Welcome Home: The Community of The Future

Smart Amenities

The smart technology amenities in Sterling Ranch provide homeowners with security, comfort, convenience and efficiency through fiber internet, smart home technology and smart city systems.

The fiber at Sterling Ranch forms the backbone of the community’s smart infrastructure, a powerful network that is designed to stand the test of time and technological advancement. The current network features industry-leading split ratios and allocates two fibers per residence. One fiber provides symmetrical gigabit connectivity to residents while the other is being left dark for potential future applications such as telemedicine and autonomous vehicles. In addition, the network’s centralized split allows the conversion to an active Ethernet configuration. Surplus conduit will allow Lumiere to pull even more fiber to enable and accommodate future technological advancements.

One-off smart technology devices — such as security systems, voice-controlled smart speakers and smart TVs — already exist in many homes. But the smart home technology in Sterling Ranch helps bring these devices together into a more cohesive, truly smart home experience, all easily accessible through a smartphone app.

Residents have access to gigabit internet speeds and whole-home mesh Wi-Fi from day one of moving in, giving them enough bandwidth to power the superb home automation system and provide Wi-Fi to all devices within the residence.

Devices such as smart lighting and security alarms are fully integrated through a system called STEWARD, an in-home automation system powered by Siemens. Each home automation system initially allows residents to monitor their home’s security as well as electric, gas and water consumption. By having access to real-time home utility data, residents are able to see their environmental impact as well as set goals for utility usage and budget accordingly.

The STEWARD Home Automation app allows residents to access this data anytime and anywhere as long as they are connected to the internet or cellular service. This system can be customized for residents depending on the features they want to access/control. Add-ons include interior and exterior cameras, automated door locks, motion sensors for windows and doors, smart lighting, voice-controlled speakers and smart doorbells.

Smart city systems, such as Sterling Ranch’s unique connected LED streetlight system, help the community conserve energy while bringing residents peace of mind. The connected streetlights in Sterling Ranch can communicate with each other via a mesh network. This allows Sterling Ranch to deploy custom lighting schedules that are “dark sky” friendly. The streetlights are also equipped with RGB beacons and speakers that can change colors and broadcast announcements to notify people of emergency events such as severe weather or aid in wayfinding for large community events.

What the Future Holds

Right now, Sterling Ranch has over 400 occupied homes with several hundred more in the process
of design or construction. Burns & McDonnell will work to provide fiber connectivity to each residence as well as businesses, commercial spaces, restaurants and more.

“Because we have the program management control and the engineering control, we are designing and forecasting to get ahead of the curve,” says Dwayne Bradley, a project manager at Burns & McDonnell. “With the next village, the network is already in the ground and things are ahead of schedule.”

With integrated systems throughout the community, the developer’s concept will come to life with each newly constructed neighborhood. By 2040, an estimated 36,000 residents will be expected to occupy more than 12,000 housing units, all with direct access to high-speed internet and mesh Wi-Fi.

“We’re working to build a community with a love of people, nature and technology that has a positive impact not only on our residents, but also the world,” Hinshaw says.