How we do?
SERVICES OVERVIEW
Over the years, we have learned that each infrastructure project is unique. As a result, we’ve developed a phased approach to infrastructure projects that meets your objectives, maximizes your resources, and saves you time and money.
Our methodology has been successfully implemented for high profile clients in a broad spectrum of industries throughout the Turkey, Middle East and Globally. Acting as your client advocate, we take full ownership of your project and provide the leadership, management, and technical skills necessary for the successful design and construction of technology physical infrastructure projects.
Phased Methodology
TOPUZDAG’s methodology differentiates itself from standard legacy methods of consulting. Because each project has different objectives and each client has unique resources, we have found that a phased approach is most efficient and cost-effective.
Phase One: 
Needs Assessment 
• Define Audio and video needs
• (Identify existing AV equipment and analyze if this equipment can be re-used)
• Create design input on any existing or new furniture to be used as part of AV scope
• Define corporate AV Standards
• Establish equipment and service requirements  
Design & Planning
• Pathways for AV cabling
• AV Electrical Requirements (including mounting heights)
• Lighting Types and Placement
• Seismic Requirements for AV Racks and/or Ceiling Mounted Equipment
• Budget for AV Cabling, Systems and Equipment
• Cost Savings Options and Value Engineering
• Timeline Development and Scheduling
• AV Equipment Schedule  
Phase Two: 
Project Management
• Single Point of Contact
• Project Plan and Milestones
• Manage Audio Visual
• Develop “Bid Reference” AV Package
• Requests for Proposal (RFP)
• Bid Management and Contract Negotiation
• Update AV Package to “For Construction”
• Provide Leadership and Extensive coordination with IT and Facilities Department, Architect, General Contractor, Cabling Contractors, Audio Visual Contractor,
Security Contractor, and Other Trades Involved in the Project.
• Contract Administration
• Contract Reconciliation and Cost Control
• Compliance with Timelines
• We show the contractors the exact rack positions for each equipments.
• AV Cut-Over Support
• AV Equipment Relocation Management
• Managing Testing of AV Systems
• Participate in Client Training on AV Systems
• Vendor Contract Reconciliation
• Create “As-Built” Drawings
Deliverables
• AV Installation Project Plan, Schedule, and Implementation Plan
• AV Installation and Equipment RFP
• Close-Out Binder, Warranties, Service Agreements and Contacts List
• Bid Reference AV Drawings
• For Construction Drawings
• AV Equipment Schedule
• Bidders Matrix
• Cost Tracking
• AV Training
• As-Built Drawings
• AV Budgets
 

Why we do?
Introduction
Media (such as Audio, video, and multimedia) are playing an increasingly important role in exhibit, themed, and architectural environments. From luxury villas and boutique hotels to conference centers and great buildings, sophisticated audio-visual systems are more and more prevalent. These technologies are changing so rapidly that one year often represents one or two generations of products!
Further, these are no longer separate systems. There is often need to integrate the various media technologies into a seamless unit, and interactivity is becoming a common requirement. It is not reasonable for an architect to keep up with the trends and changes of the technology spiral. You need to offload the design and specification of these systems to a specialist – just as is routinely done with mechanical and electrical systems.
Often, vendors and manufacturers will offer technical consulting services whereby they will design an audio- visual system for you – often at little or no apparent charge. These designs, of course, always incorporate only products they sell. Under these circumstances, the vendor or manufacturer has a clear conflict of interest. We contend that your interests are better served by hiring an independent A/V design consultant to design and specify a system to give you the best possible results, the greatest flexibility, and the best value for your money.
Audio-visual consulting is typically provided by:
• An independent Audio-Visual Design Consultant,
• or an installation contractor,
• or an agent of a hardware manufacturer, vendor, or systems contractor/integrator.
There are very important differences between the first option and the last two – you should consider your choice carefully: An independent design consultant has no ties or allegiances to any manufacturer or contractor.
They are employed by you, and the advice they give is entirely in your best interest. Any vendor, manufacturer, installer, or contractor that also provides “consulting” services has a clear conflict of interest. Salespeople as Technical Consultants Anyone who sells a product, is paid to sell that particular product – that is how they earn their living. Would you really think that a salesperson will recommend products they do not sell? Which of two apparently similar items in a vendor’s stable of products do you think a salesperson is most likely to recommend – the best product or the product with the highest commission (usually the most profitable product)? Calling a salesman by a different name such as a "sales engineer" or "sales consultant" does not change their function or goals – they are ultimately driven by the profit motive. Whenever a vendor or manufacturer offers “free” technical consulting, consider the possibility that these services may not really be free (i.e.: the cost is buried elsewhere). Remember the old axiom, “you never get something for nothing.” Worse still, consider the vendor that charges you a fee to design a system on which they will also receive the sales or installation profits – talk about a “win-win” situation for the contractor. The bottom line is that whoever designs your system will be paid for this service, and they will be paid by you - one way or another. You should ensure that you (and only you) are paying the design consultant, thus ensuring that their design is driven by your best interests.

