Our Story

We may have changed our name and location over the past fifteen years, but our mission has remained the same—to act as the client’s “one source” advocate when it comes to making decisions about technology infrastructure design, build and move strategies.

Integrated Building Systems is a unique blend of The Knowledge Group’s technology space design service, combined with the installation and project management expertise of the ADC name. We have the ability to offer the customer the power of one choice that’s backed by the expertise of many specialists.

Owner Involvement, Team Care, Satisfied Clients
Another difference you’ll appreciate when working with us is that one of the three owners, all of whom have been together since 1987, is involved with all major projects from the very beginning.

Our clients (95% of whom are in Ohio) such as Battelle, Bob Evans, Chase, Dublin Schools, Goodwill, Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center and Columbus City Schools, tell us time and time again how much money, time and stress this approach has saved them. “Keeping clients so happy that they keep returning” is what it’s all about.

Our History:  Southern Roots
Al Chapman’s path to Columbus, Ohio, began in Memphis, Tennessee, at South Central Bell. During his twenty-year tenure there, Al worked through the ranks to assume responsibility for more than four hundred employees as Operations Manager of Engineering and Construction for the state of Kentucky. With the break-up of the Bell Telephone system in 1984, Al pursued a new opportunity with a Columbus, Ohio, national utility contractor as the founder of their new technology division.

1985...Coming To Ohio
The move is perfect timing on Chapman’s part. He and his team leverage the “heavy muscle” of traditional outside plant cabling, add fiber optics, and bring in more than fifteen million dollars in annual sales. He and his team accomplish this by installing infrastructure to support new phone systems on college and business campuses across the Midwest and elsewhere in the country.

1987...Chapman hires Bill Helland and assigns him to his first major project— re-wire the entire University of Cincinnati campus to support voice, data and video needs.  Chip Chapman, Al’s son, joins the project management team to provide scheduling and data support.

1989...Once the large telephone system market starts to shrink, it becomes harder to sell telephone cabling as a “stand-alone” product.  Again, Chapman stays ahead of the market and pursues a new and growing segment—installing and supporting the infrastructure systems of larger data system clients, such as IBM, Honeywell and Digital Equipment Corporation.

1993...Chapmans start their own company
Al and Chip start ADC (a moniker for the father/son duo’s first, middle and last names) in Dublin, Ohio, with two desks, two telephones and a handful of clients. The company’s focus remains on infrastructure installation and support. However, the team sees the need to provide more than just cabling.

Bill Helland shares their vision and joins the new company. Initially, the company supports local phone vendors such as Bell-Haun, Norstan and AT&T by completing their infrastructure work, but soon moves on to bigger and more complex projects.

1995...ADC moves into a larger location on Michigan Avenue in downtown Columbus. ADC’s involvement with Ohio’s SchoolNET internet access project for grades K-12 and the planning and building of many new schools starts the company's tremendous five-year growth, to $8 million in sales and 75 employees. 

1996...ADC acquires Knowledge Communications, which specializes in design, engineering and project management of the Ohio school market. New system requirements include multi-media retrieval, CATV paging and intercom systems.  ADC becomes a true full-service Technology Contractor. This focus expands further to include corporate clients such as Chase, Battelle, PPG and Bob Evans.

1996-97...Projects with two large commercial-printing companies leads to the addition of another service line to the company’s portfolio—early-stage involvement in planning and building new space for technology infrastructure, as well as move logistics and management. The integration of fire/life safety, printing pre-press operations and building control systems is also added.

1999-2000...ADC becomes the first Columbus-based company to be certified in 802.11 wireless systems. The company’s wireless business grows with the addition of government sector clients in local counties and cities. ADC also begins to install security CCTV and access control systems. The Knowledge Group (TKG) is created to support clients that require the design and build processes to be separate.

2000...ADC sees an increasing demand for LAN support and acquired a Worthington, Ohio, computer hardware and network support company, MicroGallery. With this move, ADC quickly adds resources to its already-expanding base. ADC also begins work with a national hospitality telecommunications company and starts retrofitting business-class hotels throughout the East Coast for hard-wired and wireless Internet access.

2001-2003...ADC changes its name to Integrated Building Systems to better reflect its expanding services and presence in the marketplace.

2002-05...An economic downturn in commercial construction and ensuing high vacancy rates leads IBS into technology space consultation -- helping clients with renovating existing space and planning for technology relocations. Design and project management services are emphasized, rather than just installation. Strategic technology planning consultation becomes stronger at this time as well.

2005...IBS purchases Integrated Security Systems, a small security company. This “missing link” completes the company’s cabling, networking, audio/video, phone systems and wireless service chain. In-house LAN support, as well as sales and service for large servers, ends and is sold to Caspian Software; data network consulting and strategic planning services remain. IBS’ ongoing role is to be the customer’s advocate, helping determine budgets and scope of work decisions.

2008...During its 15 year history,  Integrated Building Systems has evolved to become a true, “one-stop,” full-service technology service provider, offering design, build, move, and strategy services under one large umbrella.