Video Game Designer Adds Smart Tech During Chicago Home Remodel

When world-famous pinball and video game designer Brian Eddy custom-built his Chicago home in 2001, he opted not to install a control system, believing that they were too unrefined for his home. But as Eddy began the process of remodeling the 7,000-square foot space some 17 years later, he realized that an easy-to-use home automation system was exactly what he needed to complete it.

With the help of local Chicago integrator Doug Buchan of Buchan Consulting LLC, Eddy was introduced to the ELAN® Control System user interface, and instantly knew that it was the right fit for his home.

“I sent Eddy the ELAN Homeowner brochure during one of our first correspondences, but what really helped seal the deal was showing him the live user interface on my tablet,” Buchan said. “Through our experience center, which is fully equipped with an ELAN system, including lighting, shading, cameras, thermostats, media, and even power management, Eddy was able to experience firsthand the systems’ capabilities, which immediately resolved any doubts that he may have had about the system.”

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The home, which is already equipped with a sprawling basement lined in pinball machines, a fire pole that leads from the second floor of the master bedroom, a first-floor giant twisting slide, and a living room home theater, began a five-month long remodel, which would start with a refresh of all of the lighting within the space.

Blending Existing and New Tech

The expansion of the 15-year-old Lutron Homeworks system that already controlled all of the lighting within the home started with a CEDIA certified technician review. Determining that the additional lighting loads would be easily added using GoControl Z-Wave lighting from Nortek Security & Control, the team was easily able to pull in the Lutron Homeworks lighting system with the help of the robust set of ELAN drivers. With ELAN handling the lighting loads, the existing system and new Z-Wave lighting work seamlessly together and no difference was seen by the homeowner when controlling the lighting through the new ELAN system.

One of Eddy’s requirements during the remodel was activating the home’s 12 independent zones of audio that had sat dormant for over a decade. To do this, a pair of ELAN S1616A multi-room audio amplifiers were installed to provide audio to over 30 speakers in the home, including the family room home theater. Autonomic music streamers enabled Eddy to easily stream music from his windows-based PC as well as his online music services.

The ELAN S1616A amplifiers also provided the configurability needed to tackle Eddy’s request that the door chime audio and alarm zone announcements play through the home’s speakers. Using a DoorBird, an ELAN g1 system controller, and a Honeywell security panel with annunciator, Buchan’s team was able to have alarm zone announcement and doorbell chimes play directly through the home’s speakers when triggered.

Security Top of Mind

In a space this large, security was also top-of-mind for Eddy. In order to allow him to view the home’s 360 degrees of surveillance cameras, control the lighting, audio, video, alarm and more, a multitude of 7-inch ELAN touch panels were installed throughout the home. Now, through the panels or the ELAN app on his phone, Eddy has the ability to communicate to almost any room using ELAN’s built-in intercom feature.

“I love that the ELAN system gives me instant access to all of the systems within my home, at the touch of a button,” says Eddy. “Now, I can easily check on any of the security cameras or turn on the lighting in any room at any time, all through one convenient interface.”

For remote energy management of the entire system, including the lighting, security and audio, Buchan and his team use Panamax power conditioning with BlueBOLT functionality, which allows for easier control and monitoring of the energy used by the electronics in the space.

After the remodel, Eddy said, “I’m thrilled with the control and entertainment that ELAN has provided me. Though I had my doubts about home automation, the ELAN system has completely reversed all of my previous concerns. I couldn’t be happier with the end result.”