Condé Nast creates an iconic and impressive space in 'The Well' with Christie Velvet Led cubes

This unique space in the new Condé Nast International office has a spectacular video wall, composed of Led Christie Velvet cubes, powered by Pandoras Box and Spyder X20 video processor.

The media company Condé Nast International recently housed its digital team on two floors of London's iconic Adelphi Building. The new facilities house a set of modern spaces, with open work areas, impromptu meeting places, meeting rooms and quiet work areas.

The nerve center of this new Condé Nast Int digital office. It is occupied by 'The Well': an iconic space, shaped like a stairwell, that functions as a meeting place or informal presentations.

In this unique design, a video wall composed of 6×14 LED cubes Christie Velvet Apex 2,5 mm. for interiors, powered by Christie Pandoras Box and with video processing managed by the Christie Spyder X20, plays a crucial role that leaves no one indifferent.

When it was considered installing a video wall, it didn't take long for ideas to emerge about what to do with it., that were incorporated into the ambitious plans conceived for this modern workspace since, as highlighted by Deepak Parma, design director of the architecture studio MCM, project manager, “This building symbolizes the digital future of Condé Nast Int”.

The design process was clear: “When we began to study the plant we found that the building consists of a series of corners dedicated to the work of the employees, and that he was crying out for a central one to act as a nucleus, and around which people could gather, collaborate, celebrate and be inspired. The stairwell is the natural heart of the building. When opting for a multi-story construction, The brainstorming began on what purpose to give it.: could function as a space for meetings or presentations, but also for meetings of the entire staff”.

To ensure that the technical aspects were adapted to the project, MiX Consultancy worked with MCM and Focus 21, as the AV consultant of this consultancy points out, Phil Hallchurch. “The ideas were coming together as we progressed with the project.”. We examine projection options, LCD, Tiled displays and ultra-thin bezel video walls. We immediately knew that we wanted all of that., and that we needed to provide that stairwell with a striking, high-profile design.. We also knew that we would have the best content to show; a factor, definitely, crucial”.

After analyzing the offer of various manufacturers of Led screens, The technological option chosen was Christie, “a company with which we have a good relationship and we knew that we could count on their assistance if the need arose throughout the project,” adds Hallchurch., an aspect that we value highly. Apex cube video wall features redundant remote power supply, so if a source fails, another takes its place, and in this installation that greatly facilitates coordination. If a fault appears, it is corrected, not on the video wall, but at a distance".

Another advantage offered by the Christie system, as this specialist remembers, is that “maintenance is carried out frontally and that is precisely what allowed us to install it in a space. We were not conditioned by the need to have space behind the video wall for repairs or maintenance, or installing access panels. That set of elements is what led us to Christie, whose products we show to key Condé Nast Int professionals. The cost, “Quality and customer needs were the factors that determined the pixel pitch.”.

MiX selected the LED 2,5 mm. for considering that, for its excellent performance/price ratio, was the one that best suited the project.

“Opting for the smallest pixel pitch on the market would have doubled the cost,” Phil reasons.. And having resorted to another greater, the possibility of viewing content at close range would have been compromised, since pixels would alter our vision. If very detailed content is projected, like spreadsheets, viewing may present quality problems. The pixel pitch 2,5 mm. offers great color contrast, with fantastic image quality and brightness”.

In the English slang of the press and media, Wellis the name given to the central part of a magazine, where the most notable articles are concentrated, hence the appropriateness of using this name for a space that has already been used for a wide variety of purposes.: from showing videos with safety demonstrations to reproducing photographs or organizing staff meetings.

To the satisfaction of Condé Nast International, The team naturally began using the stairwell and video wall area for informal catch-ups or work sessions.. To create a powerful content management system, but simple, MiX Consultancy opted, on Christie's recommendation, for incorporating Amigo as a creative partner, that chose Spyder X20 and Pandoras Box to build a robust content processing and management ecosystem.

“The pixels of the video wall are completely customized,” explains Hallchurch.. Friend worked with Condé Nast Int. to create a template, and used Spyder X20 and Pandoras Box, but introducing a customized interface at the same time, o middleware, that allows digital teams to 'upload' their content in a simple way, making the video wall show them in slide session mode. The client is completely unaware of the ins and outs of operation, nor do you have to know them. All you have to do is “upload” the content, the last photo or whatever you want to show and know that the system will adapt it to the space, time and hours of operation.

This space has already fostered a notable impact on the workforce. “The team managed to do more than just a stairwell,” says Aidan Geary., COO of Condé Nast Int. Digital-. What they have created is the heart of the office, and the impact has been double: in addition to great aesthetic beauty, has become a place where teams spontaneously go to make their presentations and receive feedbackfrom others. We have seen an instant change in the way of working”.

Besides, “The screen has played a crucial role,” continues Deepak.. It is the nerve center of space, a place that everyone - employees and visitors- inevitably passes through, so everyone will perceive its impact. for us, in addition to a showcase in constant renewal where Condé Nast Int's activity can be displayed., It is an element used for presentations and the like”.