General Motors Canada Technical Centre, Markham, ON
Architect - HOK Canada
Situated in one of the largest information and communications technology clusters in North America, the Markham Technical Centre currently focuses on the development of GM autonomous technologies — including autonomous vehicle software and controls, active safety, vehicle dynamics technology, as well as infotainment and connected vehicle technologies — areas vital for the development of new connected, autonomous and shared vehicles and mobility systems. The system was designed in 2016/2017 and commissioned in 2018.
Built to attract Tech workers
Ward Sellars was the designer of the biggest technology scope - Audiovisual, Video Conferencing, TV broadcast and Media Production facilities in the facility. With a large Atrium, GM decided to create a unique town-hall meeting space with a massive LED video wall, in order to hold meetings, cultural events, musical performances, multi-party video conferencing and 4K video media recording.
4K Production System and Digital Audio
Special VJ software was implemented for driving unique content on the two video walls, and 4K scalers were used to deliver the highest resolution possible on the video walls. All of the meeting rooms are interconnected with video and audio on this network, controlled with Crestron control systems. The value of the AV systems at the building exceeded $1,200,000.
Strong First Impressions in the Lobby
A second
floor to ceiling LED video wall graces the public entrance, which is linked to the primary Atrium video wall. Ward instituted a complete AV over IP media network around the building, including a 48 node/64 channel Dante digital audio network, digitally steerable loudspeakers, Ultra High Definition 4K camera’s, 4K Broadcast Switcher (Blackmagic), Yamaha digital Dante network mixer, 4 channels of 4K digital video recording, and Cisco networked Codec’s.
Boardroom Video Conferencing
This Boardroom is equipped with the top-of-the line Cisco Integration CODEC, with auto tracking camera and dual 75” screens. Audio is picked up by the 4 square white microphones embedded into the table. The seating banquettes on the right are for overflow participants, but as can be seen the tables are on casters and can be moved around. So we incorporated portable battery operated boundary microphones that are placed onto the tables when needed. These are integrated into the Audio DSP via Automatic Mic Mixing, for a total of 8 live microphones during a VTC session. The whole system is controlled via the Cisco Touch 10 Touch Panel in the middle of the table, with a separate Crestron control System to control the lighting and other environmental features of the room.
GM Canada Technical Centre, Markham. Primary Boardroom