Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Case Study: Leading insurance firm QBE wows customers at its European HQ after Pyramid upgrade

QBE is one of the world’s leading insurance firms and wanted to provide its European HQ with an environment reflective of its success. Here’s how it did it

QBE is one of the world’s leading insurance firms and wanted to provide its European HQ with an environment reflective of its success. Here’s how it did it

Today’s audiovisual solutions are changing the way insurance firms operate, from improved collaboration in fully equipped meeting rooms and flexible working to eye catching and information-rich displays upon entry to the firm.

This is what QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s largest insurance companies employing more than 14,500 people in 37 countries, was looking for when it approached Pyramid AV.

Project brief 

The project needed to be delivered with minimum disruption and as-close-to-zero downtime as possible. Split over two floors of its European Headquarters in The City of London, the project included a public facing suite of meeting spaces, reception, Town Hall/events area plus a large flexible dual divisible meeting room.

The core requirement was to refurbish and integrate QBE’s existing London premises to create a flexible working environment, as well as enhance the flexibility of the space as much as possible. Specified by an experienced AV consultant, this 37-week programme was a significant project delivered by specialist integrator Pyramid AV, ISG and CBRE alongside QBE’s dedicated team over a three-phase programme. As the project required many different technologies to be brought together, Pyramid AV worked with Midwich and Owl Visual.

The solution 

Overall during this complex install, there was a need to ensure interoperability of four different vendors’ technologies, which was a significant challenge over a limited timescale.

QBE’s consultant had selected a video switching and control suite from US manufacturer AMX.

At the heart of the system is an AMX centralised control system with a DGX 64 x 64 Matrix, as well as multiple AMX central control processors for standalone meeting rooms, linked with localised AMX touch panels and a Condeco room booking panel for every meeting space.

Corporate reception 

The reception area is a focal point for the AV installation, with a stunning five screen video ‘Window on the World’ display powered by a tvONE video wall processor and fed by a Onelan 4K digital signage player designed to impress clients and partners alike.

The Broker’s Lounge

Connected to the reception area is The Brokers Lounge, a flexible space that required more discreet AV provision. The agreed solution is a ceiling based NEC PA622U Projector mounted on a Future Automation lift and complimented by a 3-meter-wide, tab tensioned, ceiling recessed Da- Lite screen, complete with five full HD mobile relay screens. The audio solution combined K-array KT2 satellites and KU26 Subwoofers providing the full range of coverage split into distinct zones, which can be switched on or o in seven zone combinations, depending upon preference of layouts and meetings.

Town Hall and meeting rooms

Wrapped around the reception area, there are a number of client facing meeting rooms, the largest of which is a 14-person dual divisible meeting room with a unique ‘Skyfall’ acoustic walling system. This room contains a combination of wired and wireless inputs selectable on the AMX touch screen in conjunction with two Samsung 75” HD screens, with touch screen overlay, and a Panasonic projection system. All together a very flexible space for meetings and or events.

In addition, the main offices benefited from 45 newly created and designed meeting rooms of varying capacities, plus AV/VC equipped single office spaces – totalling 60 rooms.

Multiple Cisco VC systems are deployed alongside wholesale AMX controls, centralised DGX matrix backbone as well as in room audio systems, using a combination of QSC amps and processing, interactive screen overlays for collaboration and a centralised room booking systems by Condeco.

In partnership with Owl Visual, Midwich Technical highlighted potential integration issues and discontinued products and recommended alternatives. Due to the nature of the client, and the volume of customer facing areas being refitted, out of hours work was essential. Midwich and Owl Visual was responsible for product supply.

The result

The final result is a more productive London office, with increased video conferencing usage, large projection systems and centralised room booking system. All this can be rolled out to other sites across the globe, so that employees have the same experience whether in London or Sydney.

“We turned to Midwich as a reliable, trustworthy supplier who was able to provide us with the technologies we required to fulfill this project. They offered technical support when required and are very responsive and flexible, as well as offering a wide range of products, across all of the major platforms. We are a demanding customer, but we trust Midwich and Owl Visual to deliver.” Kelly Hinchcliffe, Operations Director, Pyramid AV

Equipment List:

  • 5 Screen Samsung videowall
  • K-array kt2 satellites and ku26 subwoofers
  • Dgx 64 x 64 matrix
  • Amx central control processors
  • Dgx matrix backbone
  • Cisco vc systems
  • NEC PA622u projector
  • Future automation lift
  • Da-lite screen
  • 5X full hd mobile relay screens
  • Samsung 75” hd screens

  • Condeco room booking systems
  • Qsc based digital sound processors
  • Custom k-array speaker solution

  • Video one processor
  • Tvone coriomaster

  • Onelan digital signage systems
  • Qsc amps
  • exterity iptv
  • Wepresent byod deployment