Charles Schwab Headquarters, San Francisco

Introduction

General Projection Systems was selected as the integrator when Charles Schwab decided to provide an Executive Training Center at its world headquarters.

The facility would be used by senior management for presentation, by staff members for training, and was to be capable of conversion to large screen videoconferencing capability as well as press capable.

Created in a steep auditorium setting for up to 75 participants, the large screen display provides clear viewing throughout the room for both video and data images.

General Projection Systems was tasked with working directly for the owner while closely interfacing with over a dozen other trades and professions. The requirement meant meeting a stringent opening date. In a fast track environment, no element of planning allowed room for error.

Ancillary work included the equipping of two training rooms with video systems using retro units that were mobile. These rooms also included program audio capability.

Paoletti and Associates of San Francisco provided the audiovisual design for these projects.

Design

The heart of the auditorium visual system is the 150" diagonal lenticular fresnel screen. Display control comes from a complex AMX remote control system designed to make the complex simple.

For high level presentations, there is an operator's control station that can run the presentation from the rear of the auditorium. For most uses, the touch panel in the lectern is used by the presenter during the briefing. The lectern also includes an embedded computer video display that allows the presenter to monitor the presentation as viewed by the audience without the need to constantly check the main screen.

With command of the signal being presented to the Knox router, seamless, user friendly display allows the presenter to concentrate on the message and not the medium.

The audio demands were significant. There were several speech reinforcement microphones, microphones for panel discussions, lectern microphone and wireless microphones that could be used throughout the auditorium. Program sources included VCR tape, CD and audiocassette recorders.

Program speakers were EAW JF-200iP high performance units concealed behind decorator fabric panels. The levels for all the systems had to be balanced for the room, operate with an infrared hearing impaired system, and not feedback into the system. This was critical since often the presentations were being taped or used for possible rebroadcast.

In view of the complex nature of the systems and the minimal time available for training, control systems were designed that were inherently user friendly. Our extensive work in advanced control system design and execution allowed the seamless operation of this system.

Success

The system requirements presented the following three demanding criteria: the system operate at the highest professional level expected of a world-class institution such as Charles Schwab; it must be sufficiently flexible to allow for the diverse presentations to which it would be put; and it must work consistently - every time; all the time.

General Projection Systems met these requirements and more. From the opening night where our employees were on-stage to training which was praised by professional trainers as among the best they've seen, to ongoing preventative maintenance support, which we provide, this system has been a success.

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