Systems Contractor News - The Integration Guide to Conferencing and Collaboration - January 2023

Welcome to the JANUARY 2023 GUIDE OF

CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION

Focus on Functionality

How Pohlad Companies Created an AV-Enabled HQ

By James Careless

Founded by Carl R. Pohlad in the 1950s with an initial focus on banking, the Pohlad Companies have grown into a diverse group of businesses. While best known for its ownership of the Minnesota Twins MLB team, Pohlad Companies has interests in the automotive sector, commercial real estate, robotic automation, engineering and material handling, and private investing.

In early 2020, the Pohlad-owned firm United Properties began construction of the 37-story RBC Gateway tower in downtown Minneapolis. “As the tallest mixed-use tower to be built in the city in nearly 20 years, this building is an icon, perfectly placed in the heart of Nicollet Mall,” said Rachel Lockett, CIO, Pohlad Companies. “It was only natural that the Pohlad Companies relocated our own headquarters to the building upon its completion in April 2022. Along with United Properties and the corporate offices of Carousel Motor Group, the Pohlad Companies offices occupy three floors of the Gateway building.”

The new space includes an expansive common area for employees and management, a 16-seat large conference room, plus smaller conference rooms, collaboration spaces, executive offices, and more. Lockett took charge of designing the “technology workstream” for the new headquarters. Her vision was to build a fully AV-enabled workspace that harnessed the best of videoconferencing, shared IT resources, easy-to-use presentation technology, and multi-site connectivity to maximize the productivity of her company’s employees.

“We knew then that the two most important focus areas for the technology workstream would be the network and the AV technology,” said Lockett. “When designing an iconic new building that will set the new standard of architecture and redefine the skyline of downtown Minneapolis, the technology within the building must rise to the occasion and deliver the expected user experience for quality, reliability, and aesthetic design.”

their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.

Please Recycle. We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.

Smaller conference rooms feature Poly Studio X30 or X50 videobars.

Four Defined Goals

With the professional support of AVI Systems of Minneapolis, Pohlad Companies moved into its new HQ in late Spring 2022. Lockett detailed four objectives for the design of the AV-enabled work environment: “Our goals were to enable seamless user collaboration and an intuitive employee experience; ensure security of our information, assets, and people; support the unique and ever-changing business applications and requirements of each company that we own; and provide cost-effective AV solutions to our users.”

AVI Systems met these goals by adopting a common approach to AV-enabled spaces across the entire three floors. In general, large displays are the anchor of the Pohlad Companies’ AV system—4K video walls and monitors in the largest spaces, HDTV monitors in small ones—along with videoconferencing connectivity equipment and docking stations, all-in-one videobars and PTZ cameras, and a variety of microphones.

“Videoconferencing was always a thought in their minds as they planned for this space,” said Charlie Ryan, senior account manager, AVI Systems. “But once COVID happened, this really became their number one priority.”

An AV-enabled network provides seamless user collaboration throughout the Gateway building.

Hassle-Free Operation

Three main points stand out with the project. First, the Pohlad Companies use the same equipment and interfaces across AV-enabled spaces to keep things simple for non-technical users. Second, the system is as agnostic as possible, so employees can access a range of videoconferencing platforms without running into compatibility issues. And third, by taking an agnostic approach, the Pohlad Companies have made their AV-enabled work environment as future-proof as possible, because they have not tied themselves to any one particular technology or software system.

“When selecting technology for the new space, we started with a focus on the user experience,” Lockett explained. “Once we identified the options that would meet the quality, reliability, security, and scalability expectations, we then compared the alternatives and chose the most cost-effective solution.”

The company created a large space for employee “Town Hall” meetings around a central open stairwell with two Absen 14x7-foot video walls serving as the main displays. The executive boardroom

The agnostic videoconferencing solutions and 4K displays future-proof the workplace.

videobars, depending on room size.

Laptop connectivity and presentation equipment are available in all AV-enabled spaces. The largest areas are also equipped with AV technology such as Crestron DM-RMC-4KZ receiver/room controllers, Poly G7500 modular videoconferencing systems, or Crestron DMPS3-4K-350-C presentation systems, plus Shure MXA910W ceiling array microphones and Crestron X-Series amplifiers, among other gear. The common spaces and café area include Mersive wireless presentation systems for ease of use.

“We just scaled the equipment according to the room size,” said Ryan. “We would take the appropriate amount of AV equipment for a large conference room, for example, and then scale it down to a collaboration space.”

