Irving Oil Field House – Facility-wide communication and security monitoring

• Multi-zone communication that fits daily operations
• Security coverage without adding operational burden
• User-friendly controls for daily operation
• One accountable partner from start to finish

Why Irving Oil Field House chose QSA

Irving Oil Field House selected QSA as its delivery partner to ensure public address and intrusion alarm systems were not only installed, but intentionally configured to support daily operations in a large, active community facility – with clear, local accountability beyond installation.

Rather than treating these systems as standalone infrastructure, the Field House prioritized a partner who could take ownership of system behavior in live conditions – from commissioning through ongoing operation.

The decision was guided by the following priorities:

• A single partner for installation, commissioning, and long-term support
• Proven experience delivering systems in live, multi-use environments
• Configuration focused on real-world operation, not default settings
• Clear ownership and accountability beyond project completion

“The system does exactly what we need it to do, where we need it to do it. It’s reliable, intuitive for staff, and hasn’t required ongoing attention.”

Brendan Christian

Manager of Irving Oil Field House

Challenge

Delivering reliable communication and security coverage in a complex, multi-use environment

The Irving Oil Field House is a modern, large-scale indoor sports and recreation complex serving the Greater Saint John community. Owned by Greater Saint John Field House Inc. and operated by the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick, the facility supports a wide range of athletic, recreational, and community programming for people of all ages and abilities.

The 100,000+ sq. ft. facility includes multiple indoor turf fields, walking tracks, fitness and exercise spaces, childcare areas, and community rooms – each with different operational requirements. As a brand-new build, the Field House required foundational infrastructure to support daily operations from the moment doors opened to the public.

From the outset, leadership needed:

• A facility-wide public address system to support announcements, programming, and daily coordination
• Intrusion alarm coverage for general and restricted areas
• Systems that could scale across multiple zones while remaining simple for staff to operate
• Reliable performance without ongoing troubleshooting or operational burden

The challenge was not a lack of technology, but ensuring that systems were configured to reflect how the facility would actually function day-to-day across changing activities, staff shifts, and space configurations.

Managing complexity without creating operational friction

The Field House’s layout introduced inherent complexity:

• Two indoor turf fields
• Two indoor tracks, with the primary track divisible into separate zones
• Fitness rooms where uninterrupted activity was a priority
• Shared corridors and public gathering spaces
• Multiple staff-operated control points throughout the building

Announcements needed to reach the correct areas without disrupting unrelated activities. Background music needed to remain consistent in public spaces while remaining isolated from athletic or instructional areas. At the same time, intrusion alarm coverage was needed to protect the building after hours without disrupting public use or overcomplicating staff workflows.

Without careful planning and commissioning, systems of this scale can quickly become difficult to manage – leading to operator error, inconsistent performance, and unnecessary service calls.

Solution

Public address and intrusion alarm systems configured for real-world use

QSA was engaged to install, configure, and commission the Irving Oil Field House’s public address and intrusion alarm systems, working in coordination with the electrical contractor and building stakeholders.

The scope included:

• A TOA public address system designed for multi-zone, multi-source operation
• A DSC security system for general and restricted areas
• Full system programming, testing, commissioning, and owner handover

Rather than relying on default settings, QSA focused on aligning system behavior with the facility’s actual operating patterns – prioritizing clarity, reliability, and simplicity for end users.

Multi-zone PA design built around facility operations

The TOA PA system was programmed to support:

• Independent control of each field and track zone
• Flexible operation when spaces are divided or combined
• Multiple announcement points with clearly defined control boundaries
• Continuous background music in corridors and public areas
• Announcement-only functionality in fitness and exercise rooms

Despite the complexity behind the scenes, the user interface was intentionally simplified. Most staff interact with a limited-function control panel, allowing them to make announcements or adjust volume without needing technical knowledge of the system.

This approach reduced the risk of accidental changes while ensuring the system could adapt to the facility’s varied daily use.

Practical intrusion alarm coverage to support staff and facility security

The DSC intrusion alarm system was implemented to monitor and secure the Field House after hours across a variety of zones, supporting both facility security and operational simplicity.

The system provides:

• Clear separation between public and restricted spaces
• Alarm coverage for publicly accessible and sensitive areas
• Straightforward operation aligned with staff workflows

The goal was not over-securitization, but appropriate control – protecting staff and facility assets without disrupting the welcoming, community-focused environment.

Coordination, commissioning, and handover

QSA coordinated closely with the electrical contractor during installation and worked directly with the building owner during commissioning. Final programming was refined based on operator feedback to ensure the systems behaved as expected in live conditions.

The project was completed within the allocated timeline and transitioned cleanly to operations, with staff confident in how to use the systems from day one.

Outcome

Stable systems, simple operation, and long-term confidence

Since commissioning, the Irving Oil Field House’s public address and intrusion alarm systems have operated reliably with minimal service intervention.

Early support requests were limited to minor user adjustments – typically resolved quickly through reprogramming. Once configured, the systems have remained stable over multiple years of daily use.

Key outcomes include:

• Clear, intelligible communication across all facility zones

Announcements reach intended areas without bleed-through or disruption.

• Simple, intuitive operation for staff

Day-to-day users interact with straightforward controls designed around real workflows.

• Intrusion monitoring that supports security without disrupting public use

General and staff-only areas are protected without creating friction.

• Low long-term maintenance burden

Proper commissioning reduced ongoing support needs.

• Clear accountability when support is needed

Facility staff know exactly who to contact when questions arise.

“After commissioning, the systems required very little follow-up. When questions did come up, we knew exactly who to call and issues were handled quickly. That clarity makes a big difference.”

Looking Forward

With professionally configured communication and intrusion alarm systems in place, the Irving Oil Field House is well positioned to support continued growth in programming and community use.

The flexibility built into the systems allows the facility to adapt as spaces are reconfigured or operating needs evolve – without requiring replacement or major rework.

Recommendation for Other Facilities

Configure for people, not just specifications

The Irving Oil Field House highlights a key lesson for large, multi-use facilities: Successful systems are not just installed – they are intentionally configured for how people actually use them.

Key considerations include:

• Design zoning around real operating scenarios
• Keep user interfaces simple, even when systems are complex
• Invest time in commissioning and handover
• Choose trusted, locally accountable partners who live and work in the communities they support

In environments where communication and alarm systems are part of daily operations, the difference between “installed” and “done right” is felt every day. At the Irving Oil Field House, thoughtful configuration and accountable delivery ensured the technology quietly supported the facility – without becoming a distraction.