Project Brief

Middlesex College engaged KeRi Engineering for capital renewal and replacement projects to modernize the Direct Digital Control (DDC) building automation system serving buildings across its Edison campus. The work was structured in three phases: a Phase I feasibility study evaluating the DDC system upgrade, Phase II construction documents for competitive bidding, and Phase III construction observation.

The existing DDC architecture consisted of a graphical user interface (GUI), an Enterprise Server, an Automation Server, and field and equipment-level controllers. Much of the installed base relied on Network 8000, R2 Java Application Control Engine (JACE), and AX JACE hardware communicating over a proprietary protocol (ASD) that is no longer manufactured. KeRi analyzed each of these product-line components, assessed their condition and support status, and recommended the required upgrades along with a priority ranking so the most critical systems are addressed first. Every recommended upgrade had to incorporate the latest security and operating-system updates.

KeRi inventoried the controls across the campus and organized the upgrade by building and priority. The high-priority buildings with global controllers (GCMs) were Facilities Management, Chambers Hall, Raritan Hall, and the New Brunswick Center; the lower-priority GCM buildings were the Johnson Learning Center, Edison Hall, and the Physical Education Building. Buildings served by R2 UNC JACE controllers included the College Center, East Hall, Johnson Learning Center, Edison Hall, Billy Johnson Hall, and Crabiel Hall.

The overall goal was to bring the campus systems up to current standards for efficient energy management and reliable, space-by-space temperature control, while meeting current security requirements, remaining compatible with the campus operating system, and preserving the ability to obtain OEM support. As part of the study, KeRi evaluated the installation of a new Niagara 4 Enterprise Server based system as the platform to replace the obsolete, proprietary controls.

MEP Engineering Scope

What We Engineered

A phased engineering study and design to modernize the campus DDC building automation system, from feasibility through construction observation:

• Phase I feasibility study for the campus DDC controls upgrade, with construction cost and schedule estimates
• Phase II construction documents prepared for competitive bidding
• Phase III construction observation
• Analysis of the existing GUI, Enterprise Server, Automation Server, and field and equipment-level controllers
• Assessment of obsolete Network 8000, R2 JACE, and AX JACE components on the discontinued proprietary (ASD) protocol
• Prioritized upgrade recommendations across the high- and lower-priority campus buildings
• Latest security and operating-system updates, campus OS compatibility, and OEM-supportable components
• Evaluation of a new Niagara 4 Enterprise Server based platform

The Challenge

The campus building automation relied on Network 8000, R2 JACE, and AX JACE controllers communicating over a proprietary ASD protocol that is no longer manufactured, leaving the College without a clear, secure, or OEM-supportable path to maintain energy management and space-by-space comfort across nearly a dozen buildings.

Our Solution

KeRi structured the work in three phases. The Phase I feasibility study inventoried the existing GUI, Enterprise and Automation Servers, and field controllers, assessed the obsolete Network 8000 and JACE components, ranked the upgrades by building priority, and prepared construction cost and schedule estimates, with Phase II bidding documents and Phase III construction observation to follow at the College's direction. The recommendations centered on a new Niagara 4 Enterprise Server based platform carrying current security and operating-system updates, campus OS compatibility, and OEM support, aimed at efficient energy management and reliable, space-by-space temperature control across the campus.