Hitting The Mark

Providing the best quality AV experience for the Pohlad Companies was a top priority for AVI Systems. “This is why we have four auto-tracking PTZ cameras in the boardroom that seamlessly switch between each other,” Ryan said. “We also have presets on the camera control touch panels to allow the users to select their favorite shots. That said, our primary goal is to let the system manage itself so that the users don’t have to worry about it.”

AVI Systems has also met the client’s requirement of having rooms that are uncluttered by visible AV equipment and

cables. This was achieved by using ceiling-mounted microphones and speakers, plus locating major AV equipment in equipment racks hidden and locked away in the rooms. “It is important for the Pohlad Companies for their AV systems to be as invisible as possible,” said Ryan. “All the components are there—you just don’t see them.”

Once the rooms were finished, AVI Systems showed key Pohlad stakeholders how to use each system so that they could teach their user groups. “It was really important that we installed the same systems over and over again so that the employees only had to learn the interface for one system,” explained Keith Gustavson, design engineer, AVI Systems. “It doesn’t matter what room they get into: It’s all the same user interface until they get into the bigger rooms that are more complicated to operate, but still have the same look and feel.”

Almost a year later, the Pohlad Companies are happy with the AV-enabled work environment that AVI Systems delivered. “From supporting large group meetings in the video-enabled café space to the advanced multi-camera capabilities of the boardroom to the bring-your-own-meeting [BYOM] solutions in every private office, the AV technology has seamlessly enabled hybrid meetings with an emphasis on creating meeting equity,” Lockett said. “As our strategic partner, AVI is working right alongside us to adapt to the changing needs and find the right solutions to each new challenge.”

CIO Rachel Lockett shows off the “Town Hall” area, which is built around an open stairwell and features two Absen video walls.

At Issue

Garth Lobban

Director

of Marketing, Atlona

Any room updates need to plan for remote team members by extending their eyes and ears into that room. Cameras, either tracking or multiple cameras based on room size, are needed so that remote participants can see who they are collaborating with. Speakerphones or separate microphones and speakers, according to the coverage needed, must be designed into the space so that meaningful audio from both sides can be exchanged. Most importantly, AV systems need to accommodate presentation content from both

sides so that ideas can be exchanged. This means content brought in from the remote side as well as from the local side on the presenter’s device—or called up from servers in the location.

Gina Cunsolo Content Marketing and Copywriting Specialist, Yamaha Unified Communications

A successful hybrid workplace is one of utmost flexibility. In a hybrid workforce, employees often choose which days they come into the office. The in-office days vary by position, department, and external circumstances: Some choose to work remotely on days of doctor’s appointments, parent/teacher conferences, etc. This leads to a unique set of employees in the office on any given day. Rarely will all meeting participants be physically present at the same time. Therefore, effortless USB connections for crystal-clear audio and video are crucial to consistency and seamless connection during meetings when office attendees look different each day.

What advice would you give a company looking to renovate its meeting areas to accommodate a hybrid workforce?

AND COLLABORATION INTEGRATION GUIDE

Joe Drury Manager, Business Management, Professional Display Solutions, Sony Electronics

Audio and visuals are an extremely important way to connect meeting attendees who are on-site and remote. Choosing flexible technology that is created with hybrid needs in mind not only creates a more collaborative and productive environment, but it can help facilitate engagement and retention. The highest quality tools can provide the brightest images, the most legible text and presentations, and the best audio, helping to communicate and share ideas clearly and accurately—with peace of mind. Another element to consider is the integration and compatibility of a product, which helps to enable easy integration, installation, and use.

Dana Corey Senior Vice President and General Manager, Avocor

It is important to create a consistent experience across the meeting rooms within a company. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is exactly the same, but that the meeting experience is standardized through the technology available. This helps to increase productivity as well as save time. It is also important to stay abreast of technology trends, as new products are coming onto the market all the time. For example, for larger meeting rooms there are some exceptional ultra-wide displays coming onto the market. Designed to derive superior value from hybrid meetings, these 105-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio interactive displays offer users a more spacious, immersive view than conventional dimension displays—and deliver exceptional visuals and extra horizontal workspace. In particular, this new format is ideal for organizations looking to invest in Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms.

Andrew Kornstein

Manager, Business Development— Americas, Sennheiser

In considering upgrades to meeting spaces, our customers’ priority remains the highest quality audio capture possible. The latest beamforming technology in our TeamConnect Ceiling 2 not only delivers high-quality audio to the far end, but

also offers a hands-off experience for the local attendees of the meeting. The end result is consistent audio capture regardless of the participants’ location in the room, style of delivery, or loudness. Sennheiser has worked tirelessly the past several years to lead the industry in the latest innovations of microphone technology, and continues to be one of the common standards in meeting spaces across the globe.

