Industry
Commercial Space
Summary
A 5m x 2.5m Aurora LED wall — comprising 50 P3.91mm modules — serves as the centrepiece of Populous' Brisbane APAC HQ fitout, greeting visitors with digital artwork visible from the street.
Integrator
Videopro
Brand
Aurora Signage
The Aurora video wall is so bright. During the day, it’s running at 80-90% but at night, we’ve had to turn it down to 50%.
Populous
Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus — to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human
moments.
Originally published in AV.Technology.
Brisbane’s Collin House has a long and storied history. It was originally built in 1928 as a carpark and showroom for AP Eagers, which went on to become the nation’s second-biggest automotive group. Dunlop Rubber took it on for some time then, post WWII, it was used variously for storage, government offices and eventually, The Ritz Ballroom.
Extensively renovated since 2009, the central floors now host the APAC HQ of international architectural and interior design firm Populous. Before it moved in, Videopro were engaged to install AV systems that would complement the business’s requirements and do so with the same refined flair as its client.
Client & Space
Having fitted out its previous Brisbane office, Videopro had already established a solid relationship with Populous. With the new premises under way, it was asked to design and construct appropriate systems to complement the Populous workflow and accommodate its expanding team.
Being a design focussed client, the look and feel of any proposed equipment on show was critical. However, nothing trumped functionality. Account Executive Darran Cowling explains that: “It wasn’t form over function— Populous was keen to meet the business requirements, as well as getting the design aesthetic right.” This process took nearly a year of back and forth until all were satisfied the approach was right.
The stunning industrial setting suited the client visually but created extra challenges for the integrator. Normally simple things, like cabling infrastructure, required additional consultation before final choices were made. Darran Cowling: “We had to do surface mounted conduit for some runs so there was hours of discussion around what type to use. We ended up with galvanised steel. That sort of detail that went into every part of the project.” Further adding complexity, “technically, the users wanted to be agnostic”. Videopro carefully selected a variety of equipment that would achieve that aim and provide a seamless user experience.
A Popular Outcome
The team were tasked with fitting out three main spaces. The first a customer encounters is the reception in the foyer area. An impressive 5m x 2.5m LED wall greets attendees with a series of images of Populous’ work. Comprised of 50 x Aurora P3.91mm modules, the resolution is intentionally low, with the wall’s primary use as a street-facing digital art piece. This is the first Aurora product that Darran has used, and he is really happy with it. “It’s so bright, we ended up having to turn it down. During the day, it’s running at 80-90% but, at night, we’ve had to turn it down to 50%.”
For Darran, the Brisbane APAC HQ fitout “went so well. The relationship is really strong between both businesses.” With a high attention to detail from both partners, reducing complex systems to simple user interaction, it easy to see how well that synergy has worked in this sophisticated and elegant job.
The Populous motto is “We design the places where people love to be together”. Here, Videopro designed the AV systems to help enable them to do just that.
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