Modernizing network operations, hardening facility safety, and future-proofing a 125,000 square foot community hub.

Executive Snapshot

• Client Type: Community hub
• Facility Size: 125,000 square feet
• The Challenge: Aging, fragmented infrastructure, stretching a one-person IT team thin
• The Outcome: A secure, scalable foundation built to carry the organization through the next 10 to 15 years
• Solution Areas: Cloud managed networking, WiFi 6 and 6E, smart cameras, access controls, structured cabling, power, environmental sensors, security

The Mission

The work this organization does matters. Programs that reach the community. Research that informs better practices. Advocacy that creates change. None of it functions without technology that holds up under pressure, and there’s no longer any.

The Problem

The infrastructure was tired. Switches reaching the end of life. Wireless coverage that dropped where members needed it most. Cabling installed years ago for a different footprint, now stretched across 125,000 square feet of active programming space. One IT Manager carried it all, juggling daily fires while the foundation kept aging beneath him.

The Stakes

This was not a back-office concern. Members relied on assistive technologies that demanded consistent connectivity. Programs depended on systems that did not flinch. Facility oversight needed eyes that did not blink.

Every outage, every dead zone, every blind corner translates directly into reduced access and added risk for the people the organization serves.

Why Paragon Micro

The IT Manager did not need another vendor pitching boxes. He needed a partner who would walk the building, sit with stakeholders, and build a plan around what the facility actually required. Paragon Micro brought engineering depth, dedicated project management, and a single Account Executive who stayed involved from the first conversation through the final cutover. The client gained senior expertise without having to hire it.

The Strategy

1. Replace legacy systems with a fully cloud-managed network refresh covering switching, wireless, cameras, and access controls.
2. Run the deployment through Paragon Micro’s PMO so the complexity stayed on our side, not the client’s.
3. Reduce risk for the internal IT team while delivering a modernization that the building could feel from day one.

The Solution

Cloud Managed Network

Cisco Catalyst and Meraki access switches established a high-capacity backbone capable of carrying modern digital services across the entire footprint.

Facility-Wide Wireless

WiFi 6 and 6E access points delivered fast, consistent coverage so members using assistive technologies could move freely without losing connection.

Smart Cameras and Sensors

Meraki MV cameras added panoramic visibility, onboard storage, and analytics. Meraki MT sensors tracked temperature and humidity to protect equipment and support member comfort.

Security

Meraki MX firewalls with Advanced Security licensing protected member data and reduced exposure to intrusion attempts.

Cabling and Power

More than 6,000 feet of Cat6 plenum cable was installed and terminated into quality patch panels. APC Smart UPS units and PDUs supported uptime inside secure wall mount enclosures.

The Execution

Paragon Micro’s PMO acted as a force multiplier for an IT Manager who could not afford to lose hours to coordination. We owned planning, scheduling, vendor logistics, deployment, and cutover. The project finished on time and on budget. Daily operations never stopped. The cutover happened with zero unplanned downtime for critical community services.

The Results

• Zero unplanned downtime during cutover
• 125,000 square foot facility fully modernized
• 6,000 plus feet of Cat6 plenum cabling installed and terminated
• WiFi 6 and 6E coverage deployed across every program area
• Cisco Catalyst and Meraki switching implemented throughout the network
• Meraki MX firewalls activated with Advanced Security licensing
• Smart cameras and environmental sensors integrated facility wide
• Cloud management consolidated under one platform, easing the load on a lean IT team
• Infrastructure positioned to support the next 10 to 15 years

Customer Impact

The organization moved from a fragile patchwork of legacy systems to a unified, intelligent platform that earns its keep every day. Connectivity holds. Cameras see. Sensors report. The IT Manager spends less time chasing problems and more time advancing the mission.

Why It Matters

Technology is never the point. People are. This project gave a mission driven organization the foundation it needed to deliver better programs, safer spaces, and more accessible experiences. Reliable wireless. Smarter oversight. Stronger security. Simpler management. The work behind the walls is what allows the work in front of them to keep growing.

Strategic Takeaways

• Modernization works best when cabling, network, security, monitoring, and project management are designed as one system rather than ordered as separate parts.
• Professional Services turned a complicated refresh into a controlled, predictable rollout.
• Cloud managed infrastructure gave a lean IT team back its time.
• The right foundation directly supports accessibility, safety, and the ability to grow without rebuilding two years later.