Columbia Property Trust -Outdoor AV Success Story

Q: What does a nationwide AV integrator actually manage?

A nationwide AV integrator manages the full lifecycle across every site: technology standards, site surveys, engineering documentation, procurement, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support — not just equipment sales.

Q: How is a nationwide rollout different from a single-site AV project?

A single-site project designs for one room's conditions. A nationwide rollout defines approved room archetypes (huddle, conference, boardroom, training, etc.) that get applied consistently, with documented exceptions for site-specific constraints like room size or network policy.

Q: Do all rooms need identical equipment?

No. Standardization applies at the archetype level — a small huddle room and a large boardroom should follow different technology packages, but each package should be repeatable across every site that fits that archetype.

Q: Why does network readiness matter for AV projects?

AV-over-IP video, conferencing appliances, control processors, and digital signage all run as networked devices. Without early planning for VLANs, PoE budgets, and security policy, a well-specified system can still underperform once it's installed.

Q: What happens after installation?

Commissioning tests the system under real conditions — video routing, mic pickup, DSP tuning, and conferencing workflows — before handoff. After that, ongoing support (monitoring, maintenance, escalation) keeps performance consistent as firmware, platforms, and room use evolve.

INTRODUCTION

221 Main Street is a 16-story, 362,000-square-foot Class A office building located in San Francisco's South Financial District, owned by a joint venture between Columbia Property Trust and Allianz Real Estate. The property features a clubhouse lounge, conference center, and 24-hour security, offering easy access to the Embarcadero and transportation.

PROJECT NAME
221 MAIN ST

LOCATION
San Francisco

ARCHITECT
Gensler Architectural

SIZE
12,000 SF

Sustainable Design

LEED Platinum

Rooftop garden with city skyline and modern buildings in the background.

CHALLENGE

Real estate developer Columbia Property Trust completed work on the renovation of its Outdoor Patio at the property at 221 Main Street, San Francisco. The project renovation included the creation of a completely new rooftop outdoor living audiovisual experience. The space was created with the intention for guests & tenants to use for meetings, events & gatherings.

THE SOLUTION

Creation Networks provided a dynamic visual display to be the focal point of the design while providing hidden audio system. The team at Creation Networks installed the IP65-rated LED video display. This outdoor rated display projects a vibrant image even under direct sunlight. We then leveraged our partnership with Gensler Architectural to properly design and install a distributed audio system with outdoor speakers and subwoofers to address their sound requirements. To tie the various pieces of the system together, we selected Crestron as the control platform to ensure ease of use.

Modern rooftop lounge area with seating and city skyline view.

THE TECHNOLOGY

Project Completed : 2018

Solutions Used

Crestron CP3N control processor
Samsung Outdoor Display - 4k UHD Displays
Biamp TESIRAFORTE DSP
Crestron 8.7” Wireless Touch Screen TST-902
Shure ULX Wireless Microphone System
Soundtube Outdoor Speakers and subwoofers
Crestron 10.1” Touch Screen TSW-1060
Crestron DMPS Video switcher

City rooftop terrace with modern seating and urban landscaping at dusk.

RESULTS

Easy to use for the staff & guests from the Crestron wireless touch panel. The AV control system is incredibly intuitive and instills confidence in the user’s ability to hold an event without the need to have the IT tech available for support. The outdoor audio system delivers incredible sound quality, even with the traffic and noise below.