A Home That Thinks Ahead
Beneath the timber, stone, and glass of 420 Little Andorra beats a technological heart that rivals any urban penthouse or commercial control room. More than sixty subsystems — light, climate, water, sound, security, and snow — answer to a single, invisible intelligence.
Taming the Rockies
A lush luxury home in the harsh climate of the Rocky Mountains relies on a URC control system integrated with a host of third-party solutions to provide reliable comfort and convenience.
Residential Systems“Reliability comes first up here. If the system needs constant attention, it's not luxury, it's labor. We wanted intelligence that reliably disappears into the background.”
Cover feature by Ron Pence · Integration by ContractOne · Powered by URC Total Control
The Nervous System
At the center of the estate is URC's MRX-30 advanced system controller — the processor that connects distributed audio, lighting, climate, shades, cameras, irrigation, and security into one responsive environment. In a property of this size, milliseconds matter.
The brain. Two-way IP communication with instant feedback across every subsystem.
Two HDA-8100 amps, one HDA-4100, and an HDA-SW5 switch delivering 32 channels of DSP-tuned audio.
Eight TKP-5600 in-wall panels, two TKP-7600, two TKP-8600 touchscreens, a TDC-9600 tabletop controller, and a TKP-8300 panel.
Two TRC-1480 handheld remotes plus six TRC-1120 remotes across guest suites and entertainment zones.
Master bath, kitchen, game room, and low-volt room — PoE powered, never charged, full house control plus any app.
Seventeen in-wall Alexa units on a single PoE switch, with a verbal command to power them all down without touching the network.
A Day Inside the House
Every function ties back to a lifestyle moment rather than a menu. These are the scenes the house already knows.
Good Morning
6:45 AMLutron shades rise with the sun. Hue lighting fades on in warm daylight tones. The kitchen floors warm underfoot and a Denon-powered jazz playlist begins in the great room.
Snow Day
7:20 AMSnowfall arrives overnight. Zooz-controlled radiant snow-melt zones fire beneath the drive and the hot tub patio, gutter heat trace engages, and a confirmation lands on your phone before you reach for a shovel that you will never need.
Movie Night
8:00 PMOne macro fires the Epson 4K projector onto the 110-inch screen behind its custom barn door, dims the tiered media room to fifteen percent, and switches the Just Add Power matrix to the theater input — all within seconds.
Party
9:30 PMEvery Sonos and HEOS zone synchronizes indoors and out. Philips Hue shifts to color across the great room beams. Exterior access points open guest streaming over the deck, the outdoor kitchen, and the hot tub.
Away
DepartureOne tap on a TKP-8600 locks the doors, arms the Elk M1 Gold, closes the garage, powers down entertainment zones, and drops every thermostat to eco. The house watches itself while you travel.
Good Night
11:00 PMSay it to Alexa, press it on a keypad, or call it from a remote: all interior lights off, all televisions off, garage doors closed, and an alert if any zone is still open. Under each nightstand, motion sensors wait to light your path.
Nine Disciplines, One Ecosystem
Light that follows the day
- ◆Lutron dimming across dozens of circuits, programmed for ease of use
- ◆Electric Lutron roller shades throughout, blackout fabric in every bedroom
- ◆Philips Hue color layers, including great room uplighting on the ceiling beams
- ◆Morning presets mimic natural sunlight; evening scenes shift amber for circadian rhythm
- ◆Motion-sensor closet lighting, auto on and auto off
- ◆Motion-sensor bed platform lighting, active 7pm to 8am
- ◆Holiday outlets in the roof soffits, controlled by the house system
Where the Intelligence Lives
Game & Media Level
Tiered media room with a 4K projector, 110-inch screen, and Atmos wiring behind a custom barn door. A game room with five wall-mounted 65-inch displays and a 65-inch touchscreen. The low-volt room housing the estate's components, and a shop compressor plumbed to the garage.
Family Level
Sonos surround around a 75-inch display, a two-zone wine refrigerator, full refrigerator-freezer, glass washer, and an electric liquor and beverage dispenser. Bedrooms four and five each with their own display and Roku Ultra. Gym equipment and deep storage.
Kitchen Level
A large pivot entry door opens to Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Gaggenau appliances, reverse osmosis water, a built-in ice maker, pantry ladder storage, and a remote-controlled gas fireplace beneath Hue-lit beams — all opening to the deck through the MultiGlide door.
Master Level
Motorized clerestory windows, a motorized TV cabinet, wireless charging built into both nightstands, an RFID-locking drawer, a steam shower, electric fireplace, and motion-lit floors from the moment your feet touch down.
Laundry Level
Smart washer and gas dryer with custom cabinetry, built-in laundry bins, ironing board, and folding shelf. The second master carries a smart toilet, soaking tub, lighted mirror, and sun tunnel; the guest suite mirrors the finish.
Garage Level
Tesla charger with wiring for two more, battery-backup openers, auto-winding air, light, and temperature-controlled water reels, a ceiling-mounted sliding bike rack, a dog wash sink with built-in dryer, and the heated boot and glove rack.
Challenges of Building at 8,600 Feet
Winter temperatures swing forty-five degrees in a day. Summer brings dust, heat, and high-altitude UV. Connectivity is challenged by distance and weather. Every decision here was made for reliability first.
Commercial-grade UPS provides battery backup and monitors incoming voltage against the irregularities common at remote elevations — no massive separate power plant required.
AV racks are vented and temperature-monitored through the URC and Luxul systems, so the equipment stays as comfortable as the residents.
Redundant ISPs ensure control continuity and on-site battery backups maintain essential functions during outages that can last through a storm.
Weatherproofed outdoor components, buried conduit, and network integrity across every wing — the result of extensive collaboration between AV, electrical, and construction teams.