Technology spearheads local and global connectivity and collaboration at this multinational pharmaceutical workspace in Whitefield, Bangalore, India.
When a multinational pharmaceutical company sought to revolutionise its workspace spread across 153,000 sq ft in Whitefield, Bangalore, it knew that technology would be the enabler for change. With a facility that included boardrooms, meeting spaces of various sizes, training rooms, a cafeteria, and an auditorium, the scale of the project was extensive.
The client appointed Resurgent to handle the delivery of the technology systems that would make these varied spaces function effectively while also being under the umbrella of an overarching technology strategy.
Madhusudhan VC, AVP of customer achievement at Resurgent, talks about how Resurgent became involved in the project: “This was a design and build project. We were in touch with the client, having worked with them previously, and once the layout of the project had been finalised, they reached out to us for the technology side.”
The design process was simplified slightly by the technology strategies already put in place by the client. Madhusudhan details: “As is the case with global multinational companies, there were global standards from the client’s side that we had to follow. These dictated the choices we made for videoconferencing equipment, switching, and so on. We took these global standards into consideration and designed the proposed solutions with them in mind.”
Flexible meeting spaces
We begin the exploration of the facility in Whitefield, Bangalore, by examining the various meeting spaces. Core to these spaces is videoconferencing, and the client was in a transitionary phase. Madhusudhan elaborates: “When it came to videoconferencing, the client was using Webex. However, this project came at an interesting time as they were in the middle of transitioning towards Microsoft Teams. This meant that the designed videoconferencing system had to be flexible, and they wanted to ensure there was interoperability between the two VC platforms. The rooms we were designing had to be ready to serve as MTRs when the time came.”
The importance of flexibility to the client cannot be understated, as it underpinned Resurgent’s design and integration work. To meet this demand, premium meeting spaces were equipped with Lightware switchers. Madhusudhan explains the choice: “Lightware switchers are used in the boardroom, specific meeting rooms, and training rooms as these switchers bring flexibility to these spaces. Users bring their laptops to these spaces, and up to 60 percent of these laptops have USB-C, HDMI connectors, or both. With the Lightware switchers, we can create BYOD options to support these users and their devices.”
For the smaller meeting spaces, a similar path was taken. Madhusudhan adds: “The core directive from the client was connectivity. They wanted users to be able to walk into the room, connect their laptops, and immediately start their meetings. So, we’ve provided USB-C and HDMI connectivity. Simplicity was also extremely important. The reason for the client’s global standards was to ensure a consistent experience. They have people travelling to their offices all over the globe, and they want to make sure that the experience employees and guests have is similar. The client did not want them to have to call an IT technician every single time they go to a new meeting room in a new city.”
Competent planning and execution ensured that challenges were overcome before they arose. Madhusudhan details: “We tried to resolve issues before they even came up. Once we finalised our designs for the boardroom, we sent them over to the client together with some requirements and suggestions, such as what acoustic funnelling would be required and what type of ceiling would be suitable since we were using Shure tile microphones. Ceiling space is always at a premium, and since we were installing microphones, we wanted to make sure that there would be no obstructions in the form of conduits or AC vents for our work. The client shared these requirements with the architects and the interior designers; hence, there were no glitches or physical obstacles hindering our work.”
Last but not least, meeting room participation and collaboration are crucial elements in fostering a more productive workspace environment. Acknowledging that meeting room inclusion weighs heavily on the client’s scale of requirements, Resurgent sought to elevate the far-end experience with the use of Logitech Scribe. Madhusudhan explains: “The Logitech Scribe was paired with a physical whiteboard that provided interactivity in the meeting spaces. We did not want people to just be speaking and remote participants to be passively listening. With Logitech Scribe, employees can actually enrich conversations and discuss matters in greater depth, which ensures that all participants are much more engaged regardless of where they are.”
Connecting a glocal network
The facility at Whitefield, Bangalore, also features an auditorium utilised for training sessions, town hall meetings, and events where top management addresses the local and global teams. This required specific capabilities for live streaming and videoconferencing.
