CHALLENGE

This preeminent nonprofit research organization was planning to build a 14,000-square foot, state-of-the-art research laboratory. But that created one single, daunting question: What does “state-of-the-art” actually mean for a video-teleconferencing room that would connect global and domestic partners real-time, eliminate unnecessary travel, and facilitate vital, ongoing collaboration? The Hamner planning committee honestly didn’t know. So they turned to longtime AV partner AVCON to help them figure out what they really needed.

The first step was a series of meetings and interviews with key stakeholders, including IT and architectural firm O’Brien Atkins, which helped AVCON define their client’s expectations. Then the AV partner proposed a comprehensive system that would meet these expectations – for budget, functionality, ease of use, and service. Because of the strong working relationship forged between AVCON and The Hamner and the deep trust established, AVCON understood what was important to their client and best reflected their business – offering the right solution and not more than was needed. The Hamner planning committee went with AVCON’s recommendation.

SOLUTION

AVCON’s engineers, the architects, and The Hamner IT team worked in lock step throughout the entire project. All of the AV requirements for acoustics, lighting, and electrical were discussed up front and included in the architectural plans. And not one glitch occurred during the construction. This facility features the appropriate selection of well designed and integrated presentation and conferencing technologies, including two NEC 57” HD LCD displays, an audio system for source play-back, a SMART Technology’s overlay for interactive presentations and data conferencing, an integrated Tandberg video conferencing system with presentation and meeting orientation cameras, a Codian server for recording and web streaming, Extron table interfaces for good cable management and connectivity, and ClearOne’s integrated audio conferencing system with built-in table microphones.

The new Institute for Drug Safety Sciences – a joint Hamner and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill project – was unveiled in June 2009 with much fanfare and excitement. The video-teleconferencing room is enabling the Institute to more efficiently and effectively communicate with partners in China, Japan, Norway, UK, and the US to deliver on its mission. That’s success guaranteed.