Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada

The new David Braley Cardiac Vascular and Stroke Research Institute at Hamilton General Hospital is unique in that very few of the people who work there are permanent employees. Built to promote synergy between two of the world's most renowned medical researchers and their teams, this new facility houses both the Population Health Research Institute, led by Dr. Salim Yusuf, and the Henderson Research Centre, led by Dr. Jeffrey Weitz. Because these renowned researchers attract other teams to work with them on two three-year research projects, the AV system had to be able to evolve to meet their changing needs.

To both facilitate and record collaborative research, the physicians required a plethora of interchangeable wireless mics and instant access to archived audio and video files. The building's vast expanses of glass also created acoustic challenges, especially in the five-story high "presentation" hallway and atrium. Duocom also had to fit a large equipment load into a very small rack room.

“The Audia-based networked media system makes the whole facility seamlessly ‘live.' There are no dead spots. A presenter can wander the whole building wearing a wireless mic and not worry about dropping out anywhere.”

- OMAR PRASHAD, SR. SYSTEMS INTEGRATION CONSULTANT, DUOCOM CANADA, INC.

SOLUTION
Duocom created a networked media system, based on Biamp Systems' Audia® Digital Audio Platform, that not only meets but also expands upon all the initial visions for the space. The system is a true matrix on the ground floor: any input can be sent to any output. The audio is all zoned, with a total of six zones on the main floor: which includes the auditorium with HD videoconferencing; the presentation atrium; and a 5-story high "hallway of memories" with four separate zones for digital signage, audio and video displays. Scalability is essential to accommodate events with crowds ranging from 20 to more than 300 guests. For example, at the gala opening event, approximately 300 guests were able to move about and still see and hear presentations in any zone and on any screen.

The first floor has 13 Sennheiser wireless mics, with 11 in the auditorium that can also be used for overflow crowds by changing the function from audio/videoconferencing to presentation mode, with presets programmed using Biamp Audia software. What's more, Sennheiser antennas are located throughout the building to work with the mics. Duocom eliminated interference from wi-fi and hospital paging so that tours and presentations can flow anywhere.

Another challenge the David Braley Cardiac Vascular and Stroke Research Institute faced was how to capture all the intellectual property that is generated during presentations and collaborations. The record and archive feature of the new system uses hi-def videoconferencing cameras to record all the audio and video to a server, and saves each session as a single file. Now it's simple to send, download and review any session file from anywhere.

To control levels of access, the system will have two final "skins" on the Crestron control system: an everyday skin with basic controls for doctors to use, and a technical skin for Hamilton Health and Duocom AV teams.

SYSTEM SPECIFICS
The AV system integrates an auditorium with HD video and audio conferencing, a presentation atrium, a digital signage/presentation hallway with multiple zones and two fully equipped executive boardrooms. The system features three Biamp AudiaFLEX DSP units on the main floor, and one in each executive boardroom, plus two AudiaEXPO expander units, all networked together via CobraNet®. Three different Accordent Capture Stations provide rich media presentation and webcasting capabilities to all the rooms. All system components can be controlled locally with an executive-type Creston interface or monitored and operated remotely by technicians interfacing with the Crestron control panel or Biamp daVinci graphic control screen software.

CONCLUSIONS
The David Braley Cardiac Vascular and Stroke Research Institute is the first of what will ultimately be three research buildings at the general site, and two more projects at other hospitals. As the flagship project, it will inspire new AV possibilities for the facilities to follow. From the start, the system has generated enthusiastic adoption by Hamilton's AV team and the David Braley Cardiac Vascular and Stroke Research Institute directors, who keep expanding its multimedia role. Biamp's Audia digital signal platform is not only the most economical, scalable and technologically sound choice to run the networked media system, it also offers infinite possibilities for evolution. Above all, the system Duocom created is as flexible, dynamic and resourceful as the building and the world-class researchers it serves.

Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada

• SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
• 5 Biamp AudiaFLEX CM DSP units
• 2 Biamp Audia EXPO expander units
• 3 Biamp TI-2 dual-channel Telephone Interface Cards
• 22 Biamp AEC-2HD acoustic echo cancellation cards
• 17 Biamp IP-2 Dual-Channel Mic/Line Input Cards
• 18 Biamp OP-2e Dual-Channel Mic/Line Output Cards
• Biamp daVinci graphic control screen software
• AUDIO
• 13 Sennheiser EW300 series wireless microphones
• 2 Sennheiser EW100 series wireless microphones
• 44 Tannoy ceiling recessed and wall mounted speakers
• 2 Tannoy QFlex8 digital line arrays
• 5 Extron MPA 181T mini audio amplifiers
• 4 Crest CM2208 audio amplifiers
• 16 Audio-Technica ES935C in-table microphones
• DISPLAYS
• 6 Christie LX380 3800 lumens projectors
• 2 Christie LX500 5000 lumens projectors
• 1 Christie LX 700 7000 lumens projector
• 1 Christie HD10KM 9300 lumens projector
• 13 Mitsubishi LDT461V 46" LCD monitors
• 5 Smart Technologies SB680 front projection
• smart boards and 2 overlays
• 1 Custom 22' x 14' stretched fabric screen
• CONTROL
• 1 Crestron MC2E control system processor
• 1 Crestron MP2E control system processor
• 5 Crestron PRO2 control system processors
• 5 Crestron QMRMC control system processors
• 6 Crestron C2NFTTPS4 touchpanels
• 2 Crestron TPS12GQM touchpanels
• 2 Crestron TPS15GQM touchpanels
• 1 Crestron TPMC-8X touchpanel
• 2 Crestron TPS6L touchpanels
• Crestron RoomView® software
• CONFERENCING/RECORDING
• 3 Polycom HDX9002 HD video conferencing codec
• 6 Vaddio WallView PRO HD1 cameras
• 3 Accordent ACS0920 Capture Stations
• 1 Accordent Media Management Server
• SWITCHING AND DISTRIBUTION
• 2 Extron 16x16 Ultra RGBHV switches
• 1 Extron 24x24 Ultra RGBHV switch
• 1 Extron 8x8 Ultra RGBHV switch
• 1 Extron 8x16 Ultra RGBHV switch
• 12 Extron DVS304 scalers
• 4 Extron HDMI/DVI Tx/Rx kits
• 22 Extron MTP Tx/Rx kits
• 1 Extron MGP464 windowing processor
• 1 Fibre Tx/Rx kit
• DIGITAL SIGNAGE
• 1 Visex AXIS-TV-PTS professional content server
• 2 Visex AXI-TV-CPS channel players
• 1 Visex AXIS-TV-CDO desktop messenger