Harrington Electric Powers CWRU’s Cutting-Edge Fiber Optic Network Expansion

Back in 1989, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) took a pioneering leap into the future of campus communications by installing the first all-fiber-optic communications network, becoming the first campus in the world to use fiber optics to link all campus buildings and residence halls.

Today, the state-of-the-art system, known as CWRUnet, interconnects over 7,300 outlets across faculty offices, residence halls, classrooms, libraries, and laboratories, delivering high-speed access to computer data, audio, visual, telephone, and image information services.

CWRUnet enhances communication for students, faculty, and staff, ensuring that data transmission is quick, reliable, and readily accessible from any point on campus. The network operates at speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second, integrating fiber-optic and Category 5 Ethernet ports for both voice and data services.

Fast-forward to 2022, when Harrington Electric Co. was entrusted by the University to execute the next-phase “CWRU Fiber Optics South Campus Extension” project, which involved installing and splicing fiber optic cables to expand CWRUnet into multiple sites, including fraternity and sorority houses and various other buildings on the south campus.

“This was a complex and intricate project,” noted John Costella, telecommunications project manager from Harrington Electric. “Our work extended from server rooms in the Wolstein Center and Fribley Building on campus, through aerial and underground pathways across broad sectors of the campus, to ensure redundancy and reliability for students living in newly constructed dormitories.”

Ensuring Redundancy for Uninterrupted Service

A key feature of the CWRUnet expansion is its redundant design. For every building connected, fiber lines were installed from two separate directions, minimizing the risk of outages. In the event that a primary line is damaged or severed, the university’s IT staff can seamlessly switch to the backup line, guaranteeing uninterrupted service for campus users. The dual lines required meticulous planning and execution, with Harrington Electric running fiber across utility poles, through underground conduits, and even beneath busy city streets.

The aerial component of the project involved stringing fiber lines across utility poles and lashing them to steel support cables using specialized aerial equipment.

“We were fortunate to have good weather for much of the project,” said Costella, “and we relied on detailed technical documents that were located for every utility pole we worked on, which provided height and structural specifications. That information helped ensure our installations were highly accurate.”

The project was not without its challenges. In some cases, Harrington’s team had to trim trees in residential neighborhoods to clear paths for overhead lines, which wasn’t always greeted with enthusiasm by a few residents living in the area, but was necessary to complete the project.

Below ground, the team navigated additional challenges like tunneling beneath well-traveled roads and working in confined spaces. The work involved excavating beneath busy streets like Cornell and Circle Drive, installing fiber lines, and then restoring the paved roadwork afterward.

“The combined aerial and underground work totaled over 3,300 feet of fiber in the final phase,” Costella noted.

Partnering with CWRU IT and Construction Teams

Harrington Electric collaborated closely with CWRU’s IT staff, whose expertise and cooperation were instrumental in the project’s success. The team also coordinated with the project contractor, Independence Construction, as the dormitories on Murray Hill were under construction during the fiber installation.

“When we started in 2022, the site was just a pile of mud,” remarked Costella. “Now those buildings are complete, and our fiber connections are live, serving students with state-of-the-art communications technology.”

The Harrington telecommunications team consisted of eight skilled professionals, led by Costella and Nader Ghassemi who worked alongside CWRU foreman Bob Schafer, (a former Harrington Electric employee who is now with CWRU). Schafer’s familiarity with Harrington’s standards and processes contributed to the project’s smooth execution. “Working the project with Bob contributed to the efficiency of the overall work,” Costella pointed out. “His insights, resources and contributions were invaluable.”

As the CWRUnet expansion nears its completion by year-end 2024, Harrington Electric takes pride in its role in transforming Case Western Reserve University into a global leader in campus connectivity, incorporating state-of-the-art technology to foster seamless communications. This project exemplifies the Harrington’s expertise in large-scale fiber optic installations and its commitment to delivering innovative solutions for its clients.