To ensure full connectivity, a Cisco videoconferencing kit was used for the auditorium to link the space with the larger facility as well as with the client’s global network of offices. Datavideo voice tracking cameras were installed as well. Madhusudhan says: “The auditorium is a special space, and the client wanted an excellent audio system to complement the Cisco videoconferencing capabilities. They also required advanced speaker tracking features, allowing the speaker to be tracked in frame from the moment they step on stage to when they reach the podium. This ensures that the far-end audience has the same experience as those in the room.”
Moreover, a high-quality display is a fundamental feature of any good auditorium, as it plays a crucial role in engaging and retaining the attention of the audience. Modern audiences expect vivid, clear visuals that can enhance the overall experience of presentations, events, and meetings. Madhusudhan explains: “The client wanted a spectacular display, but they didn’t want to go with projection as they felt that it was a little outdated. So, we recommended the Samsung Micro LED videowall, which we believe is the best and latest technology on the market when it comes to displays.”
Installing advanced LED systems can be problematic, but once again, Resurgent stepped up to the task. Madhusudhan brings us through the process: “When it came to installing the display system, it was a matter of marking things correctly and getting accurate data points that were required for the videowall. Samsung had its own team come down to the site to work on the installation of the sensitive equipment since they have hands-on and extensive experience installing LED. It was a time-consuming process, but in the end, the outcomes were great.”
On the audio side of the auditorium, Bose speakers were deployed as part of the global standard for the client. An Allen & Heath digital mixer was installed, and Shure wireless microphones have been utilised. He details: “We had previously specified Shure microphones for one of the client’s smaller auditorium projects, and they were very pleased with the performance, as well as the service and support that Shure provided. They wanted to replicate that positive experience in this new auditorium. Plus, they didn’t want the users to have to re-learn how to use a new set of equipment. Rather than using products from different OEMs at different venues, the client really wanted to standardise the experience with technology across its multinational sites.”
The final part of our exploration of the Whitefield, Bangalore, facility leads us straight to the cafeteria. Entertainment, lounges, and recreation spaces are increasingly being given more consideration by clients. Madhusudhan observes: “Clients are really looking at maximising cafeteria spaces because they want to use them to their full potential. They want these spaces to be multi-functional, not just for dining. With the right AV systems and technology, cafeterias can be turned into versatile spaces that serve more than just the basic needs of the client.”
Beyond its primary role as a dining area, the cafeteria serves as a versatile venue for team events and live sessions, accommodating up to 300 people. The space is equipped with videoconferencing and live streaming capabilities, allowing it to function as an overflow area as well. To foster audience participation and create a lively work environment, Catchbox microphones have been integrated into the setup.
In addition, the cafeteria boasts an extensive digital signage system, featuring Samsung displays and BrightSign players that showcase relevant messaging throughout the day. Epson projectors have also been equipped for presentations to be conducted easily while a motorised screen from Elite provides a versatile display for all sorts of content.
Navigating challenges
The project was not without its fair share of challenges, though. Santosh N, AVP of projects at Resurgent, elaborates on this: “AV is dependent on the network, and the network is controlled by the client. From our end, we made the network dependencies of our solutions and systems clear to the client from the start. After that, it was a matter of the client whitelisting the products and equipment for their network. They had restrictions in place because they wanted to ensure the security of the network, and we worked with them to make sure that all their security concerns were addressed. Thankfully, we were able to start this conversation early in the project so that when the time came for physical installation and connectivity, we were good to go.”
As with any large-scale project, there are many moving parts, and keeping track of all of them is part of the job. Madhusudhan says: “We dealt with tight timelines because we had to wait for the rooms to be ready for us to do our work. Due to the critical nature of AV equipment, we avoided conducting installations and deployments when other vendors are working because there is a risk of the equipment getting damaged. So, getting the spaces into dust-free conditions took time, and the Resurgent team had to work long hours to make sure that the deadlines were met.”
Santosh concludes: “AV is always the last one to step out of the project, but if you are lucky, like we were, you can be the first ones to enter. A lot of coordination needs to happen between the various vendors and trades — be it HVAC, electrical teams, or civil works. Each of these trades have dependencies amongst each other, and it is essential that we work together. For this project, coordination and communication were critical in ensuring that our work progressed smoothly and was completed on time.”