MAD REFERENCE
What architectural AV contributes to a design
Coordinate sound, media, controls and infrastructure with the physical design so the intended experience can be built, operated and maintained.
THE PRACTICAL QUESTION
The term describes a coordination discipline.
Architectural AV brings audiovisual and experience-system requirements into the design process. It connects the intended media, sound and interactions with the space, power, networks, equipment placement and maintenance access they require.
The scope is the experience and its supporting systems. Mad works with the architect, exhibit designer, fabricator and other consultants to coordinate those interfaces and define a buildable result.
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
Develop the physical and digital parts together.
An interactive control is a physical object, a software input and part of the visitor’s experience. A projection depends on content, geometry, light and the surface receiving it. A sound environment depends on the media, processing, loudspeaker arrangement and room.
Developing those parts together can expose conflicts before they reach installation. The useful outputs are specific: interface definitions, coordinated layouts, system requirements, prototypes and acceptance criteria.
TECHNICAL DETAILWhat the drawings and brief need to resolve.
Open the engineering detailClose this sectionLook for the red circuit symbol for engineering detail.
| Area | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|
| Media and sightlines | Where is the visitor, what must be visible and how do image size, light and geometry affect the result? |
| Sound and acoustics | What should be heard in each listening area, and how do neighboring exhibits or room reflections affect it? |
| Power, networks and compute | What are the loads, data flows, equipment locations, cooling needs and failure dependencies? |
| Physical interfaces | How do controls, enclosures, mounting and service access meet the exhibit fabricator’s work? |
| Operation | Who updates content, starts and stops the installation, diagnoses a fault and restores a configuration? |
PROJECT EVIDENCE
Sound is part of the physical experience.
For Science Storms at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, Mad worked on acoustics, audiovisual systems and interactive exhibits. The open gallery required presentation systems designed to limit problems from sound reaching neighboring experiences.
PROJECT TIMING
Start where the project is.
Early coordination generally leaves more options. A project already under way can still benefit from a targeted review of the unresolved interfaces. Existing venues can be assessed for a staged refresh. The assessment establishes the available options, their cost and the work required.
An existing venue has physical constraints worth understanding before selecting new technology. Assess the retained peripherals, network and service access, then define a QuickSilver® retrofit of playback and control. Selected AV++® additions follow that change to the computing foundation.
RELATED READING
Continue with the detail you need.
LET’S BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT
Bring the question into your project.
Mad can join an early brief, contribute a defined scope or assess an existing installation. Tell us the decision you need to make next.
Start a conversation