The Design Process
Technical design is a creative and dynamic process that should parallel the other design aspects of your project. Your A/V design consultant should become involved early in the project – preferably at the conceptual stage. As part of your design team, this consultant will provide guidance on the practicality of various technical solutions and media technologies, present you with options and working budgets, and suggest alternative approaches. If your concept depends on “cutting-edge hardware,” advice on the risks inherent in early adoption of these particular technologies will be provided.
Your consultant will continue to work with your team to refine the agreed-upon design towards a clear definition
of the scope and quality of the finished audio-visual systems – ensuring that they integrate with the other aspects
of your project. The consultant will research the best technologies and products to apply to your specific situation. At this point, the A/V budgets will generally be refined and finalised.
The design consultant will also provide electrical power and conduit needs to your electrical engineer, and specify heating loads and special ventilation requirements to your mechanical engineer. Your consultant will then prepare the working drawings and technical specifications needed to obtain competitive bids and to instruct the contractor. Alternatively, your consultant will prepare a stand-alone bid package for your audio-visual and media systems as a separate contract. In addition, they can help you pre-qualify bidders and evaluate bids.
Relying on a contractor or manufacturer to design your systems is not a good idea. Vendors and contractors make their profit by selling and installing equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment they are authorised to sell may not be the best choice for your particular application. Even amongst the brands that a vendor sells, there will
be those that are more profitable than others. It is only natural for a salesperson to try to talk you into the most profitable option, rather than the best option. The bottom line is that contractors, vendors, and manufacturers have a clear conflict of interest. In fact, no one should design or specify systems that they will supply or install. Who will monitor and accept their work? Who will hold up payment until deficiencies are corrected?

The Installation Phase
Retaining your design consultant’s services during the installation phase protects your design investment. Contractors will sometimes cut corners, and without a technical project representative looking out for your interests, the installed system may not be what was designed. Without an A/V consultant, how can you be sure that the installation meets the specifications and performs as it should? Without your consultant reviewing the contractor’s work, how will you know if there are deficiencies – this needs to be known before the contractor is paid.
During the construction phase, your audio-visual consultant can help develop an installation schedule to which the A/V contractor will commit. The consultant will periodically review the site work to ensure that the equipment is being installed to best professional practice and required standards, that the cabling and equipment meet the required safety standards and approvals, and to identify any potential schedule conflicts or slippages. Your consultant will review applications for payment by the A/V contractor, and advise you whether or not to pay the amounts claimed. Once the A/V contractor claims Substantial Completion, your consultant will review the installation, perform acceptance testing, and prepare a deficiency report. Your consultant will continue to monitor the “wind down” of the installation; supervise commissioning; review the project record drawings and required documentation; and review the warranty certificates. Your consultant will not issue a final certificate of payment to the A/V contractor until all contractual obligations have been met. This approach is all too often the only way that system documentation and staff training are ever completed.

The Cost
A poorly implemented media system will hamper communication and presentation, rather than enhance them. The audio-visual design consultant’s services increase the value of your project by developing a design that is tailored to your project’s present and future needs, and by monitoring the quality and workmanship of everything
from equipment selection to final installation. The fees charged represent a surprisingly small percentage of the overall project budget. A common pitfall is to not include the A/V consultant’s fees in the global project budget from the beginning – later in the project, when this oversight is recognized, there is seldom enough money available for a proper design. The solution: include the consultant’s fees in your project budget from the beginning.

Summary
To be effective, the technical requirements of today’s construction and themed environments dictate that you routinely incorporate an independent A/V design consultant into your design team – at the start of the project. Your consultant will work with your team to develop the technical solutions required to realize your concepts –with as little compromise as possible. The audio-visual consultant will prepare the technical drawings and specifications, co-ordinate these with the rest of the bid package, and help evaluate bids. During the installation, your A/V consultant will act as your on-site technical representative to ensure that the work is being performed as specified, to professional standards, and that all deficiencies are corrected before the A/V contractor is paid.
TOPUZDAG provide a total solution to the audio visual, presentation, and media design aspects of your projects. We are completely independent of any audio-visual manufacturer, A/V equipment vendor, or A/V contractor. As consultants, we design and specify video, presentation, multimedia, audio systems. Our audio visual design projects have included: exhibits, expositions, ports, Mosques, museums, TV - radio stations, malls, conference facilities, sports arenas, and institutions. Our principal has over 20 years of audio-visual design and consulting experience.