Services

Joiner Consulting Group (JCG) is a multi-disciplined technology consulting firm specializing in telecommunications, audiovisual systems and acoustics for the built environment.

JCG is expert at working with the architectural design team and facility planners to help integrate technology systems that support voice and data communications, audio and visual display systems, distance learning, videoconferencing and more.

Background

David P. Joiner has over 25 years of audiovisual and acoustical consulting experience, with specialization in programming, planning, development and management of highly complex, diverse projects.

Mr. Joiner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is a past president of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants. Mr. Joiner has served as guest lecturer at the University of Versailles in France and the University of Texas at Arlington. He has been an invited speaker for the Texas Society of Architects and the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture.

Presently, Mr. Joiner serves as an advisor to the board of the United States Distance Learning Association and the Engineering Steering Committee for Southwest Texas State University.

Representative Projects

Educational Facilities

University of Houston - Downtown
Academic Center
Houston, Texas
Architects: PGAL & Rey de la Reza Architects

Project Overview
Adjacent to the present facility downtown, the environment of the new Academic Center overarches two major freeways and a railroad mainline (complete with audible whistles). Added to those impacts are the frequent helicopter flights overhead which, in the aggregate results in an acoustical environment that would prove difficult for any facility. The University of Houston System entrusted David Joiner team to design the Academic Center to overcome this difficult environment.

One of the greatest challenges was a 350-seat auditorium designed for lectures and multimedia presentations. No less problematic were the many lecture rooms designed to be flexible with regard to the various audiovisual resources. The emphasis on flexibility was in response to the faculty user group directive to create a facility that would be "very user friendly". The new Media Technology Center, located on the 7th level, contains an Electronic Classroom / Distant Learning Center and an Instructional Television / Production Center that will accompany the multimedia laboratories. Altogether, these various aspects of the project present a designer's dream, creating the best possible technological milieu for the needs of the client.

 

Medical Facilities

Baylor College of Medicine
Michael E. DeBakey Center for Biomedical Education & Research
Houston, Texas
Architect: PageSoutherlandPage

Project Overview
A well-respected College of Medicine has embarked upon a reconstruction project that will meet and surpass all previous technological standards for education and research. Immediately after the completion of the programming / needs assessment document and prior to commencing with the design, the University experiences a devastating flood, causing extensive damage to the infrastructure and research facilities.

How will the team members respond to the immediate needs of the University?

Response:
The Information Technology & Communications team (IT&C), lead by David Joiner, was prepared to provide the necessary assistance, supported by the knowledge gained from the recently completed Programming/Needs Assessment.

The initial challenge was to determine the extent of the damage caused by the rising water. The communication systems had been shut down, generators were not functioning, and research projects were destroyed. The "Mouse House," home to 4,000 mice undergoing years of cancer research, had all drowned.

The IT&C team quickly learned that water had entered the conduit and destroyed the cabling systems. Knowing the infrastructure system, the IT&C team directed the rerouting of cabling. In addition, the team assessed the damage to the switchers and hardware, determining which needed to be replaced and which were salvageable.

The audiovisual equipment was stored in lower levels of the building and was destroyed by the rising water. The IT&C team knew the inventory of equipment in the Medical Complex that was not destroyed and had a precise understanding of the audiovisual requirements in each of the teaching facilities. Using this information, the team was able to see that the re-distribution of the working equipment was made in the optimum fashion. In addition, rental equipment was able to be secured as needed and was introduced into the inventory of equipment at a substantial cost savings to the University.

As a result, the IT&C team became in integral member of the disaster relief effort, expediting the assessment of the damage, directing the redistribution of the cabling systems, and implementing the deployment of the audiovisual systems. The University was able to conduct classes within two months of the disaster.

Corporate

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Headquarters
San Antonio, Texas

Project Overview
Responding to tremendous growth throughout the Southwest over the past several years, this San Antonio-based fuel and convenience store retailer began what promised to be one of the most impressive and forward-reaching corporate headquarters facilities in the San Antonio area.

Diamond Shamrock retained the services of the Houston firm Reh Burwell Partners to plan their facility. It was a project requirement that the design preserve the flexibility to adapt to future business realities. One of these realities came into being with the announcement of the merger with Ultramar Corporation of Connecticut (and subsequently joined forces with Valero Energy Corporation).

David Joiner was hired to provide several similar yet independent design services in the planning of this facility. This included provision for key noise control and architectural acoustical recommendations required to assure proper sound isolation between the numerous conferencing and open office spaces, and the design for noise masking systems for the extensive open office areas of the building.

Several function spaces required special audiovisual and control system technologies. Included were the Executive Boardroom with its rear projection system and videoconferencing capabilities, the Cafetorium with its large-sized front projection system and adjacent private Dining Rooms, and the Training Rooms. An adjacent Control Room and Television Studio were planned for videotaping and duplicating requirements.

Several building-wide cable systems support extensive voice, data and video distribution throughout the building. These systems, in conjunction with the planned future additions, will insure that growth, no matter what it dictates, an be accommodated by this new facility.

