New AV and IT solutions create collaborative environments in an agency's new headquarters.
CHALLENGE: Install AV, voice, and data communications systems that encourage employees to work creatively and collaboratively.
SOLUTION: Hire a systems integrator that provides both AV and IT support as well as designs complex systems that are easy to use.
AS THE LARGEST EMPLOYEE-OWNED advertising agency in the United States, Barkley's client list includes nationally known brands such as Sonic, Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and Build-a-Bear Workshop. The agency constantly innovates its creative processes to produce the best advertising for its clients. So when the agency moved into new headquarters, Barkley management decided to work with a single vendor to craft a collaborative environment where AV technology fosters creativity. SKC — a systems integrator in Shawnee Mission, Kan., that specializes in AV, voice, and data systems — started work on the project in March 2006.
Barkley's new home is the historic former headquarters of TWA located in the art district of downtown Kansas City, Mo. The building was gutted, leaving behind an open structure that gave the interior designers and SKC the ability to construct offices that are productive for employees as well as clients. “We had outgrown the previous space. Everything in the new building is designed to help us work more productively,” says Kelly Francis, Barkley's technology liaison director.
Measuring in at 300,000 square feet across four floors, the new headquarters is 200,000 square feet larger than the previous office. In the old building, “we had thrown things together; it was a hodgepodge of AV. Our strategy at the time was mostly reactionary. Plus, [it] was not designed to accommodate the current number of [employees]. In the new space, we wanted technologies to blend together,” says Steve Covell, Barkley's vice president of information technology. “We wanted Voice-over-IP (VoIP), a robust network, and a solid core AV system.”
SKC completed its job in time for Barkley's November 2006 move-in date. “There were some cost-savings built into the project, such as buying in quantities and working with them on infrastructure and construction,” adds Monti Carr, director of engineering for SKC. “The building was built in the 1970s, so it needed additional power and conduit. But we were able to design scalable systems that Barkley can add on over time. With SKC being able to offer both AV and IT support, it is a value and benefit to this project,” Carr adds.
STIMULATING ENVIRONMENTS
Barkley headquarters features 23 medium and large meeting rooms with a total of 180 seats. According to Covell, 95 percent of the partners/employees have a laptop, and the building's wireless network means each person can move freely around the building. The main technology objective for each conference room is to show videos and streaming media, all in an effort to stimulate the creative process. “Equipment consistency is great for tech support; although there are small variances in the rooms' configuration due to size and use,” Covell says.
Medium-sized rooms have basic AV systems that include a 50-inch LG MU-50PM10 plasma display on a Chief dual swing arm wall mount. Components such as the Sony SLVD350 VCR/DVD combo unit and the Crown 180MA amplifier are stored in-room in a Middle Atlantic RSH-4A custom rack shelf. Sound coverage for the room is courtesy of four Soundtube RS500i-WH ceiling speakers.
 DENNIS PHOTOGRAPHY
In the theater at Barkley's new headquarters, a Mitsubishi projector and JBL loudspeakers are installed on the back wall.
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Mitsubishi XL5980U LCD 5500 lumens XGA projectors on Chief RPA-SKC mounts and Da-Lite 40725 100-inch diagonal Da-Mat ceiling-mounted screens instead of a plasma displays are found in the larger meeting rooms. Source inputs and amplifier are the same, with two additional Soundtube ceiling speakers (for a total of six) to cover the room.
AV does not interfere with the aesthetics in each room. “We used white screen casings and custom painted white projector mounts. The speakers are painted white to match the rooms. The AV really blends in,” Carr says. “We did our best to hide components using millwork and custom-built spaces for racks or shelves for AV.”
