 Constructed more than 115 years ago, The Keating building was considered one of San
Diego’s most prestigious office buildings. Rivaling architectural masterpieces in New
York and Chicago, this Romanesque
Revival structure offered the most
modern conveniences, including steam
heat and a wire case elevator.
In 2006, the classic building
underwent a total renovation,
transforming it into one of the nation’s
most ultra-chick boutique hotels. Construction, which included 35 rooms and a semi-private lounge in the building's
basement, exposed brick walls and redwood beams. “The most challenging task, and one
of the most time consuming, is seismic retrofitting,” said Danny Vladic, a project
manager with San Diego-based Landmark Hospitality Contracting, Inc.
“This building was built in 1890, so tying a support system to the walls and the structure
is difficult,” Vladic said. “As with any historic retrofit, safety for the public is a primary
consideration as the architectural integrity of the building is preserved.”
With ease of installation and a proven track record of success in mind, Cesar F. Nillaga of
System Specialists, Inc. found the choice of fire system to be easy. Specifying what he
terms “is without a doubt the most dependable, user friendly system on the market,”
Nillaga decided on Fire-Lite® Alarm’s MS-9200UDLS addressable fire alarm system.
Well suited for small- to mid- sized applications like The Keating, the MS-9200UDLS
single loop panel combines all the capabilities of a sophisticated fire alarm control panel
(FACP) and digital alarm communicator/transmitter into one circuit board. This compact,
cost-effective design fit The Keating’s bill perfectly.
The MS-9200UDLS offers a maximum of 198 addressable points on one SLC (signaling
line circuit), in addition to built-in NAC (notification appliance circuits) synchronization.
Featuring Fire-Lite’s LiteSpeed™ SLC protocol, this FACP polls ten devices
simultaneously, allowing a fully loaded panel to report an incident and activate NACs in
less than ten seconds. LiteSpeed also permits devices to be wired using standard,
unshielded wire with distances up to 10,000 feet per loop.
As for installation, “It was easy. No surprises,” says Kevin Criswell of System
Specialists, Inc. “This Fire-Lite line has become our staple fire panel. It’s always proven
to be easy to install and easy to program.”
With state and local codes requiring HVAC shutdown, Criswell integrated the MS-
9200UDLS panel to activate fire dampers when necessary. A blessing in disguise, the
FACP’s damper control eliminated the need for duct detectors throughout the building.
The system’s other peripherals include System Sensor® horns and strobes.
“We used to go from panel to panel, trying to find the right one that gave us no problems.
And we found this line of fire panels to be the most reliable,” said Criswell, who added“So far, we’ve found we can use this (FACP) in any application. This line is all we
choose to install anymore.”
In the Fall of 2006, The Keating opened its doors as one of America’s newest “urban
lifestyle hotels,” sporting a clean, European/SOHO style blended with historical nuances.
Designed by Pininfarina S.p.A., world-renowned Italian design firm behind such luxury
brands as Ferrari and Maserati, the hotel’s interior is meant to entice the elite. So why
would The Keating secure the life and property of all who enter its doors with anything other than the best?
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