InAVate Jan-Feb issue - UBM case study

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Reprinted from the Jan/Feb 2016 edition by:

EMEA’S LEADING RESOURCE FOR PRO AV TECHNOLOGY, INTEGRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Building with intelligence:

Serving a workforce on the move

CASE STUDY

| UBM Headquarters, UK

UBM Headquarters, UK | C A S E

When integrator Vanti started work on providing UBM with AV and control to support a shift to agile working and provide alternative office spaces it didn’t realise that it would end up taking responsibility for a full smart buildings project. Anna Mitchell reports.

Building clever

T

embarked on a move to

shift

based

its

London

headquarters

a

few metres down the city’s Blackfriars Bridge. The move to a purpose built

as an example of energy efficiency and

make the most of.

Level 19

2|

When you want to control HVAC, turn lights off, book a meeting room; you go to an AMX panel.

- Raj Patel, Vanti

aimed for (and ultimately achieved) a LEED Platinum rating for the building.

We wanted to rethink how we use real estate and ultimately drive value from what is a very expensive cost to the business.

- Stephen Vause, UBM

Meeting room usage statistics showed

utilisation, the second used smart building. UBM wanted the office to act

office facility provided the company with a blank canvass that it intended to

While the first step centred on space systems to ensure an energy efficient

wo years ago global media company UBM

STUDY

and 60%.

A number of separate external parties –

conditioning control or accessing the

so it could be managed and controlled,”

including builders, electrical contractors,

Polycom phone book.” (Polycom was a

explains Patel. “Security was a big issue.

AV/IT consultants and HVAC companies

perquisite for the installation as UBM

Ownership of problems was another

- tendered and were awarded contracts.

has a global partnership deal with the

one and we had to wait at a number of

Integrator Vanti won the AV installation

vendor.)

stages in the project while the network

portion of the project with a bid based on AMX infrastructure.

One of the benefits for Vanti was the

was being installed and configured.”

ability to start work at an early phase

Whilst UBM wanted everything on one

For them one of the first tasks was

of construction. AV integrators are

network it also had exacting standards

to ensure a great user experience,

often plagued by getting on site when

for the devices that would sit on

consistency and simplicity of use in all AV

the building is virtually finished and

that network. Everything had to

Harman products used

that the majority of meetings were

It quickly became clear that the office

equipment UBM staff had to interface

infrastructure in place. However, Vanti

be on the latest firmware, locked

“We wanted to rethink how we use

between small groups – generally two

footprint could be drastically reduced

with. This was coupled with demands

was able to design and install its own

down and secure.

real estate and ultimately drive value

to four people - and often carried out

resulting in huge yearly cost savings.

from the architects that everything had

cabling infrastructure and make sure

What also became apparent

from what is a very expensive cost to the

in inappropriate spaces such as a ten-

“We were also woefully under-

to be clean and not disrupt the modern

network requirements met its needs,

very quickly was that, with

business,” says Stephen Vause, head of

seat boardroom. UBM also noticed that

provisioned when it came to spaces for

sleek design of the building.

such as supporting multicast traffic to

the

facilities management at UBM.

lots of people were booking meeting

meetings and crucially breakout space,”

“Any client facing room has four walls

deliver Exterity IPTV.

required, someone had to take

JBL loudspeakers and subwoofers

The first step for Vause’s team was to

rooms – even boardrooms – to work

adds Tom Holden, who was nominated

of glass, there is nowhere even for a light

However, the biggest challenge came

responsibility for the entire

embark on research into office culture

in on their own because they weren’t

IT lead for the project. “We wanted to

switch,” notes Raj Patel, CTO and founder

in the level of integration demanded

smart building aspect of the

and how the current space was used.

permanently based in the building and

build an office that took advantage of

of Vanti. “All room functions had to be

across systems that in many other

project. That role eventually fell

Analysis of the body of data produced

they needed a place to sit. Potentially

that low desk utilisation, encouraged

accessed through one single control

installations are siloed.

to Vanti.

sparked ideas about how the new office

the most important statistic was that

mobility and added modern, alternative

interface via an AMX control panel. This

“UBM wanted everything completely

“We didn’t go out looking to

AMX DXLink extenders, Enova presentation switchers, Modero touchpanels, HydraPort table boxes, Novara keypads, control boxes and PDUs, NetLinks control processing

would work for the company.

desk utilisation hovered between 40%

working spaces.”

gives them control over lighting, air

integrated and sitting on their network

be the smart building contractor

www.inavateonthenet.net

www.inavateonthenet.net

level

of

integration

AKG omnidirectional boundary, gooseneck and wireless mics BSS Soundweb audio processing and BLU-100 DSPs Crown amplifiers

AMX Xpert IS-XPT-2100 digital signage players

|3

CASE STUDY

| UBM Headquarters, UK

UBM Headquarters, UK | C A S E

STUDY

and we weren’t appointed that in the beginning,” says Patel. “Of course you have an electrical consultant designing access control systems, a mechanical consultant

designing

BMS,

an

IT

consultant designing networks, an AV consultant designing AMX or Crestron systems. What you typically won’t have is someone designing all these systems.

