AV Innovative Design selected Scalable Display Technologies to create seamless edge-blended multi-projector displays across all nine floors of Discovery's new Manhattan global headquarters — solving the challenge of blending short-throw projectors mounted to uneven brick ceilings in a complex, high-profile commercial installation.
Discovery — the global media company known for its flagship Discovery Channel and over 400 million household reach across 220 countries — relocated its global headquarters from Silver Spring, Maryland, to a new location in one of Manhattan's most dynamic neighborhoods. The new facility is designed as a creative, collaborative environment, featuring an open floor plan, loft-like architecture, a ground-floor studio and production space, a rooftop terrace, and a dedicated lobby.
AV Innovative Design, a New York-based technology integrator, was selected to handle the audiovisual integration throughout the new headquarters — including a multi-projector display installation across the common areas of all nine floors.
The display configuration presented a specific set of technical challenges. Each floor required two projectors blended into a single seamless image — but the mounting environment was far from ideal.
"We were introduced to this project with the goal of blending multiple projectors across the common areas in their new headquarters," said Garett Widmaier, Operations Manager for AV Innovative Design. "We had limited space in the building, and we were working with short-throw projectors that were being projected on a glass wall. The projectors were mounted to an older brick ceiling, which created its own challenge. The surface was not even, and because of that, we had to create a level brick surface for both projectors to work cooperatively."
Once the mounting surface was levelled, the remaining challenge was precision edge blending — eliminating the visible line between the two projectors' images across a glass wall, and replicating that seamlessly across eight additional floors.
"Once we had created an even surface, we needed a solution for the edge-blending," Widmaier explained. "We were working with two projectors on each of the nine floors in Discovery's facility. Our goal was to blend the two projectors evenly and eliminate the line down the middle of the full-size image. It had to be recreated seamlessly across each floor. We integrated Scalable Display Technologies as a solution for edge-blending because we've had great success working with their cutting-edge, reliable technology."
For AV Innovative Design, Scalable was the obvious choice — not a new discovery.
"I've worked with Scalable on many projects," said Chen Vanunu, Partner for AV Innovative Design. "When it comes to various design challenges and solutions, Scalable is always able to meet the challenge and provide us with a professional, reliable solution. Scalable's technology is incredibly easy to use. Scalable enabled us to seamlessly blend the images between the projectors. It also allowed us to pinpoint the edges to accomplish the design our clients wanted."
Vanunu highlighted the depth of technical support Scalable provided throughout the project — not just the software itself, but hands-on remote assistance from Scalable's engineers.
"Scalable has a great team of talented individuals. They understand the minute details of projection and image geometry, which is important when you're working with this type of technology," said Vanunu. "Scalable's in-house technicians supported us throughout the project. They logged into our computers and utilized the web cameras to view the image. They were able to pinpoint and blend everything, which was incredibly helpful to streamline the installation and recreate it across nine floors. To us, Scalable is part of our overall team."
The project was completed floor by floor — beginning with a single-floor proof of concept that earned client approval before being replicated across the remaining eight stories.
"The client is thrilled with the overall result," said Vanunu. "We started this project on the first floor, and they were happy that we were able to meet their expectations. They asked us to recreate the design across the remaining eight stories. In addition, we've started integrating new technology for control systems, audio and video. It's resulted in additional business for us, as well, which we appreciate. This was an important project for Discovery, and it was imperative that we got it right. The result was overwhelming. We appreciate the technology and support that Scalable provided us with."
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