The Starrett Lehigh Building is a giant on West 26th Street, located between the neighborhoods of Chelsea and the rapidly growing Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Unlike the surrounding skyscrapers, this eighteen-story building spans an enormous footprint. The 214,000 m² building was completed in 1931 and originally served as a shipping depot for cargo arriving in the United States via the Hudson River.
Today, Starrett Lehigh is a sought-after location attracting companies from the design, entertainment, media, and technology sectors. RXR Realty owns the property as part of a portfolio of prime real estate, including 75 Rockefeller Plaza, 5 Times Square, 230 Park Avenue, and many others.
The Starrett-Lehigh Building is currently undergoing a comprehensive three-year renovation project aimed at meeting the needs of its diverse tenants. Retrofitting building automation systems in a structure of this kind—with reinforced concrete walls up to one meter thick and such a large footprint—poses a unique challenge that can be costly and time-consuming. In addition, the work had to be carried out during ongoing operations. Vacating or shutting down the entire building during the renovation was simply not an option.
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Given the inherent connectivity challenges, a wireless solution initially seemed equally problematic—until a constructive dialogue with LumenRadio began. Sentient Buildings was eager to test the reliability and performance of LumenRadio’s wireless building automation technology.
LumenRadio’s wireless BACnet technology proved to be the only solution capable of enabling an effective mesh network covering the entire building. At the same time, the project generated cost savings, as installation work took only two weeks, whereas a wired system would have required months of disruptive construction.
“Using our patented wireless technology truly made a difference for this project. With this flexible and future-proof solution, we helped the building owner save both time and money. And our customer, the system integrator Sentient Buildings, is now taking the next step by developing a range of customized sensors based on our technology,” says Ian White, Sales Manager HVAC & Building Automation at LumenRadio.
Patented Technology
LumenRadio’s patented and unique MiraMesh network technology powers the wireless BACnet MS/TP solution “W-BACnet.” In a mesh network, all nodes function both as network devices and as repeaters, allowing data to follow paths that bypass physical obstacles. Combined with extended range and enhanced ability to penetrate walls and floors, this maximizes the scalability of the solution.
In addition, MiraMesh utilizes LumenRadio’s patented Cognitive Coexistence technology, which continuously searches for the most effective transmission channel and enables the system to adapt to interference in real time.
Want to learn more about this impressive wireless technology?
Watch and listen to Corc in the Bau-Rockstars webinar:
“Is Wireless BACnet Technology Revolutionizing Building Automation?”
