Global Relay is a leading provider of end-to-end recordkeeping solutions for the global financial sector and other highly regulated industries. A major component of the company’s business model involves producing a steady stream of media content that boils down the specific technologies of their offerings in the most user-friendly way possible. As part of this initiative, Global Relay opened their Manhattan office space, which features state-of-the-art media production studios and presentation areas designed in partnership with award-winning acoustic and AV consulting and design firm, WSDG.
Competitive content developers
Global Relay’s surveillance and archiving solutions are utilized within industries where security is of the highest priority and technology is constantly evolving. In delivering these solutions with confidence, they have developed a sophisticated approach to messaging and education in order to reassure their client base at every step. “Our audience is often compliance officers who are diligently educated, but extremely busy,” explains Global Relay Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, Duff Reid. “Our content development division was created as a ‘value add,’ enabling us to provide information on our products and industry news to support our clients and provide them with something more easily accessible and digestible to aid in their work.”
“The ability to create content that explains our products in a way that’s engaging and human has made us a more versatile and competitive company in this industry, so we’re always looking for ways to improve and advance our storytelling.”
The company’s plans to open a showcase office in New York City was an opportunity to expand its content offerings and establish a flagship location with state-of-the-art production technologies at the forefront. To accomplish this, Global Relay sought out the media systems expertise of WSDG. “A/V production is now a very large part of our day-to-day operations, so we need top quality facilities to keep pace with our production needs,” Duff explains. “Early in the planning of our New York City location, we established a requirement for extensive media production capabilities that would take us beyond what our previous locations were capable of producing.
“WSDG’s reputation as studio designers and A/V systems developers in the industry is incredibly strong, so we knew they were the team we needed to accomplish these goals.”
High-rise location, state-of-the-art facilities
The Global Relay New York office is located at the top of a modern high rise building in the heart of Manhattan. Spread out over five stories, it is a high-end modern office facility with a mixture of open-plan desks, huddle and conference rooms, and larger meeting and production spaces. WSDG were brought on as A/V designer and construction supervisors for the project, including the A/V design and implementation of Global Relay’s onsite media and broadcast production studio and auditorium as well as the complex’s distributed A/V systems. The WSDG team worked closely with project architects Switzer Group, construction company JRM, and AV installers Diversified.
“Global Relay creates content at multiple levels – video programming, podcasts, streaming presentations, and live events that can meld all of these elements together at once,” explains WSDG Senior Partner, Co-CEO Sergio Molho. “WSDG’s task was to design the A/V systems for a full-featured media production suite and control room that could accomplish all of these tasks at an extremely high level, while also taking advantage of significant amounts of automation. This allows Global Relay’s team to meet the demands of their clients and generate consistently high-quality multimedia content without requiring an extensive production team.”
WSDG’s A/V specifications for the media production studio include advanced robotic cameras, cranes, and high-end studio lighting. WSDG also conducted electroacoustic analysis and specified the A/V systems and automated video equipment for the HQ’s Auditorium, and spec’d its signature 20x6 foot main LED screen. The entire suite is served by an adjacent control room that can operate the cameras remotely, allowing for minimal production crew. “What sets us apart from a typical broadcast facility is the scalability of what all of this automation allows us to do,” says Global Relay NY Office Production Leader, Coale Henderson. “We have the stations and desks for a full crew, but the real advantage is how easy it is to do as a ‘one-man-band’ situation entirely from the control room. It is also incredibly easy to broadcast live while capturing for post-production later on, as well as integrate with the live event space we have onsite.”
“This enables us to have a real-time conversation between 200 people in the room and anyone tuning in via streaming, while also being able to capture and post later,” he continues. “Everything is integrated into the same process, which has allowed us to streamline what we do.”
In addition to Global Relay’s A/V production capabilities, WSDG was also responsible for the office complex’s internal communications systems. WSDG designed a comprehensive, distributed A/V system with a best-in-class communication network that includes cameras, televisions, phones, and teleconferencing technology in every meeting space and huddle room.
“For a company that puts communications at the forefront of what they do, it’s equally important how this content is streamed and distributed both within the office complex and to their clients attending live events at the flagship office, or viewing remotely around the world,” Molho states. “We designed an advanced distribution audio and video system that touches every corner of the facility, and ensures that the high-quality communication Global Relay conducts with its clients also happens within its internal teams in a seamless, friction-free way.”
“As a completed facility, Global Relay’s New York office is an incredible model of truly forward-looking corporate A/V, broadcast production and internal communications capabilities that will inspire facilities worldwide,” he concludes. “WSDG is very proud that our work will serve the purposes of an important industry leader as they continue their pursuit of productivity and innovation.”