Oakland City Council Chambers Video Wall & Audio Upgrade
INTRODUCTION
The City of Oakland, California, recently modernized its historic City Council Chambers to better serve residents, council members, and staff. The Council Chambers is the central hub for public meetings, policy decisions, and community engagement. To improve visibility, audio clarity, and overall meeting quality, the City partnered with Creation Networks for a complete audiovisual transformation.
Creation Networks performed the full design, engineering, programming, and installation of the new system.
PROJECT NAME
Oakland City Council Chambers
Location
Oakland, CA
SIZE
240,000 SF
CHALLENGE
The existing AV system in the Oakland City Council Chambers was outdated and no longer adequate for modern public meetings:
- An aging rear-projection system with a long-throw lens produced dim, washed-out images, especially during daytime meetings.
- The projection screen behind the dais was difficult for some council members and the public to see clearly.
- The old microphone and DSP system suffered from poor sound quality, frequent dropouts, and limited expansion capability.
- Outdated delegate microphones on the dais made it difficult for council members to be clearly heard by the audience and remote viewers.
- Complex and unreliable controls created delays and technical issues during important public meetings.
THE SOLUTION
The existing AV system in the Oakland City Council Chambers was outdated and no longer adequate for modern public meetings:
- An aging rear-projection system with a long-throw lens produced dim, washed-out images, especially during daytime meetings. The projection screen behind the dais was difficult for some council members and the public to see clearly. The old microphone and DSP system suffered from poor sound quality, frequent dropouts, and limited expansion capability. Outdated delegate microphones on the dais made it difficult for council members to be clearly heard by the audience and remote viewers. Complex and unreliable controls created delays and technical issues during important public meetings.
THE TECHNOLOGY
- Video Wall System: 164” Planar DirectLight Pro 1.8 MicroLED video wall — providing exceptional brightness, contrast, and resolution with perfect viewing angles from all seats in the chamber.
- Audio Processing: Biamp Tesira Forte DSP platform for advanced audio mixing, processing, and acoustic echo cancellation.
- Wireless Microphones: Shure Microflex wireless microphone system for reliable, high-quality wireless coverage.
- Delegate System: 14-channel Televic Cofidea integrated flush-mount delegate panel system with individual microphones and loudspeakers installed directly into the dais for council members.
- Supporting Infrastructure: New amplifiers, cabling, and programming for seamless integration of all components.
RESULTS
The new AV system has transformed the Oakland City Council Chambers:
- Exceptional image quality and visibility for all attendees and remote viewers thanks to the bright, large-scale Planar MicroLED video wall.
- Significantly improved speech intelligibility and professional audio quality throughout the room.
- Reliable, easy-to-use wireless and delegate microphones that ensure every council member is clearly heard.
- Streamlined meeting operations with fewer technical interruptions.
- A modern, professional appearance that enhances public trust and engagement in local government proceedings.
The City of Oakland is now equipped with a state-of-the-art audiovisual system that will serve the community for many years to come.
NEXT STEPS
Creation Networks has extensive experience designing and installing advanced AV systems for city halls, council chambers, and public safety facilities throughout California.
Ready to upgrade your city council chambers, board room, or public meeting space? Contact Creation Networks today for a consultation. Let us deliver a reliable, high-impact AV solution tailored to your government facility.
Need Audio Visual Design or AV Integration Help? Talk to an AV Design Advisor.
Have questions, we have answers, our design and engineering resources are happy to help with design and integration advice.
1.888.230.3661
