Community Center Futureproofs Building Ops with T1L

Community Center Futureproofs Building Operations with T1L Ethernet

A leading community sports and wellness center needed a smart, affordable way to modernize its building automation system (BAS) while keeping operations running smoothly. Serving more than 50,000 residents, the facility is both a regional recreation destination and a critical public resource during extreme heat events.

By adopting Honeywell’s next-generation T1L Ethernet technology, the center successfully upgraded its BAS without the cost, disruption, or downtime typically associated with recabling – delivering immediate performance improvements and long-term flexibility.

The Challenge

Originally built in 1978 and expanded in 2012, the 335,000-square-foot facility includes four NHL-sized ice rinks, an aquatics center, fitness studios, indoor track, gymnasium, and therapy clinics. By 2023, its existing BAS was nearing end of life, creating risks to reliability, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency.

The facilities team needed a solution that could:

• Replace an aging BAS with a modern, IP-based architecture
• Reuse existing unshielded cabling to avoid costly recabling
•  Improve energy performance and operational insight
• Address cybersecurity vulnerabilities
• Enhance usability and transparency for facilities staff
• Minimize disruption to staff, visitors, and scheduled events
• Stay within a constrained budget

The Solution

Working with Convergint, a global building systems integrator, the center implemented a Honeywell T1L-based building automation solution.

By leveraging existing twisted-pair cabling, Honeywell Optimizer Advanced and unitary T1L controllers replaced outdated equipment while preserving the facility’s infrastructure. The new BACnet IP-based architecture delivered modern performance without the need for new network installations.

T1L Ethernet supports cable runs of up to 1,000 meters and data speeds of up to 10 Mbps, enabling reliable communication today while supporting future expansion. Compared to alternative approaches, the T1L solution reduced projected upgrade costs by nearly half and significantly shortened implementation time.

The Results

The upgraded BAS now delivers faster data communication, improved system reliability, and actionable insights that help the facilities team optimize building performance.

Key outcomes include:

• Reduced capital and lifecycle costs
• Improved energy efficiency and system visibility
• Enhanced cybersecurity and system resilience
• Minimal disruption to daily operations and public access
• A future-ready infrastructure that supports ongoing innovation

By adopting T1L Ethernet, the center successfully futureproofed its building operations – so it can continue to serve the community efficiently, reliably, and sustainably.