They say that knowledge is power,
and that certainly applies to audio-video integration
By preparing in advance, encouraging communication, and having a solid understanding of “best practices,” you can make sure that your next AV project is a successful one. Here are the first four in a series of "tips and techniques" that we'd like to offer to anyone embarking on a significant design-build AV integration project...
Early interaction among architects, general contractors, and audio-video consultants is important to creating accurate specifications and budgets
Audio-video systems can have significant impacts on space design and budgets. The earlier your audio-video consultants are involved in the design process, the less chance there is that expensive mistakes will be made. Considerations such as proper acoustics, lighting, sight lines and space requirements may force design changes. While many are minor, some are not. The sooner they are addressed, the more certain you can be that the facility will meet your audio-video needs.
Work hand-in-hand from the project’s beginning with your technical consultants - your audio-video professionals. When you do, you will be able to make decisions about your implementation of audio and video capabilities to ensure that they accommodate both present and future needs.
The partnership between the audio-video system provider and you, the clients is based on ongoing communications. When a project is approached this way, the end result will be a well-designed space that meets both aesthetic and technological needs.
The AV manager has a vested interest in the success of the audio-video project and can help ensure that the client’s needs are met
Most organizations have someone who is responsible for audio-video projects, equipment and implementation. The level of expertise and amount of time this person devotes to audio and video management will vary greatly. Some will be experienced audiovisual professionals, others will not.
Whatever the level of experience and expertise of the internal manager, it is important to keep the person responsible for AV in a client organization involved in the project. This individual is the person most likely to really understand what the current level of audiovisual capability is and what the end users need beyond that.
Most of the time, the AV manager represents the business owner or senior management and is responsible for establishing internal standards for the project. Good communication with the internal AV manager is essential to project success.
A technical subcommittee is a good way to ensure that technology needs are a part of the building committee’s plans
A technical subcommittee can greatly simplify and enhance communication between an organization and its audio-video provider. A technical subcommittee provides an ongoing technical voice on the building committee. Typically, the technical subcommittee will be made up of technical representatives working together and presenting a consensus of the owner’s or senior management’s requirements for a project.
With a technical subcommittee in place, there is a single point of contact between the client and the AV provider. Internal issues are decided apart from the issues in which the AV provider needs to be involved. It is a conduit for information exchange and concerns and provides a clear path to elevate conflicts that may arise during a project. The committee has the same interests as an AV manager, but often with a broader view.
This is resource that can be invaluable in ensuring that issues that impact overall design – AV system interconnection and operations and maintenance, for example – are addressed and dealt with as concerns arise.
Addressing structural design issues as they relate to AV before construction starts can save both time and money
You’re about to build a wonderful new facility with state-of-the-art audio-video capabilities. As you begin the process, remember to address AV equipment requirements as they relate to your facility’s structural design.
The best way to ensure that your facility will accommodate the AV equipment and deliver the experience you anticipate is to make your AV designer a member of the structural planning team at the outset. Taking AV requirements into consideration before construction starts can eliminate delays and expensive retrofitting down the road.
Issues with which an AV designer can help are wide-ranging and include:
- Selecting the right AV equipment for your planned applications
- Systems requirements for your facility as they relate to AV, including HVAC systems, conduits, and power
- Adjustments required to provide optimal accommodations for your AV systems, including room features such as ceiling height and space behind walls and in ceilings to house your AV equipment
- Acoustical considerations - appropriate materials for walls, ceilings, and floors for best acoustics and even slight adjustments to wall angles to eliminate parallel walls and improve sound quality