That was reflected when the contracts came out and I think it’s quite typical of most projects. You end up with lots of companies who are working on the same project and not talking to each other.

“When issues came up, we were the ones raising them because essentially AMX was at the centre of everything.

We were the ones says ‘guys this doesn’t work’. So it got to the point A flexible presentation space can host large groups or be divided for smaller meetings and events.

where we thought who is best placed to manage this integration process? Our

Room booking

job is getting different systems to plug together and in the end it was felt we

which allocates them a desk and

has an IP power bar and the AMX

automatically calls a lift to take them

were most qualified to propel the project

A Manhattan room booking system

control system can shut it down over

to their floor. Lifts at UBM don’t have

forward.”

from Trimble was deployed. The

the network. It’s not on standby, it’s

buttons as each one is programmed

resource

completely off.

to take the user to their destination

“UBM really picked up on our IT

based

booking

system

capability as well,” adds Mike Brooman,

allocates spaces according to the

CEO of Vanti. “On top of that we were

facilities

able to talk about data and where it

videoconference,

users

require

such

“It also works really well for

floor.

as

diagnostic

anything

“We wanted a visitor management

or

needs to be restarted that can be

system that allowed people that

would live as well as things like electronics

even whether they require refreshments

done remotely or from a local touch

had

and RS232 control. I think there is an

or not.

panel.”

to

smartboard

purposes.

If

meetings come

to

in

the

building

reception

and,

opportunity for AV integrators to get

“It’s a web based booking system,”

Vause says from the client perspective

using a key pad, auto check in as you

into smart building projects but only if

notes Patel. “Staff can book from

automation was absolutely key for

would an airport,” continues Vause.

they have the correct IT expertise.”

Outlook or via the AMX touchpanel

energy efficiency. “No matter how

“The system provides instructions of

From the client perspective Vause

interface. The booking system also

hard you push and educate people

where to go, calls a lift and messages

notes: “There were lots of areas outside

ensures that when users come into

to turn things off, they might for a

the host.”

of Vanti’s contractual scope that they

a booked room the lights are turned

short period of time but they fall back

Starting in the reception area

got involved with. For example while

on, the system is warmed up, the

to old ways of doing things. People

and throughout the building an

they were contracted to put in AV and

temperature is set and they’re ready

are busy, they forget, they disappear.

AMX Xpert digital signage system

VC, they weren’t initially tasked with

to go. In terms of doing business, it’s

The key for me was to automate that

offers wayfinding alongside other

managing the interface with the ShoreTel

very efficient.

process.”

content displayed on a range of

“If a meeting finishes and another

telephone system and they took that on, bringing a high level of expertise in voice and interfaces to the table.”

4|

bit of AV equipment in the building

Vanti helped UBM create meeting spaces for scenarios ranging from two to four people up to a more formal boardroom environment or breakout presentation and collaboration areas.

www.inavateonthenet.net

Access control was also linked

one is not booked, the power is

with

turned off to all the equipment. Every

Staff

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the

room

enter

booking

with

their

system. card,

Samsung

and

NEC

screens

and

mounted with B-Tech and Peerless brackets.

|5

CASE STUDY

| UBM Headquarters, UK

UBM Headquarters, UK | C A S E

Biamp Tesira handles DSP. Project

setup is used in other common areas

rooms

with screens mounted on a mixture of

add

Smartboards,

ClearOne

ceiling microphone arrays and Tannoy

Peerless and B-Tech mounts.

spaces use Smart 84-in interactive The

divisible

Management & support

process

also

captures

a

project rooms as well as the CEO

bag full of data in terms of how

Agora, boardroom and a divisible

deployed

we use the building,” says Vause.

presentation space.

throughout the building to meet

“We have approximately 140 people

LEED

“We did technical training, provided As everything is on the network

systems support and were on hand to

built a custom floor to ceiling mount

the

support IT and technical service teams

for, which allows easy one touch

deal of input from UBM’s US based

adjustment of the huge unit.

IT

installation

required

department,

while

a

tackle service desk issues.

