New skills and comprehensive collaboration combine as AV Media delivers a new level of videoconferencing. Reece Webb reports.
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm for retail clients, identifying technology-led strategies to push growth and innovation for its customers. This same approach sits at the heart of the company’s operations at its brand-new office space in the modern Masarycka building, located in Prague’s historic city centre.
Constructed by world-renowned architects Zaha Hadid, BCG required an equally prestigious AV installation partner to deliver a modern working solution.
Enter AV Media, an integrator with extensive experience in delivering technological excellence for clients throughout Prague and beyond. With the aim of creating new experiences for collaboration, AV Media was tasked with delivering a diverse range of meeting spaces, including a community zone, numerous meeting rooms of varying designs, and a convertible office space for maximum flexibility.
Martin Zikmunda, senior sales consultant, AV Media, explains: “This is a new building, located next to the main train station on the edge of the historical centre of Prague. The building generated popular interest since the project was first approved five years ago.
“There were two companies which were responsible for the selection of the AV vendor – CBRE who managed the full process and implementation of the offices, and Macom, which was also brought on as a consultant. Macom has worked with BCG in the past, with both companies acting as advisors for the formal tender. It was quite a complex project, because the deadline for implementation was coming up fast and the client’s expectations were extremely high.”
The project was divided into two phases – with a paperwork-centric process to prove that AV Media could handle the complexity of the project and deliver the level of quality required by the deadline.
“They were seeking a partner that would be on the same level as Zaha Hadid, CBRE, and other partners on this project”, explains Zikmunda, “BCG decided to select us. In the second phase, they shared detailed documents with us including a bill of materials, design documents, and technical drawings provided by Macom. We did not develop the complete project documentation, but we were upgrading and updating it to the local conditions. There were some issues with vendors and commitments to delivery which we had to work around.”
This installation had to match the modern and disruptive nature of this new office environment, with the aim of offering a leading AV system that was ready to meet BCG’s employees’ needs from the minute that they walk into the building. Zikmunda continues: “BCG was transitioning to this new office, and the client wanted to engage all employees from the first minute that they started work in this building; all technology needed to be working from the first minute, and we helped to streamline this process. We had great support from management and from local vendors.”
At the heart of BCG’s operations is an intuitive Crestron 1Beyond videoconferencing system, blending intelligent video and audio functions which can automatically track speakers, optimise group shots, and provide a comprehensive conferencing experience for both in-room and remote participants.
This was not just the first time that AV Media would deploy a 1Beyond system, but also the first time that such a system has been deployed in the region since the company’s takeover by Crestron.
This system is deployed in the facility’s community zone, a flexible environment designed to cater to the more informal style of meetings expected to take place in this area. As such, accurate camera and audio tracking for participants in unpredictable locations was a top priority.
AV Media supplied a Crestron NVX system, supported by a 1Beyond ecosystem consisting of an Automate VX camera switching system and 1Beyond PTZ-IP20 cameras. Audio tracking from Shure MXA 920 ceiling microphones is integrated into the Crestron 1Beyond system to create a reactive and effective system for videoconferencing.
Zikmunda continues: “This was the first project in Central Europe that featured 1Beyond under the umbrella of Crestron, and Crestron was helping us to get all of the technical resources and experts that we needed from 1Beyond group when we needed them.”
Zikmunda says: “A five-camera system is unique; At the core, there is an Intel computer which has the connected HDMI cameras converted to USB inputs, with the audio system connected via the audio matrix. Through this system, the positions of speakers are tracked, and this information is delivered to the computer. A software application from 1Beyond processes this information, controlling the positioning of the cameras based on the information from the audio system. A simple concept with complex delivery.
“On the output of the computer, there is just a USB interface for videoconferencing systems; it behaves like a very big, intelligent videoconferencing camera as you see the full system as one input.”
AV Media wasted no time getting to grips with this new technology, adapting on the fly to master the 1Beyond system’s capabilities, delivering a system that benefits the client and adds another tool to the integrator’s toolbox.
“We had to prove that we are able to take new technology and understand it”, says Zikmunda. “The solution in this office required multi-camera systems and videoconferencing systems in two specific spaces at this office, based on a Crestron 1Beyond multicamera standard. There are two spaces based on 1Beyond, featuring a three-camera space with two divisible rooms and two videoconferencing systems.
“One works with the 1Beyond system, while the other local system runs on Poly. Everything had to be properly tuned and programmed regarding the logic of how the cameras behave, locations of people and so on. This system works with the Shure ceiling microphones, so everything had to be combined with the audio system through a passive audio design.”
Flexible conferencing
One standout large space, the community zone, is an informal area that features a five-camera setup, offering five views in the room for speakers and listeners in the space, reflecting the informal and relaxed nature of this environment with maximum videoconferencing flexibility. This area includes three Shure ceiling microphone fields. “Everything had to be programmed and set,” explains Zikmunda. “We had remote support from Crestron’s team, because at that time we had limited experience with 1Beyond, so they supported us remotely during the commissioning and setting of these systems.”
