I ndividual rooms throughout the facility maintain even, comfortable temperatures thanks to an intelligent monitoring system by Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls. Lighting in many areas of the building -- little used corridors or out-of-the-way restrooms -- can be switched over to ultrasonic detectors so the lights go on with sound, a feature that helps control energy costs. And building security is made tighter and more convenient with an automated locking system controlled in the security office on the building's lowest level. Comfortable rooms, good security -- these are givens in a convention facility. What constitutes effective lighting or adequate sound controls is less cut and dried. More difficult decisions came with the audio-visual capability. Planners calculated anticipated use, explored state of the art equipment, checked prices against bank-account realities, and settled on a system Monona Terrace can grow with. "We wanted equipment that would be flexible, that would enable us to move ahead with emerging technology," says Associate Director Jeff Kossow, "but we had to stay within a budget so we could price our meeting facilities competitively." Full Compass Systems in Middleton is providing most of the building's audio-visual equipment. Wall controls adjust sound levels in meeting rooms. Same thing in the Lecture Hall; a presenter on stage has the option of raising and lowering light and sound levels with a touch of text-based commands on a computer screen in the lectern. For more complicated needs, the room can be controlled by a technician in the control booth. And no more fumbling when someone calls out, "Lights, please." Each meeting room has a wall panel with nine preset levels, so a touch of a button brightens or dims the lights with ease. The lighting controller is made by Electronic Theatre Control in Middleton. Internet connection is a big draw for many conventions and meeting planners. Accessibility wasn't the question; meeting-goers will have the ability to walk in, plug in and access the Internet. The question, says Kossow, was pricing. "The threshold of what's a reasonable fee differs for different users, and we had to determine a pricing structure that was fair and appealing to everyone," he says. "The answer is different levels of service related to speed."