- So we are back from InfoComm, playing catch-up to the week’s worth of work that slipped by while scouring the floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We searched for new knowledge, new technologies, and made time to meet up with colleagues and old friends. As a whole, the show was a resounding success—and despite the difficult economic times, the attendance was good and the manufacturers all were very optimistic about the outlook for the AV market in the upcoming year.
Off of the trade show floor in a not so publicized event, InfoComm co-sponsored the 2010 Pro AV Spotlight Awards. These awards recognize the “best in class” for AV excellence in the following categories:
· • Corporate
· • Education
· • Entertainment/Arts
· • Government
· • Health Care
· • Hospitality / Restaurant / Casino
· • House of Worship
· • Museum
· • Residential
· • Retail
My small bone to pick with these awards is that they primarily highlight the project and the AV technologies, and only mention to a limited extent the AV firms involved. But firms, although the framework from which great work can be produced, are made up of talented PEOPLE who are truly the key ingredients to a project’s successful outcome. That’s right, it’s the people that make or break the success of any project.
If you are an end-user client with an upcoming project, take note:
You cannot simply base your selection solely on the reputation or caliber of any firm; it’s about the team of people on YOUR project which counts.
So I’m going to take this opportunity to give credit to the project team and all those involved with the AV facilities / systems – the BofA project was one of the biggest and best AV projects in NY history. This was a “ground up” 54 story tower project, and now completed, shapes the New York skyline as the second tallest building in NYC (second only to the Empire State Building).
The AV facilities included throughout the tower are extremely sophisticated and include:
. A 300 seat Auditorium
· A Broadcast TV Studio
· (50) AV Conference Rooms
· An Executive Conference Center
· (3) Divisible Training Rooms
· (63) Videoconference Rooms
· (6) Flat Screen Video Walls
· (2) Morning Meeting Rooms
· (4) Trading Floor Press Cameras
· A Fiber Distribution Backbone
· Building Wide Cable TV System
· Fitness Center
· Cafeteria
The firms and the teams of people working on this project are experienced, dedicated professionals and truly the best in their field at what they do. Hats off to my colleagues which were part of this great project:
BofA
What’s a project without a great client? These folks not only have to maintain their “day jobs” but also become part of the project team for the build out of the tower. Well done, David Bricknell, Elaine Cahill, Jeannie Choi, John Conroy, Dave Cohen, Louis Demonte, Kelli Fleischacker, Linda Geis, Richi Lodato, Melissa Madura-Altman, Corey Mock, Greg Patterson, Chris Morris, and Brian Primack.
Jones Lang LaSalle
The overall owner’s representative and project management firm responsible for managing and overseeing ALL design and construction work of all disciplines. Congratulations Jerry Alpern, Corrine Barnett, Amy Brien, Andy Bush, Tom Cavananugh, Angela Kwan, Susan Hoagland, Brenda Munson, Johan Reyes, Greg Rutherford, Jean Savitsky, and Dara Slack.
Gensler
The interior space architect with a great flare for design. The Gensler team designed, developed and detailed every inch of occupied space for BofA. Congratulations Christopher Baglino, Robert Federico, Keiko Kato, George Fowler, Rocco Giannetti, EJ Lee, Shirley Lee, Elizabeth Norman, Matt Read, Rina Parado, Robert Sickeler, and Ryan White.
CS Technologies
The technology consulting firm which supported the banks in-house IT / Cabling implementation group, did peer review of the various disciplines designs, and assisted with the scheduling, implementation and project management.
Congratulations Robert Caputo, David Puentes, and Dan Suric.
EDS
Supported all efforts pertaining to the videoconference systems and technologies implemented throughout the tower. Aces to Wayne Goggin and Richie Lodata.
JB&B
Provided all Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Telecommunications engineering for not only the BofA (interior) facilities, but for the entire core and shell of the building. Aces: Elaine Buczynski, Walter Mehl, and Roger Schultze.
Cerami & Associates
Provided overall acoustical consulting for all spaces including all AV facilities. Well done, Bruce Manning and John Longman.
AV Services
Responsible for the AV integration and installation of all the typical AV conference rooms throughout the tower. Well done: Ralph Capria, Greg Cummings, Ricardo Duran, Mike McCoy, and Jim Sibrel.
VCA
Responsible for the AV integration and installation of the Auditorium, Morning Meeting Rooms, TV Studio and all Broadcast Distribution Systems throughout the tower. Spotlight on Dave Berlin, Ricky Bronstein, Ramon Bruno, Saul Martinez, Tommy Santana, and Craig Tepke.
Excel Media
Responsible for the AV integration and installation of the elevator lobby media wall. Well done: Mike Kipp and Robert Menell.
This is only a small representation of the overall tower project team – persons which interfaced with the AV teams on a regular basis – and I’m sure there were others, so if I have missed anyone, apologies. I’d also like to recognize Structure Tone (the construction manager) and all the numerous sub-contractors which helped construct this great building.
Thank you: Laurence Ferraro, Tom Licameli, William T innel, and Nancy Trefny.
To Everyone
No man is an island, and for that matter, no one firm – in addition to great vision, it takes a team of talented individuals working together to make great things happen and this was certainly the case with the BofA project.
Congratulations to all. Consider this blog recognition to the entire project team for a great project (and award) we can all be proud of.