Jeremy Hall

Sales Manager, Key Accounts, Absen

Even though hybrid work has become beneficial to all employees, it is important to not forget the people actually in the office. The in-room technical experience is just as important as the software, computers, and consumer technology used by the remote employees—and dvLED walls can be a solution to enhance the in-office experience. With dazzling visuals, long life, unlimited size and aspect, and remarkable user-facing ease, dvLED adds a component to the meeting space that isn’t experienced at home. This makes the in-office experience special for the end users and entices them to use these corporate spaces. When paired with the right peripheral hardware, we can create spaces that are easier to use within our office spaces to excite our users about the hybrid experience, and gives them something to look forward to when they return to the office.

Ken Eagle

Vice President for Technology, Hall Technologies

Here are a few areas of concentration to consider when renovating a meeting or conference room.

Have a solid connection: It should go without saying, but a quality remote communication experience starts with a solid network connection. Make sure you have a quality wired or wireless connection and avoid the use of a cell phones.

Eliminate ambient noise and echo: Always choose a location that is quiet and private for your meeting spaces. Use equipment that includes noise cancellation and acoustic echo cancelation features.

Position your participants properly: It’s important to space yourself at the correct distance from the microphone from other participants in the room.

With these tips in mind, your renovated meeting space will have clear communications and collaborations.

Avocor L Series

Engage with and showcase more content with the next generation of 21:9, ultra-wide displays from Avocor. Available in two options, the Avocor L Series has been designed to deliver a rich and agnostic videoconferencing experience at a wider scale, with integrated whiteboarding and smart sensors, providing room usage information. The non-touch variant complements the Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms experience, while the touch option supports infinite canvas applications for immersive team collaboration.

Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2

The TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) combines the advantages of a boundary microphone and a microphone array; therefore, it is the best solution for both videoconferencing and in-room audio. The TCC2 offers unparalleled levels of control with the addition of a priority zone, five advanced exclusion zones, and more. It is both easy to install and integrate while delivering high-quality audio for all participants.

CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION

Sony SRG-X40UH

The SRG-X40UH compact 4K PTZ camera combines high image quality, versatile connectivity, and flexibility in installation. It offers various mounting options and can be installed on a desktop or ceiling, as well as easy connections via USB or HDMI for integration into existing systems. Its USB Video Class (UVC) provides smooth video communication. With powerful zoom, sensitive image sensor, and a wide viewing angle, the camera delivers natural color reproduction even in low light.

Absen AbsenIcon 3.0

AbsenIcon 3.0 is an all-in-one solution for meeting rooms and office spaces. It comes in three sizes: 110, 138, and 165 inches and has a brightness of 350 nits. It also has a user-friendly interface and remote control for easy setup and installation—and supports wall mounting and mobile stand installation. AbsenIcon supports screen cast through computer, mobile phone, and PAD screen. The screen shares up to four devices at one time wirelessly, allowing creativity display simultaneously. The mobile phone/PAD screen can also work as a writing board, enabling online editing.

amaha UC CS-800/CS-500

Yamaha’s CS-800 Video Sound Bar and CS-500 Video Collaboration System are key to a successful hybrid workplace. Unique SoundCap Eye Technology pinpoints participants speaking in open spaces by combining audio and video data, so remote participants can see and hear their colleagues clearly. With one USB connection, flexible installation options, and Auto Easy Display Launch with an on-screen user guide, Yamaha’s Zoom Certified video collaboration systems facilitate seamless connection and collaboration for the hybrid workforce.

Atlona Captivate AT-CAP-FC110

The Atlona Captivate AT-CAP-FC110 delivers high-quality performance and imaging of a conventional PTZ camera, but with a size and price appropriate for environments with up to six people. The camera offers a wide 110-degree horizontal field of view that provides generous coverage. The CAP-FC110 can automatically resize and center the image based on detection of up to six people, and continuously adapts whenever someone enters or leaves the camera’s field of view.

Hall Technologies Discovery Series

Discovery is an HDBaseT wall plate transmitter and receiver kit that pairs natively with soft-codec videoconferencing applications such as Zoom, Teams, Skype, WebEx, and more. With both U.S. and U.K. transmitter wall plate options available, Discovery makes collaboration easy and fluid with support for resolutions up to 4K. In higher education applications, Discovery extenders are an ideal solution, supporting both remote and in-person learning. Likewise for conference rooms and huddle spaces, Discovery provides a simple way to communicate and share ideas utilizing USB peripherals like cameras and speakerphones.

sennheiser.com/ew-dx