Government Facilities

United States District Courthouse
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Architect: The FMSM Design Group

Project Overview
The USDC in Albuquerque wanted a flexible cabling infrastructure. Wireless was not considered an option because of security concerns. The resulting design included a complex floating-floor system that would allow for multiple configurations in the courtroom to accommodate required audiovisual and network systems, as well as support broadcast for cable and television coverage, and recording of courtroom events.

David Joiner was retained by the Architects to provide full service design for the audiovisual systems for the project. The facility includes one Special Proceedings Courtroom, one Grand Jury Hearing Room, nine District Courtrooms, a Jury Assembly space, numerous judge's chambers and conference rooms.

Included are provisions for video and data display within each courtroom. Furthermore, each courtroom enjoys the ability to record both audio and video activities via permanently installed equipment. These technologies combine to give each courtroom proven technology consistent with the latest in courtroom designs.

Also planned for the new courthouse was a central audiovisual control room. The advantages of a central control room are that it provides a single location for recording and distributing media throughout the facility. In addition, the control room provides a convenient hub location for the building network and telecommunications equipment.

Lackland AFB
IOC 21 Command Center
San Antonio, Texas
Architect: HOK

Project Overview
The IOC21 at Lackland Air Force Base is San Antonio, Texas will serve as the IO combat arm of the ACC, and house advanced technology and organization links to the operational and intelligence communities.

The IOC21 will support the US Air Force's vision of information superiority, and will allow them to dominate the full spectrum of information operations to develop offensive and defensive counter information planning and execution.

David Joiner of Shen Milsom Wilke + Joiner was selected as the principal-in-charge and project manager for the technology programming for presentation environments. The complex display systems play a critical role in the command center by presenting vast amounts of information in visual format for faster processing and decision making.

Mr. Joiner, working along side Jay Tatum of HOK, took the project team on a guided tour of the AT&T Global Network Operations Center in New Jersey, designed by Shen Milsom & Wilke, to use as a prototype for IOC21.

Hotels & Resorts

Ritz-Carlton
Naples Spa & Resort
Naples, Florida
Architect: The FMSM Design Group

Project Overview
The FMSM Design Group has been involved in the design of world class resort spas all over the world, everything from Desert Springs to the Dead Sea.

In April 2001 The FMSM Design Group celebrated the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Naples Spa in Naples, Florida. The spa, Ritz-Carlton's flagship, is an addition to their 463-room hotel located on the Gulf of Mexico. The 52,000 square foot facility offers just about anything the pampered traveler seeks. With 34 treatment rooms, a wellness center, separate men's and women's facilities, a fitness/weight room and aerobic exercise area, a relaxation lounge, a lap pool, spa menu restaurant, beauty and barber shops, boutique, administration area, a "Ritz-Kids" activity center, and employee lounge the Ritz-Carlton promises to be one of the top ten destination resorts in the world. It has already received a Four-Star Mobile rating and a Five Diamond evaluation from AAA. Three weeks after the resort opened, Ritz-Carlton officials announced that nearly two-thirds of the available resort memberships had already been sold.

David Joiner provided acoustical consulting services to FMSM Design Group during the design of the Naples Spa in order to ensure adequate noise isolation between rooms and adjunct spaces.

Cultural & Entertainment Facilities

National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Architect: FMSM Design Group

Project Overview
The mission of the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico is to create a greater cross-cultural appreciation and understanding of Hispanic culture by preserving and showcasing historic and contemporary Hispanic arts, humanities and achievements over the past 400 years.

The much-anticipated $35 million National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico, which is located on 16 acres, is now a reality. The initial construction phase is complete and the Center is officially open to the public. Check the Center's website for program updates. (www.nhccnm.org)

The architectural design of the National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico (NHCCNM) was created to accommodate a wealth of cultural programs developed by Center staff with the assistance of leading New Mexico Hispanic artists, educators, scholars; and business people. Many architectural features recall building styles of Spain and Latin America.

The Center presents Hispanic arts and humanities in many forms. Visual arts, drama, traditional and contemporary music, dance, literary arts, film, library research and genealogy are among the many program activities taking place at the Cultural Center.

Education is central to every program component at the Cultural Center. The Center provides unique learning opportunities from lectures and demonstrations to technology classes via the Center's computer learning classroom.

Future plans include an 81,000 sq./ft. performing arts complex including an amphitheater, an educational resource building, restaurants, broadcast and publication capabilities, gift shops, studios featuring working artists, the Rio Grande/Bosque environmental project and the re-opening of the Center's restaurant, La Fonda del Bosque.

The Center presents Hispanic arts and humanities in many forms. Visual arts, drama, traditional and contemporary music, dance, literary arts, film, culinary arts, library research, and genealogy are among the many program activities starting at the Center.

David Joiner provided audiovisual and acoustical consulting services for this facility.

When completed, the Center's Performing Arts Complex, whose striking architecture has become symbolic of the Center's programmatic vision, will include:

A 700-seat proscenium theatre
A 150-seat black box experimental theatre
A 300-seat film and video theatre
A 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre will provide a spacious and comfortable venue for concerts, dance performances, pageants, and more.

The National Hispanic Cultural Center of New Mexico's performing arts facilities are projected to open in 2002. At present, plans are underway for the initial season of programming.