Another CDA Design! WINNER of the 2019 Commercial Integrator Integration Award, Best Corporate Campus Project
(AV Integrator, Red Thread, Boston, MA).
(Written by Cynthia Lewis-Oliver | CDL Consulting, Inc.)
121 Seaport Ave., Home to PTC’s new world Headquarters
One very unique and beautiful building in the heart of Boston’s Seaport district (aka Innovation District) is home to PTC’s spectacular new world Headquarters, spanning 250,000 SF over nine floors. This cutting-edge software company has created an awe-inspiring workplace of the future. PTC’s vision was to provide its employees a transformational and technology-rich workspace that encourages collaboration and productivity. For Communications Design Associates (CDA), designing an entirely networked AV solution to support PTC’s vision has been one of its greatest success stories to date.
Chief Designers, CDA Principal, Stewart B. Randall, CTS-D, and Senior Project Design Manager, Joel Nygren, CTS-D, spent more than a year and a half exploring, engineering, overseeing the deployment and commissioning a multitude of technology‐rich, innovative AV solutions that not only showcase PTC’s leading-edge software for product design, Augmented Reality (AR), 3D CAD, Product Lifecycle Management and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, but that also engage and inspire PTC’s mobile workforce. “Stewart and Joel have been amazing, and we would have never succeeded without their expertise and dedication,” said John Civello, PTC Vice President, Corporate Real Estate and Workplace.
CDA partnered with an extraordinary design team, including Margulies-Peruzzi Architects, Amaze Design, Signet and Trivium (exhibits), Sladen Feinstein (lighting), BALA Consulting Engineers (MEP engineering), and several PTC technical and creative teams, to define and bring to life a truly exceptional, one-of-a-kind facility. “AV over IP was a key consideration in CDA’s design strategy,” said CDA’s Stewart Randall. “The nature of PTC’s business and vision were essential to replicate in our wholistic design approach. Positive user experiences and standardized yet inviting technologies were key. We needed to ensure that everyone at PTC could easily use any of the collaborative solutions we designed throughout the building,” said Randall.
CDA designed, full-scale video production studio
CDA’s solutions included video presentation and videoconferencing systems, a video production studio, a podcast studio, and centralized interactive control systems across 200+ technology-equipped spaces throughout six office floors and in particular, the 17th floor – home to the Corporate Experience Center (CXC) that supports an extensive array of interactive product demo kiosks; and the Commons, an employee recreation space that also comfortably supports large group events, like CRETECH Future Boston, which PTC hosted on April 10th of this year.
20 interactive exhibit pods throughout the CXC showcase PTC’s product solutions
One of the most specialized elements within CDA’s design is the PTC Podcast Studio that CDA’s Joel Nygren designed, assisted in configuring and even engineered the first live studio session with PTC’s senior leadership. From John Civello, “Our second Investor Call from 121 Seaport went great (again) last night from the new studio. Just wanted to extend my sincere thanks to all of you for designing and building this outstanding space.”
The construction team included General Contractor, Gilbane Construction, Project Managers Cresa, and AV Integrator, Red Thread. “Red Thread was the perfect choice of AV integrator for this project. They had the breadth of resources and skill to implement our design, and to do so with the level of talent needed to handle a project of this scale – and with a very short construction schedule. This required lots of quick coordination between all parties, and Red Thread did a stellar job.
They were responsive and well organized throughout. We had a great working relationship with their team, right through final programming and commissioning.” stated CDA Principal, Stewart Randall.
“When I see people’s eyes light up with creativity when they walk into one of these spaces, I know that we got our design right. The Podcast Studio, like many other spaces within the new PTC Headquarters, exemplify CDA’s belief that the technology solutions we design should not just satisfy end-user needs, but also inspire and empower greater creativity, collaboration, and a better end result, whatever that may be,” said CDA’s Joel Nygren. This project has been a true success story for so many; an expansive team of creative, hardworking people who have helped make PTC’s vision for a revolutionary, technology-centric workplace not only a reality but a global model for success.
Reality Lab
Read the full Commercial Integrator Award article here: https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/announcing-the-2019-integration-awards-winners/
