Editor’s Note: Here, we profile our 2024 Integration Awards winner in the Best Meeting Room Project category: IMS Technology Services for Medallion Hall. Check out our recent roundup post to see a complete list of all 2024 Integration Awards winners.
Five Below, founded in 2002, is headquartered in the historic Lits Brothers Building in Philadelphia and operates nearly 1,600 stores in 43 states. The company specializes in appealing to younger consumers with a brand that “wows” and shouts out, “Let go and have fun!” — for $5 or less!
The hallways and meeting spaces at the organization’s corporate headquarters carry the same color and enthusiasm for life, fun and unlimited possibilities. In fact, certain meeting spaces are even called WowTown. The site features as much square footage dedicated to activity hubs, collaboration and game rooms integrated with AV systems as it does typical conference rooms with AV.
The Five Below executive team knew that a new addition to WowTown was critical to entice people to back to the office and infuse new energy into the team. Plus, they needed to expand on the theme of having fun while working, even if working remotely.
IMS Technology Services helps Medallion Hall Engage People in Every Seat
Thus, they carved out a new corporate conference theater in the headquarters as a unique place that features the latest in multi-screen video, multi-camera and multi-mic systems, all harnessing the latest videoconferencing technology from Microsoft and Zoom. The goal of this new space, dubbed Medallion Hall, is to provide a brilliant conference center solution that would accommodate a 75-plus-seat auditorium in which audience members are engaged from every seat. The company envisioned a new conferencing format, while also having a live event space for townhall broadcasts, staff briefings, all-day seminars and trainings, and fun events like talent shows and community workshops.
Photo credit: IMS Technology Services, Inc.
Five Below called on renowned integrator IMS Technology Services, Inc., to provide the integrated systems and produce a room where every AV element combines to create an invigorating, comfortable atmosphere.
IMS’ involvement began with initial contact from Five Below’s corporate real estate manager for office and operations environments, soliciting help with ideas and preliminary budgeting. Then, as the vision and construction parameters broadened, the client officially engaged IA Architects to aid in the architecture and interiors design and Bala Consulting Engineers for the MEP and low-voltage systems, including the AV and acoustical design. Having worked with both firms on several successful projects, Five Below knew that IMS was the optimal choice to onboard as a co-designer and AV integrator.
Key System Features
The key system features at Medallion Hall include the following:
- 3 4K laser 7,000-lumen projectors
- 3 65-inch diagonal confidence monitors mounted in a row facing the front
- 1 65-inch diagonal monitor mounted via articulating arm mount in “Latecomer” area
- 1 touch-interactive mobile cart for Teams
- 5 PTZ cameras with 12x zoom and auto-tracking
- 2 wall-mounted column speaker arrays
- 9 pendant speakers (ceiling-suspended)
- 1 pair of display-mounted single-channel vertical loudspeakers flanking the row of ceiling-mounted monitors
- 1 wall-mounted sound bar under the “Latecomer” monitor that plays a mix of program audio, far-end conferencing audio, and local microphones
As for the microphone complement, it includes the following:
- 1 gooseneck on lectern
- 4 multi-channel ceiling arrays with LED mute indicators
- 4 wireless transmitter handhelds
- 2 head-worn
- 4 lavaliers
- 4 wireless transmitter bodypacks
- 2 network charging stations (four-channel)
Other miscellaneous elements of the installation include a centralized control and audio system processor, an Apple iPad Pro with stand for wireless control, a Teams UI touch pad, and a pair of touchscreen panels (10-inch diagonal) for system control.
Plus, there’s a control room featuring current and future operational hardware and software, such as touchpanels, LCD monitors, audio monitors and input/output expansion for the addition of a video production switcher.
The overall system is based on an AV network using a 48-port AV-over-IP video/audio distribution network capable of routing to any destination with a dedicated AV-over-IP decoder and Dante.
IMS Technology Services Overcame Challenges in Creating Medallion Hall
Photo credit: IMS Technology Services, Inc.
Several challenges emerged during the process in the areas of construction coordination, rough-in and installation, as well as in final programming and commissioning. That IMS successfully overcame them further attests to this project’s excellence and award-worthiness. For example, consider that the integration environment was no ordinary space. The Lits Brothers Building is a historic preserve, and all internal projects are essentially adaptive re-use of the previous commercial structure. Low, exposed timber ceilings and woodworks, existing HVAC infrastructure and 125-year-old exposed brick all posed challenges to delicately placing new technology functions over this raw, open décor.
Physical obstacles included exposed masonry materials and the wood ceiling for the integrated fixed projection screens, projectors, raceways, confidence monitors and ceiling microphones. In partnership with the construction team from D’Lauro & Rodgers, Inc., IMS developed creative ways to install the proper mounting hardware and fasteners to the structure.
After installation, the transition into very detailed video and audio system commissioning took on two phases. The first did not include the installed seating (to get a head start on testing all program I/O and event scenarios; the second included the installed seating, which changed the acoustics and helped finalize the sound of the space. The programming for daily activities (including Teams conferencing) took on a new meaning with eight outbound video routes and up to 13 video inputs, including the five cameras.
IMS Established System Automation and Presets at Medallion Hall
The discovery process and mockup workflows were also extensive to establish system automation and presets to operate in a native Teams environment. However, the control system also required a tech operator-driven code and page navigation to provide more of a comprehensive, production-rich user interface. IMS field engineers and programming experts met these and other challenges as expected, diligently executing the project.
Photo credit: IMS Technology Services, Inc.
The Five Below team is thrilled with the results. In recalling the efforts put forth by all involved, including IA Architects, Bala Engineering, D’Lauro & Rodgers, Inc., and IMS, they expressed amazement at the latest addition to WowTown and the creative re-use of the space.
Attesting to the project’s success, Medallion Hall is now the most booked room in the company. Additional production capability planning is now underway, as expected. Expansion in the form of overflow systems has already taken place to aid when there are large, in-person meetings, as the staff want to be in and around Medallion Hall to experience this highly collaborative and truly unique environment.
