21-23 Aug 2024
ICC, Sydney

How AV systems are becoming a whole building experience

Mar 15, 2018

The days of office buildings in Australia being purely brick and mortar are fading into the rear-vision mirror. Previously, AV integrators had to come up with solutions to weave their technology into existing architecture. Now, 'smart buildings’ are being constructed with AV solutions built into the design.

AV solutions delivered through a single cable

Australia’s Madison Technologies has successfully deployed AV solutions into smart buildings for residential developments, retirement living facilities, apartments and luxury skyrises.

They have also implemented smart building technology into The Avenue commercial precinct in Darwin which has future-proofed the complex for tenants.

MT rolled out Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) cabling to the building, allowing for telephone, security, communications and television signals to all run through the same line rather than separate cables.

This streamlined the installation process and also provides a platform that is fast and secure for all communications needs.

Other aspects of the building—including chilled water, air-conditioning and hot water systems—are all controlled by the GPON network as well.

This GPON network also enables new technologies to be easily installed in the future, and has a central communications distribution platform for all services in the building.

The site installation manager said the system was easy to install and was ultimately more cost effective than other smart building set-ups.

“The system was easy to install, with all of the cabling pre-terminated and tested before it left the factory. We simply just plugged the fibre backbone into the OLT (optical line terminal),” he said.

International partnerships

Midwich Australia has forged many distribution partnerships to bring next-gen AV supplies to our shores, including arrangements with LG Electronics and high-quality AV furniture manufacturer, TeamMate.

But of their more important partnerships will see collaboration technology for business and education purposes distributed throughout Australia.

SMART Technologies is one of the leading providers of collaboration solutions globally and recently signed a deal with Midwich to bring this technology to Australia.

In the context of smart buildings, the 4000 and 6000 series interactive flat panels and the SMART Learning Suite are features that will boost collaboration spaces.

These interactive panels can be used as digital whiteboards with data that can be shared globally, host video conferences and share ideas between the panels and remote devices like PCs, tablets and smartphones.

“SMART has developed an all-in-one software solution that’s integral for success in today’s classroom, alongside a range of products that have valuable roles to play in both business and education,” Midwich ANZ managing director Michael Broadbent said.

Combining sustainability and AV solutions

Ricoh Australia’s newly constructed distribution centre in New South Wales is not only smart in terms of operations, but also in terms of sustainability. Their influence in the office AV device field includes a range of smart printers and copiers, so it made sense that they implemented smart AV functionality into their distribution centre.

 

Ricoh’s new distribution centre is the latest example of how AV can help a buildings green credentials

Ricoh partnered with Vaughan Constructions to create the facility that includes 6551m² of warehouse space, 3194m² of technical areas and 721m² of office space.

This project received NSW’s first five-star Green Star Rating for its smart environmental features, which include daylight harvesting to the warehouse, a high efficiency lighting and control system and rainwater collection and reuse with low flow water fittings.

On top of this, 3.5 percent of construction costs were reused products and over 90 percent of waste was recycled. This provides an other element of AV installations that integrators can consider, as the world moves towards a more sustainable future.

Integrate has over 130 exhibitors showcasing their latest product and services in AV and solution technology. You can see the latest products from Madison Technologies on Stand  i40, Midwich on Stand G34 and Ricoh on Stand E14. See who else is joining Integrate this 22-24 Aug, at the ICC Sydney with the current exhibitor list here.

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