The Freedom Forum, San Francisco

Introduction

The Freedom Forum was originally founded as the as the Frank E. Gannett Newspaper Foundation in 1932 with 1,500 shares of Gannett Co. stock.

The purpose of the organization has been and continues to be to focus on freedom of speech issues. This includes broadcast journalism, newspapers and today, the internet.

Now with assets close to $1 billion, the Freedom Forum is the largest foundation dedicated to the principles of free speech.

To augment the west coast headquarters (inside the towering Pacific Coast Center - see right) of this organization, General Projection was hired to design and build a sophisticated AV and video conferencing capability. News, political and corporate luminaries from around the world gather at this facility in support of Free Speech.

The grand opening included such well recognized names as Walter Cronkite.

Design

The facilities required that the technology be very "hidden" from view most of the time.

A smart lectern was designed to be the operations center for the system while a control room contains all source equipment and a limited amount of production capability as well.

All presentations are made on a video wall that is sized from floor to ceiling. In this way, not only can traditional presentations be made, but sophisticated productions are able to utilize the unique capabilities of a multi-monitor video wall.

Wireless controls and microphones allow presenters to move about and provide for flexible events.

Custom floor boxes, strategically located throughout the facility, provide Freedom Forum staffers with the ability to connect notebook computers, wired microphones and a variety of presentation technologies in a dozen different configurations.

Success

The Freedom Forum today stands as a towering reminder of the need to be ever vigilant in the protection of free speech in any format.

Recent events surrounding the internet itself have shown that every organization must be dedicated to the principles of free speech.

When the Freedom Forum needs to make the message clear to audiences, classes and various participants, they can do so through the technology installed in this wonderful facility.

For more information on corporate multi media design and integration or other visual communications systems, please fill out our Information Request form or email us at Solutions@genproj.com