s electrical engineering department in Chicago, Todd is an accomplished professional engineer with 25 years of experience.  He has a proven track record of finding and implementing innovative solutions to reduce costs and improve quality for projects of all sizes in a variety of industries.
 
Todd joined Henneman in 2005 and is responsible for overseeing staff members and managing projects.  A Chicago native, he spent the majority of his career in the Chicago area with stops along the way in California, New Jersey and Texas.
 
Todd says Henneman’s reputation for doing technically-advanced and highly complex projects, along with it’s commitment to ISO standards and strong team of people, brought him to the firm.  Henneman’s emphasis on long-term client relationships meshed with Todd’s own business philosophy, leading Todd to bring several of his own longstanding clients with him.
 
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Henneman’s Chicago office at 200 South Wacker has over 30 staff members.  Todd says being in the downtown area provides a lot of opportunity and is in close proximity to several of the large projects he has worked on in his career including Hartford Plaza, the Chicago Board of Trade, and Daley Center.
 
Since joining Henneman, Todd has stayed extremely busy with a wide variety of projects.  Recently he and his team designed a new life safety generator system for the Daley Center and will soon start another project there.  Another recently completed project includes a data center expansion for one of the major financial exchanges. Todd has designed mission critical infrastructure for several of the major global financial exchanges and trading firms.
  
Henneman’s hospital practice is another area of expertise and the firm is the LEED consultant and commissioning agent for a $110 million expansion at a suburban hospital.
  
Todd is also very active in doing work for universities and colleges and is involved designing in a 7,200-ton chilled water plant project for Northern Illinois University.
  
Todd says he knew in high school that he wanted to be an engineer.  He comes from a family of engineers with his grandfather and uncle having both been in the field.  “They inspired me and I always had a natural curiosity and aptitude for math and physics,” Todd said.
 
Among his most rewarding and challenging projects are those that include retrofitting existing facilities Todd says.  “An example is taking a building that was built for office space and turning it into a data center.  Or in the case of the Daley Center , it’s a landmark building and the exterior can’t be changed.  When we recently designed the life safety generator, we had to create an appropriate space for the generator without altering the existing building.  I like solving the puzzle and making things fit,” Todd explains.
 
There have been many changes in the industry throughout his 25-year career Todd explains.  “Today there is a much greater dependence on clean and dependable electric power and our systems require a much higher level than 10-15 years ago.”

“Whether for a hospital’s imaging equipment or a corporation’s IT equipment, the digital equipment of today requires a tighter tolerance in supply voltage and frequency than the loads required when I initially designed electric power distribution systems,” he said.

“Our role as electrical engineers has really been expanded so that we are brought in as early as possible to come up with ways to bring in high-quality power,” Todd says.

Todd believes building long-term relationships with his clients is key and has several clients he has worked with for 10 years or more.  “We really become a part of the client’s team.  We always look out for what’s best for them, so when a client has an emergency, we are their first call.  That’s what is very satisfying about being an engineer – to help a client by solving engineering problems and assist them with their mission,” Todd says.

Todd adds, “Engineers like to solve problems.  It’s very gratifying to see the designs we produce get built and put into practical use.”