Belden: Manchester

Location: Manchester International Office Centre (MIOC), nr. Manchester Airport

Sector: Industrial/ Manufacturing/ Engineering, Science/ Technology

Project Size: 7,970 sq ft (to accommodate 37 staff)

Programme: 12 weeks

Scope of Works: Design > Contracting > Furniture > Audiovisual

The Brief

When Belden, a world-class leader of signal transmission products, engaged Claremont Group Interiors in consultation to review their Manchester offices, the decision was made to move from their current serviced accommodation to MIOC.

This was a strategic move to accommodate the client’s need to be linked to the airport for visitors from the USA and Europe, as well as to draw all departments together on one floorplate, with facilities for meetings, video conferencing and offices.

The consultation process was pitched as a competitive response by the client. Claremont was chosen as the preferred partner to proceed with the project on the basis of its design & build, furniture procurement, and audiovisual service offerings. The initial briefing determined that a cellular concept was required to accommodate current working practices throughout Belden’s organization.

The Solution

A vital feature of the project was to highlight Belden’s cabling products, which was achieved by providing glass panels to the existing raised floor which were subsequently illuminated to demonstrate how Belden’s structured cabling is installed under-floor.

The concept form the outset was to provide individual offices with full height glazed partitions, complimented by walnut veneered doors. The boardroom includes video conferencing and an interactive white board which were supplied and installed by Claremont’s in-house ‘Viewpoint’ audiovisual division. Maintaining contact with the company’s multiple locations across the globe, the audiovisual technology supplied & installed by Viewpoint proved central to the brief, as did the careful integration of both functional and aesthetic design.

Audiovisual Works

In the meeting rooms, visual display was provided in the form of 55” and 63” wall mounted plasma screens, allowing for the presentation of images from VCR, DVD, PC (controlled with a radio frequency keyboard and mouse), laptop PC (with connection at desktop), and digital TV. Audio was provided via a stereo amplifier and full range loudspeakers. Control and automated switching of equipment is achieved via the integration of a 4” AMX wired touch panel at the desktop. All source and control equipment was housed in equipment racks. In addition, twin wall-mounted bespoke presentation cabinets, providing writing surfaces, were installed in the boardroom in a Cherry veneer finish in co-ordination with the desking. The training room was equipped with a 50” wall-mounted plasma screen wall with SMART interactive overlay, providing electronic flipchart and whiteboard facilities. Dedicated PC and laptop connectivity were provided at the table top.

In the reception area, a 42” LCD screen provides the option of PC display, with connections provided at the reception desk, or via digital TV. Audio was provided via local speakers, as well as being reinforced by flush ceiling-mounted speakers over the soft seating area, with local induction loops installed at the reception desk. The staff restaurant was equipped with a wall-mounted 55” plasma screen for rolling digital TV display.

The seminar room was equipped with a high specification presentation system, allowing two presenters to access, display and control media from lectern positions. The system was configured to allow display and control via a range of sources; videocassette, DVD, TV (digital free to air and Sky), auxiliary video, dedicated PC and any one of 6 laptop PC inputs provided at lectern and floor box positions around the room. Images were projected via a ceiling-mounted LCD projector onto a 100” diagonal electric screen and repeated at the rear of the room via a 32” LCD panel for those with a restricted view due to an existing pillar.

Computer presentations from 2 dedicated PCs housed in the media wall can be controlled by use of a radio frequency keyboard and mouse from anywhere in the room, or from the lectern using a SMART Sympodium interactive touch screen panel, which also gives the presenter the facility of electronic whiteboard, flipchart and document annotation. All equipment and switching is controlled remotely by twin AMX wireless LCD touch screen remote handsets, including control of lighting, audio volume, input source and transport commands for video, CD, DVD and TV. This had the resultant effect of simplifying system operations, as all switching would be automated simultaneously at the touch of a button.
High specification audio systems were also provided for all sources via stereo speakers and a mix of handheld and tie-clip radio mics, reinforced via flush ceiling-mounted reinforcement speakers, allowing for instant control from the AMX touch panel. In addition, a bespoke induction loop system was designed and installed for all programme and microphone audio.

The Result

David Stokes of Belden explains: "The growth of the business in North Manchester meant we had to find a solution that meant people were able to work together rather than in clusters in a variety of offices. I am head of IT for the UK, so had some experience of facilities management and design issues but we chose to work with Claremont to broaden our expertise in key areas. I am also away travelling a lot of the time so the ability to rely on a project manager on site at all times was very important.

Cabling is our business so we ensured we could show off our own expertise through our new premises. So we’ve included features like glass floor tiles so people can see the cabling and also open access server rooms. It’s a great bit of branding.

In terms of communication we’ve balanced open plan space with cellular space so people can get the right mix of teamwork and privacy. We’d never had video-conferencing facilities before, but we’ve already seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of money and time we spend travelling. The installation we have now is fully interactive so we can work in real time on white boards as well as having face to face meetings. Not only does this make it far easier to hold meetings and means we can be flexible in co-ordinating meetings quickly, we’ve already seen significant reductions in our travel budgets. We’ve calculated we’re saving at least 18 per cent already which is great for the bottom line and also, because of the reduction in journeys, great for the environment."

“Taking into consideration the tight timescale and the requirement for a total fit-out solution, we were very happy with the work completed by Claremont. The other real benefit for Belden was the on-site Project Manager, who managed to keep our time required to a minimum.”

David Stokes, Project Manager - Belden Inc