Automated Lifestyles Guides Frick’s Tap into the Future

A long-standing watering hole in Davenport, Iowa, gets new lighting, audio and security systems from Automated Lifestyles.

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Automated Lifestyles Guides Frick’s Tap into the Future

When you think about high-tech bars, a spot that opened in 1888 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974 wouldn’t traditionally be one that springs to mind first, especially if it’s in a place like Davenport, Iowa, and not New York, L.A., Miami or another urban hot spot.

But Frick’s Tap, a 4,600-square-foot bar Charles Frick opened as Frick’s Tavern almost 130 years ago, was restored by the new owners in the fall of 2016 with a vintage appeal that includes exposed brick walls and reclaimed barn wood. It’s the oldest bar in Davenport and the second-oldest in Iowa, so there was a challenge of balancing the history of the spot with its viability for the future, addressed by the latest cool technology.

Quad City, Iowa-based Automated Lifestyles was hired to help in the renovation process to turn the former bakery, tavern and barbershop into Frick’s Tap. Automated Lifestyles transformed the location with top-of-the-line lighting control, televisions, audio and surveillance, integrating Lutron lighting with four zones of audio controlled and distributed by Savant and 22 cameras, both interior and exterior, for enhanced security features.

Automated Lifestyles was hired by Perry Hintze, one of the owners of Frick’s Tap, and a previous customer before joining in on the $100,000 purchase. After completing a residential installation for Hintze, Automation Lifestyles was hired to complete the audio, video, lighting and security integration on Frick’s Tap. The initial scope of the integration was very broad, but Automated Lifestyles worked with the owners to build a custom design to meet the goal of the integration: simple to use and reliable.

Serving Up the Solution

Because the owners of Frick’s Tap had “a very broad project scope” once Automated Lifestyles began the initial design process, they worked with Metra Home Theater Group to incorporate its M3B (Metra Multimedia Broadcast System) into the installation. That enabled Automated Lifestyles to incorporate multi-source video distribution systems with multi-source video distribution system using coax and splitters.

The M3B System allowed Advanced Lifestyles to provide multiple sources to multiple displays at 1080p over common coax and splitters and source selection via any programmable remote. Source selections are made by changing the input on the display side receiving unit.

This approach allowed the televisions to be placed anywhere in the restaurant and bar, without having to plan for additional wiring or matrices. To remove the need for additional wiring or potential clutter, Automated Lifestyles powered each of the receiving units of the M3B with USB ports on each of the televisions.

Automated Lifestyles selected Savant for control and distribution of the four zones of audio, controlling 24 speakers, including Paradigm in-ceiling and Episode indoor/outdoor speakers, throughout. In addition to audio, Automated Lifestyles integrated Sony televisions and Lutron lighting control. Cameras, including 16 Luma dome and eight Luma bullet models, were installed both inside and outside Frick’s Tap for 24/7 monitoring, even outside regular business hours with Luma’s 16-channel DVR.

The Organic Light Emitting Diode’s (OLED) capabilities are light years ahead of current technology. Read more here.

From Challenge to Impact

Automated Lifestyles spent a total of 100 hours on the Frick’s Tap installation, including 30 hours in wiring and 70 hours for product installation.The goal of the system was to create a user-friendly and reliable system while providing high-definition audio and video with the potential to expand the system in the future.

A total of 26 televisions, including Sony XBR49X700D, XBR43X800D, XBR65X750D and XBR49X800D, were mounted onto Metra Home Theater Group’s Helios television mounts and each connected to Metra Home Theater Group’s M3B, providing wireless video distribution. For audio, two Paradigm H65SM speakers were installed in the ceiling and 10 Episode ES-AW-6-BLK indoor/outdoor speakers were strategically placed throughout the building with a Parasound Zone Master 1250 12-channel amplifier, Savant SSA-4004 four-zone distributed audio and two Sonos Connects.

Automated Lifestyles installed 24 surveillance passive video and power baluns with RJ45, paired with the Luma cameras and two 16 Luma dome cameras and eight Luma bullet cameras and connected to two DVRs.

Automated Lifestyles

Frick’s Tap was “extremely pleased with the completed project,” according to the Automated Lifestyles Integration Awards application. The Sony televisions “provide high-quality, superior resolution”and are held into place with Metra Home Theater Group’s Helios television mounts “to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance,” according to the application.

The speakers, as well as Savant distribution and control, “provide reliable, high-quality sound to create an unparalleled experience for those visiting Frick’s Trap for a big-game or a dinner get-together,” according to the application. Each of the components “are simple to control and easy-to-use, which is something Frick’s Tap emphasized”when they began working with Automated Lifestyles.

The building, originally opened in 1888, features many original aspects, including bracketed eaves and flat-arched windows, now with a touch of modern, state-of-the-art technology, creating a unique experience for each visitor.

 

Automated Lifestyles Equipment Highlights

Sony
TVs
Metra Ceiling TV Mounts
Metra M3B Receivers
Metra M3B transmitters
Luma dome cameras
Luma
bullet cameras
Surveillance Passive Video and Power Balun with RJ45
Learn more about the Integrator Award-winning Automated Lifestyles here.

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