Building Peace of Mind: Facility Upgrades | Meadowlands Baptist Church Case Study

The Challenge

Meadowlands Baptist Church faced growing concerns around the reliability and safety of their building systems. Several issues had begun to impact daily operations and overall peace of mind for staff and congregation members:

• Security & Fire Systems:
  The church’s aging security alarm system had been discontinued by the manufacturer, leading to both false alarms and, more alarmingly, missed alerts. Their fire monitoring system was also outdated, no longer up to current ULC code, and began sending false trouble signals—raising compliance and safety risks.
• Exterior Lighting:
  Poor lighting in the parking lot and playground area was flagged by both staff and church members. Many fixtures had become unreliable or had failed entirely, creating visibility and safety concerns.
• HVAC & Facility Performance:
  The church needed more efficient and reliable HVAC solutions, particularly in high-use areas like classrooms and the commercial kitchen. There were also recurring issues with air circulation, odor management, equipment maintenance access, and seasonal challenges that impacted operational efficiency

The Solution

Nordic stepped in as a trusted facility partner, delivering customized solutions across multiple building systems:

1.Security & Fire System Upgrades:
Nordic upgraded the failing alarm system to the latest DSC Neo series, ensuring accurate alarm reporting and adding remote monitoring capabilities—eliminating unnecessary trips for staff and helping avoid false alarm fines.
For fire monitoring, Nordic installed a new Mircom annunciator paired with a DSC ULC-certified dual path communicator to restore compliance with ULC standards and resolve the trouble signals.
We now provide 24/7 monitoring and an annual maintenance plan, allowing Nordic to respond in real-time to any alerts. This plan includes ULC inspections of the fire system, extinguishers, detectors, pull stations, emergency lighting, kitchen hood, and the fire-resistant roll shutter in the church’s commercial kitchen.

2. Exterior Lighting Improvements:
Working collaboratively with church staff, Nordic designed and implemented a lighting upgrade plan. We replaced failing fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient models, significantly improving visibility and security while reducing energy consumption by up to 60–70%

3. HVAC Enhancements and Ongoing Support:
Our longtime technician, Kevin Gonder, has built a trusted relationship with David, Meadowlands’ facility manager. Through regular site visits and collaboration, our team has delivered a number of impactful upgrades, including:

• • Air balancing to improve comfort and airflow
  • Ductwork modifications in classrooms
  • Installation of remote temperature and kitchen equipment monitoring
  • Odor resolution through plumbing assessments and toilet upgrades
  • Equipment adjustments for better energy efficiency
  • Strategic seasonal advice to reduce equipment wear
  • Access panel installations to enhance serviceability

The new rooftop units (RTUs) installed as part of these improvements now operate with SEER ratings of 14 to 14.5, compared to the old units’ SEER of 12—representing a measurable increase in seasonal cooling efficiency. These upgraded units also operate at a lower decibel level, providing a quieter environment that benefits both nearby residents and congregation members. While exact utility savings will depend on benchmarking usage over time, this efficiency improvement is expected to reduce electricity consumption and lower operational costs—an important factor for any facility manager aiming to stretch budget dollars further.

The Benefits

Through our partnership, Meadowlands Church now enjoys:

• Peace of Mind and Increased Safety:
  Staff can now remotely monitor both security and fire systems, with Nordic’s monitoring team handling alerts in real time. Compliance is restored, and false alarms have been eliminated—saving both time and money.
• Improved Visibility and Efficiency:
  The upgraded exterior lighting provides better coverage and safety for congregation members and staff, particularly during evening events, while also lowering long-term operational costs.
• Stronger Facility Performance and Relationships:
  The proactive partnership between Kevin and the church has led to smarter, more efficient building operations. Regular upgrades and insights from Nordic have kept systems running smoothly, improved comfort for users, and allowed Meadowlands to focus more fully on its mission.