Big Show Construction Management (BSCM) served as construction manager for the showpiece Kissinger Global Conference Room at The Paley Center for Media's midtown Manhattan location at 25 West 52 Street. The room, whose design and architectural services were provided by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership, was unveiled in April as a multifunctional space for teleconferences, meetings, presentations and catered events. It will be the new home for many of the Paley Center's Media Council industry dialogues.
The Paley Center leads the discussion about the cultural, creative and social significance of television, radio and emerging platforms for the professional community, the media and interested public. The Kissinger Global Conference Room is named for Dr. Henry A. Kissinger who has been on the institution's Board of Trustees since 1991.
Having low ceilings, the 10th floor space presented the unique challenge of fitting 5 quiet HVAC units, linear diffusers, sprinkler system, 165 lights, 3 robotic cameras, 18 speakers, 2 motorized projector lifts, 2 motorized screens and a large glass and metal sculpture. To meet this layout challenge in an elliptical room, BSCM created a custom CNC floor template to layout the walls and of the items in the ceiling. This process saved countless hours of layout and guesswork.
“As a venue for the Paley Center's Media Council events and external clients, the space required robust, flexible, user-friendly teleconferencing and video playback capabilities,” notes project manager Terrence McCafferty.
The room features a sweeping 40-person elliptical conference table that breaks into 22 pieces and may be stored, along with 40 executive chairs. A sleek elliptical glass and metal map sculpture is suspended in the middle of the space.
The conference room's eastern wall boasts a 65-inch interactive touchscreen which displays content from the Paley archives and illustrates the worldwide reach of the Paley Center's media studies. It also shows 16 live television feeds from four service providers. The screen can also act as a display device for meetings.
Other options in the room include 5x8-foot automated video projection screens on the north and south sides of the space, a pair of Panasonic video projectors housed within the ceiling on lifts, three Panasonic robotic cameras for teleconferencing and broadcast-quality recording, and 22 table mics with cross-room noise cancelling. All technology is controlled by an easy-to-use wireless Crestron control panel.
About Big Show Construction Management
Specializing in managing the creation of themed and interactive spaces, Big Show Construction Management (BSCM) has expertise in the design, integration and installation of multimedia environments. The company coordinates the desires of clients and architects with the practical concerns of the general contractor. BSCM's clients include Audi; Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas; Madame Tussaud's, New York City; Sony Wonder Technology Lab, New York City; Thomas Keller's Per Se restaurant in New York City; and Toys 'R Us, New York City. For more information on BSCM call 212-206-6443 or visit www.bigshowcm.com.