The community zone is outfitted with the right equipment to enable flexible and casual meetings, with NEC displays throughout supported by Chief mounts. A Barco CX30 ClickShare is available for effective videoconferencing on one side of the space, with a Poly Studio X70 videoconferencing system and Poly TC8 touchpanel that can be used should the space be divided into two sections, offering the client maximum “bang for their buck” by making the most of the facility’s available real estate.
Three Shure MXA 920 ceiling microphones provide ample audio coverage throughout as users move around the space, supported by Shure headsets and microphones to accommodate for larger crowds in the space during informal town hall meetings or larger presentations to both in-room and remote participants. Additional audio reinforcement is available in the form of Fohhn LX-10 nearfield speakers, as well as a Catchbox throwable microphone for spontaneous, free-flowing meetings that match the tempo and design of the community space. On the control side, this space is outfitted with a Crestron NVX system supported by a TSW 1070 touchpanel.
Setting a standard
AV Media was also tasked with delivering a variety of more traditional meeting spaces in varying sizes. These meeting rooms needed to offer a standardised offering that employees would be familiar with, not just in terms of the Microsoft Teams platform that each room offers, but also in terms of the in-room technology that needed to offer the same familiar experience and user-familiarity, regardless of the size of the room.
Each meeting room is equipped with an NEC display and Crestron room scheduling touchscreen as standard, with equipment varying between each space.
A four-person meeting room space offers a Fohhn Scale soundbar and MA-4.100 four-channel digital power amplifier with a Lenovo USB-C dock for smaller scale meetings.
A standard sized Microsoft Teams Room is outfitted with four NEC M651 displays and a Poly Studio X50 videoconferencing system with a TC8 touchpanel and Lenovo USB-C dock.

Moving into the large Microsoft Teams Room space, an NEC 65-in dual screen room system is deployed, as well as a Poly Studio X50.
The final meeting room environment is a divisible, 10-person space that boasts a comprehensive AV setup, featuring two NEC M651 LCD displays and a NEC V754Q 75-in display as well as two Barco CX30 ClickShare devices, ensuring a consistent experience when the room is divided.
Two Shure MXA 920s, one per side, provide audio reinforcement, with a Biamp Tesira Forté X800 and X1600 meeting room DSPs. Additional videoconferencing functionality is available via a Poly Studio X70 videoconferencing system, with a Crestron NVX and 1Beyond PTZ camera backbone similar to the community zone environment.
Moving outside of the meeting rooms, a convertible office space provides flexibility for impromptu videoconferencing through a Poly Studio system, supported by six NEC displays and a Crestron room booking touchpanel.
Finally, BCG’s reception space is also supported by a NEC M551 display and Lenovo ThinkCentre M920x compact desktop PC. Ultimately, AV Media rose to the challenge of not only meeting stringent expectations and mastering new technologies but also overcoming supply chain difficulties that drove AV Media to think on its feet.
“We suddenly realised that we couldn’t deliver cameras on time”, says Zikmunda, “so we had to negotiate strongly to get the cameras that we needed. We were very nervous about this, but we were able to get all products here. This is a system that cannot be substituted. We had to look at the substitution of products in some cases which was complex and time consuming for us as we had to settle these issues properly and to have everything delivered on time.
“We were successful with this installation; we provided post-implementation tuning for the system to provide better audio for a space which was being affected by noise from the kitchen area. HR management was very helpful in this project; it was a multi-discipline project. BCG’s HR manager was also key in supporting this project.”
Ultimately, AV Media delivered a modern solution for a fast paced, modern company in the very heart of Prague, delivering a 350,000 Euro project with a full support and maintenance contract to support BCG’s operations into the future.
“Our client was so happy with the system, with top management and stakeholders in the company involved in producing a video talking about the system. The director of investment talked about this project, because the team were proud, and we were a very important part of this success for them.
“Internally, this was a reminder that we have excellent teams at AV Media which are able to learn new things. For my colleague and I, working with the team, we had really good audio experts, programmers, product managers, and for all of us, the 1Beyond system was a new challenge that our team had to learn. We managed this process well, and it is nice to see that we can, internally, overcome any and all challenges that are thrown our way, delivering a quality system without problems.”
Kit list
Audio
Biamp Tesira Forté X800 DSP, X1600 DSP
Catchbox throwable microphone
Fohhn LX 10 nearfield loudspeakers, LS-2 subwoofers, MA-4.100 power amplifier, Scale soundbars
LB FZ180 loudspeakers
Shure MXA 920 ceiling arrays, ULXD4D digital dual-channel wireless receiver, SM58 microphone, ULXD2 wireless transmitter, ULXD1 wireless bodypack transmitter, SM35 headset condenser microphone,
Video
Barco CX30 ClickShare
Chief RXT2 mounts, RMT2 mounts
Lenovo ThinkCentre M920x PC
NEC V984Q, M551, M651, V754Q displays, Du-Co room system
Poly G7500 videoconferencing unit, TC8 Touchpanel, Studio X70 videobar
Control
Crestron NVX control system, 1Beyond Automate VX camera switching system, PTZ-IP20 cameras, CP4 processor, TSW 1070 touchpanel
Icron Ranger 2204 USB extender