UK

“We then took N-Vest through the

team

systems and devised a training course

led the project and now manage the

with them that covered how it worked

installed systems.

and set out the key things that needed

management

the

great

(FM)

UBM also noticed high costs for

UBM’s IT department appointed a

to be covered. N-Vest filmed that and

external event space hire and spotted

project manager to work alongside FM

made video clips that could be used to

an opportunity in its new building.

and effectively join the FM team. IT

support their user training.”

“We’ve started an initiative called

directors in America have insight and

Vanti has now signed a full managed

‘Bring It Home’,” explains Vause.

access to the system remotely and

service agreement with UBM which

“Level 19 of the building was designed

conduct videoconferences once a day

covers not just AV but the entire smart

as an events space to bring those small

with all their teams.

buildings element.

events back into the business.”

“We’ve

built

something

that

“It makes sense because it’s all

The glass walled Level 19 boasts

allows UBM’s FM team to work

through

breath-taking views over the city and,

more strategically and not battle

Patel. “When you want to control

and

whilst it’s an events space UBM can

issues such as double booked rooms,”

HVAC, turn lights off, book a meeting

appointed to a floor where there

signal processing and distribution

be proud of, it’s also been designed

notes Patel. “Now the questions they

room; you go to an AMX panel. When

is a maximum of 100 desks so

supported by some Kramer switching

to accommodate small group work.

can deal with are things like ‘we’re

you leave your meeting it’s a lighting

“Everyone in the building hot

we operate on a mobility ratio of 1

and Extron and Lightware extension

Employees

wall

at 60% capacity, we need to allocate

system PIR that detects that you’ve left

desks so there are no permanent

to 1.4. No one uses a desk without

products. In some places iKon AVS

mounted displays via AMX HydraPort

more desks’ and the business runs

the meeting and our AMX software

PCs,”

“Everyone,

booking it because they wouldn’t

wall plates and floor boxes were

table boxes.

more smoothly.

that we’ve written understands that

including the CEO has to book their

get power so the data is real and it is

also used.

desk and each desk has an IP switch

accurate.”

NEC

monitors Platinum

were

requirements

for

energy efficiency.

explains

Patel.

can’t just go and sit at a desk because

AMX

handles

control

Most spaces use AMX HydraPort

underneath it. The idea is that you

desk

Meetings and presentation

boxes,

Kramer

retractable

can

connect

to

our

interface,”

explains

For presentations Vanti installed a

“I don’t think we’ve made their job

Samsung 95-in unit on a raised stage

easier necessarily but before they had

area.

a technology estate of about £50,000.

“We’re in the middle of everything

someone’s left without checking out and cancels the booking.

cables and Crestron AirMedia to

A hefty Harman sound system was

They now have one of £2.5 million and

and we’re the first port of call if

facilitate wired and wireless screen

deployed in a basement gymnasium

the key thing is that the management

something goes wrong.”

sharing on a range of displays.

where control is accessed via AMX

overhead hasn’t gone up significantly

Meeting rooms at UBM come in a

Logitech web cams are provided

Modero Panels and an iPad housed

between the two.”

merely

variety of flavours that range from

for web conferencing.

in a Mode-Al wall mount. NEC 55-in

“The biggest time-saver for IT is desk

requires staff to swipe their card

a single person ‘shush room’ to the

and 80-in displays are mounted on

moves,” says Holden. “In the previous

at the station. When an employee

company

Peerless brackets.

building

leaves the building the booking

been provided with meeting rooms

Australian

and

Technology can even be found in

about two desk moves a year. Each one

Video case study

system reads the fact that their card

for 4-5, 6-8 and 10-12 people.

JBL loudspeakers. In these spaces

‘Tea Points’ that boast Kef speakers,

required a hardware shift and manual

Raj Patel gives InAVate.TV a

has left the building and the desk is

There are also informal breakout

Vanti

Polycom

powered with Kramer amplifiers and

re-patching of networks. The new set

tour of the UBM London HQ

powered down.

spaces,

videoconferencing

while

Samsung 55-in displays. A similar

up has saved all that time.”

tinyurl.com/hc3b3rs

there won’t be any power so the monitor and the USB dock will not work.”

The

6|

help and support people,” says Patel.

houses an 80-in NEC LCD that Vanti

Additional spaces

“This

key members of our team on hand to

room

facilities

Hot desking

N-Vest for this project. everyone moved into the office we had

Some of the informal breakout

UBM employees are allocated a desk when they check in each morning.

Vanti outsourced user training to “During the opening week when

loudspeakers.

whiteboards.

booking

system

boardroom.

telepresence

Staff

rooms

have

and

Larger meeting rooms use AKG, Shure or beyerdynamic microphones;

has

Monitor also

amplifiers

installed systems

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STUDY

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each

employee

averaged

|7

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