Wired for the Future

When the University of Arizona breaks ground on a new building, the blueprint is only the beginning. Behind the walls and beneath the floors, an intricate network of infrastructure quietly takes shape. One that will power classrooms, labs, and research spaces for years to come.

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“It’s a process that begins before the building even exists,” said David Lane, Associate Director, Engineering & Field Operations. "We're working on budget numbers and conceptual network designs when there isn’t even a set of plans."

Lane and Kent Ridgway, Information Technology Project Manager, are part of the team that plays a critical role in ensuring the university’s new facilities are future-ready. The Applied Research Building (ARB) is one example of their work: a state-of-the-art space designed to meet the ever-evolving demands of researchers and faculty.

Planning starts years in advance, with the network team deeply involved from the conceptual stage. “We're not accommodating for today. We're preparing for what's tomorrow,” Ridgway explained.

This forward-thinking approach means choosing technologies that will meet future bandwidth needs. High-capacity fiber optic cables, Power over Ethernet systems, and the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards ensure that students and researchers enjoy fast, reliable connections from day one, with room to grow.

“Wi-Fi is a big one,” Lane said. “New construction gets Wi-Fi 6, which delivers multi-gigabit speeds and improved security.” Older buildings, he noted, are typically refreshed on a six-year cycle to stay current.

Challenges come with the territory. From shifting budgets and fluctuating material costs to last-minute design changes, the team is prepared to adjust at any moment. “Proper communication is critical,” said Lane. “You could be marching forward with plans from six months ago, but if there have been revisions and you don’t know it, that’s a big risk.”

For Ridgway, the pride comes from being fully immersed in every project. “Before a project even takes off, you’ve gone through the prints so many times, you should already know the building,” he said. “It makes your job so much easier when you’re constantly aware of what’s going on.”

Behind every wired wall and network port is a team of experts making it happen. Engineering & Field Operations includes 24 skilled professionals, including a student worker, who bring deep knowledge in structured cabling, outside plant systems, construction estimation, project management, and broadband services for off-campus sites. Among them are three Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD)—the gold standard in cabling infrastructure—and a licensed Professional Engineer.

Their technical expertise and foresight ensure that each building project is more than just connected—it's future-ready.