Hernandez estimates that the initial cost of ITC’s control room was
reduced by approximately 70% compared to traditional display cube design
due to the significant reduction in the number of projectors required. Furthermore,
the control room display wall offers even higher resolution and eliminates
the familiar, but frustrating window mullions inherent in tiled display
cube installations, allowing for a seamless image display across the entire
screen.
The control room displays ITC’s original power distribution grid as well as the distribution assets formerly owned by Iowa-based Interstate Power and Light, which the company purchased in late 2007. Additional control room capacity is available for other distribution networks the company plans to acquire in the future.
In addition to the control room, IGI’s sister division, Immersion Graphics, designed and installed all the audio / visual equipment throughout the six-story building including the corporate boardroom, auditorium, cafeteria and various common areas where a network of flat panel informational displays were deployed to facilitate company-wide communications.
ITC’s Director of Facilities, Joe Bennett, says, “IGI’s past experience with us helped since they knew what we were after, knew ITC, and what our expectations were. I was very impressed with their project manager, who at times was relentless with some of the other subcontractors as far as getting the power they needed, when they needed it. During the installation, IGI was very thorough and on top of what they needed to make sure that they were ready for our opening. I never needed to worry about their stuff getting done. I had no issues with them at all.” The main Operations Control Room (OCR) is the size of a small gymnasium. In addition, there is a smaller, tandem control room next to the OCR that is currently used for training. In time, the wall between the two rooms will be taken down to form one continuous screen to accommodate the company’s future expansion plans.
In summing up the project, Hernandez says, “This
project was a long time in the making. There was significant design work
involved, particularly with the OCR. But what we delivered is a whole new
approach to control room displays. We are grateful to ITC for expressing
confidence in our abilities and their willingness to embrace this new approach.
They now have a control room that is unlike any other in the industry and
one which I believe sets the design direction for control room facilities
going forward.”
NOTE: In June, 2009 this project was awarded the 2009 Pro AV Spotlight Award for "Best Corporate AV Project" by the magazine's editors, contributors and a panel of industry professionals and consultants for its uniqueness, innovation and collaboration.
