What We Do
Commercial AV Design-Build: What the Term Actually Means
In the commercial AV market, "design-build" describes a delivery model where a single firm is responsible for both the engineering design of an AV system and its physical installation. as opposed to a model where an independent consultant designs the system and a separate contractor installs it. Done properly, design-build is faster, more accountable, and produces better-coordinated systems, because the team designing the system is the same team who has to make it work.
Restrepo Innovations delivers commercial AV design-build in NJ across a range of project types. from single-room boardroom upgrades to ground-up multi-venue commercial buildouts. We handle the complete scope: needs assessment, system architecture, design documentation, equipment procurement, installation, programming, commissioning, and client training. Our Elite Pro Crestron designation means we have the technical depth to handle complex, interconnected systems. unified communications integration, multi-zone video distribution, large-format LED video walls, and enterprise networking. that many regional integrators cannot staff appropriately.
We also offer a distinct service that few NJ integrators provide: Owner's Rep for technology. In this role, we act as the client's technical representative. reviewing AV design documents from the architect's consultant, evaluating contractor bids, attending construction meetings, and verifying that the installed system matches the specification. It's an advisory role that pays for itself many times over on complex projects where the owner's organization lacks in-house AV expertise.
A Unique Service
Owner's Rep Technology Services. Your Expert on the Other Side of the Table
Large commercial projects. a new corporate headquarters, a hotel renovation, a mixed-use development with retail and hospitality. typically involve an architect-of-record, a construction manager, multiple specialty contractors, and an AV consultant hired by the design team. The owner's organization, unless it has a sophisticated in-house technology team, often finds itself making decisions about systems it doesn't fully understand, relying on the contractor's representations about scope and quality.
Owner's Rep Services
What Restrepo Innovations Does as Your Technology Owner's Rep
We review the AV consultant's design documents for completeness and accuracy. identifying gaps between what the drawings show and what the contractor will actually deliver. We evaluate competitive bids to determine whether the low bidder is genuinely competitive or has omitted scope. We attend OAC meetings and construction walkthroughs to verify rough-in and installation quality. We witness and document system commissioning and acceptance testing. And we advocate for the owner's interests at every stage, without a financial stake in the equipment being specified.
Ideal clients for Owner's Rep engagements: Developers building their first large commercial project, hotel ownership groups without in-house AV staff, corporate real estate teams managing a multi-site buildout, and private equity firms who've acquired a hospitality or commercial asset and need an independent assessment of what was installed.
Project Types
Commercial AV Projects We Design & Build in NJ and the NYC Metro
01
Executive Boardrooms
Integrated video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Webex), display systems, Crestron touch-panel control, acoustic ceiling treatment, and presentation source routing. Systems designed to run without a technician in the room.
02
Multi-Room Conference Centers
Scalable conference room deployments across floor plates. standardized room templates, centralized Crestron control infrastructure, and room scheduling integration with enterprise calendaring systems.
03
Restaurants & Bars
Zoned audio distribution, video display systems for sports or ambiance, background music programming, and service interfaces that let floor staff adjust zones without technical knowledge. Part of our Hospitality division's scope.
04
Hotels & Private Clubs
Guestroom technology, lobby AV, event space systems, and back-of-house scheduling. We coordinate with the FF&E team, general contractor, and brand standards compliance requirements throughout the project.
05
Training & Multi-Purpose Rooms
Flexible-use rooms with operable partitions, distributed display, audio reinforcement, and divisible control zones. Systems that support simultaneous independent use of divided spaces without complexity for the end user.
06
Corporate Lobbies & Common Areas
Digital signage, wayfinding, background audio, and experiential AV for reception and common areas. technology that enhances the brand impression of a commercial space for visitors and employees.
Our Process
The Restrepo Innovations Commercial AV Design-Build Process
Commercial AV projects in NJ fail most often for predictable reasons: scope not fully defined at contract execution, rough-in completed incorrectly because no one reviewed the drawings with the electrician, or commissioning rushed to hit a TCO date before the system is properly calibrated. Our process addresses each of these risk points.
Discovery & Programming
We engage the stakeholders who will actually use the systems. IT, facilities, executive leadership, operations. to understand requirements before drawing anything. A boardroom system designed around how a specific leadership team actually runs meetings performs better than one designed around a spec sheet template.
Design & Documentation
We produce a complete design package: system block diagrams, rack elevations, cable schedules, UI mockups, and written specifications. This documentation is the basis for procurement and coordinates our work with the GC, electrical contractor, and network team.
Pre-Wire Coordination
We attend pre-wire walkthroughs with the electrical contractor, verify rough-in box locations against design documents, and issue RFIs for conflicts before walls close. This is the highest-use phase for preventing costly post-construction remediation.
Shop Build & Programming
Rack systems are assembled and programmed in our shop before delivery. Crestron programs are written, tested, and documented against the approved UI design. Network configurations are prepared. We aim to arrive on-site with systems that are 80% commissioned before the cable is terminated.
Installation & Commissioning
On-site installation is coordinated with the construction schedule. We commission against a written test plan that verifies every system function, including failure modes and edge cases. Punch list items are tracked and resolved before substantial completion sign-off.
Training & Service
We train end users, IT staff, and facilities personnel separately. the interfaces they need to know are different. We provide complete as-built documentation and offer ongoing service agreements for clients who want proactive system maintenance rather than reactive break/fix support.
Where We Work
Commercial AV Services Across NJ, NY & CT
Our commercial practice is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, NJ and serves clients across the New York metropolitan area. We have active commercial relationships in Bergen County, Manhattan, Westchester, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. For hotel and hospitality clients, we extend our reach to Long Island, the Hamptons, and select projects further afield.
We also serve hospitality clients through our dedicated Hospitality division, and residential clients through our Residential division. For clients with both commercial and residential needs. a developer building a mixed-use property, or a business owner seeking the same technology integrator for office and home. working with a single firm across both contexts produces better outcomes.