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Brock University – Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Brock University – Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Work is nearing completion on the new Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. The building, a unique collaboration between Brock University and the City of St. Catharines, is expected to play a role in revitalizing and transforming downtown St. Catharines. AerialRendering

Bird Construction Group is constructing the $45 million project designed by Diamond & Schmitt Architects.

The structure, situated on the historic water raceway that powered an old factory, is separated from the City of St. Catharines’ First Ontario Performing Arts Complex (PAC) by a non-vehicular pedestrian zone.

The film theatre and Cairns Recital Hall within the new PAC will be used by the school for academic activities. Intended for both student and community use, the facilities are expected to create a municipal arts and culture hub.

Sight N Sound Design Inc. has provided expertise to support the project’s complex audio and video requirements.

“The relocation of the Walker School fulfills Brock’s mission of reaching out and engaging the community in direct and meaningful ways,” Derek Knight, the school’s director and Marilyn I. Walker chair in Creativity, Imagination and Innovation has said.

“Not only will our presence play a key role in helping revive the city’s downtown core, but also our long-term commitment to fine and performing arts education ensures a continuing and vital role in our interactions with community arts groups, including local theatre companies, art centres and orchestral, choral or musical groups.”

Scott Roper, Brock University’s project manager, campus planning, design and construction, said that the architect succeeded in understanding the university’s objectives to “inspire the creativity of students, faculty and staff with the unique site and spatial intrigue of this group of historic buildings and new additions.”

“The architects resolved a diverse and extensive range of academic requirements with an equally diverse and challenging set of existing buildings to give the initiative a distinctive place,” he said.

The former Canada Hair Cloth building on St. Paul St. and an adjacent warehouse have been rehabilitated for multi-purpose use by the departments of dramatic arts, music, visual arts and the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture. The building will provide state-of-the-art production and workshop support, music practice facilities, art studios, lecture and seminar rooms as well as a versatile stand-alone 235-seat theatre for drama students.

The five-storey factory renovation included reclamation of the existing brick façade, wood flooring, pressed tin ceilings and fire doors to maintain and showcase the building’s heritage. New mechanical and electrical systems and improved acoustics and life safety systems have been installed.

The new 2,300 sq. m. construction will house a theatre with retractable seating, an art gallery, lobby space, study areas and dressing rooms.

Roper says from a design and programming perspective, the project had a very diversified set of spatial requirements including art, music and dramatic arts studios, practice rooms, a learning commons, theatre and dressing rooms, scene shop, costume shop, frame shop, darkroom, digital music and digital media labs, and an art gallery.

“All of this had to be carefully fitted into buildings of various ages containing unique spatial conditions including narrow floor plates, a column line at 8 ft. centres, a warehouse and an industrial shed,” he said.

He says extensive study and several phases to envision the new academic concept by faculty resulted in the final design. “Music was assigned the oldest area with the heaviest masonry, dramatic arts to the warehouse, and visual arts studios were assigned to the top floor after the removal of the columns. The theatre was turned sideways and fitted between two existing buildings, minimizing the structure to be demolished and the new build required.”

AerialRenderingRoper says the small site and the series of narrow and linear buildings made it necessary for Bird to maintain tight control of the movement of construction personnel, equipment and material. “As in any building with features built and connected to one another in different decades, existing construction did not always follow predictable construction methods. This created some unanticipated conditions, all of which were dealt with by Diamond & Schmitt Architects and Bird Construction.”

Sight N Sound supplied and installed the unique combination of pieces specified by acoustic designer Jaffe Holden. Sight N Sound president Ken Lewis says the facility is equipped with technology designed to mimic the experiences of a real world stage.

Roper says there are four dramatic arts studios, two of which are intended for performance, along with the main theatre which offers “total versatility with respect to seating layout and lighting and scenes due to grid coverage of the entire space and a gantry for students to design and set up the space.”

Lewis says the Stage House (main theatre) and the two performance studios have been designated for high quality sound and video projection capabilities.

He says perimeter-based audio-visual connection panels will allow students to connect peripheral devices with flexibility to move equipment around. “There is a large control booth for the Stage House and a shared control booth for the smaller studios.”

He says custom-manufactured acoustic panels are mounted into the walls to be flush so they are visible but not intrusive and an effort has been made to integrate cabling as much as possible. “Everything has been done with the overall design in mind. The acoustic panels have been manufactured in aluminum with high quality jacks and systems both for quality and design.”

He says the studio has been equipped with equipment boards and the audio reproduction to play back pre-recorded sounds. High quality and distinct loud speakers will perform differently and serve different functions.

In addition to the main studios, Lewis says peripheral areas have been connected to allow paging into the surrounding areas, and capability built into the green room and dressing rooms will allow players to watch the on-stage performances to watch for cues. “The cabling system is extensive for maximum flexibility. Just about every cable lands on a patch for rerouting so there are several hundred patches in all which will give the students flexibility to simulate everything they need.”

To create the high quality, noise-free sound required for the theatre environment, Lewis says extra precautions were taken to isolate all of the wires from the equipment racks. Great power capability he says has been achieved through high wattage amplifiers.

Knight says the project will have a significant impact on the university’s academic programs in dramatic arts, music, visual arts and its Centre in Studies in Arts and Culture. “It places Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts amongst the most competitive of university programs in the country. New facilities mean exceptional opportunities for faculty and students alike.”

He says the investment represents “a long-term commitment to a generation or more of aspiring artists, performers and musicians; the cultural renaissance that this signifies is also key to the revival of the downtown core of the City of St. Catharines.”

“This is a well-built, beautiful teaching facility. We are proud to have been involved in helping create the real-world environment the students will enjoy,” says Lewis.

Roper calls this a unique and remarkable project for the university. “It is a leading edge demonstration of what can be done to revitalize old buildings. The excitement of bringing the building project to successful completion is only the first step in what will be an extraordinary new learning environment for students and enrichment of the downtown arts environment, all of which will be fully realized in just a few months.”

The project has been funded in part through the provincial government’s Open Ontario program with a $15 million contribution from Canadian fibre artist Marilyn I. Walker. Substantial completion was achieved in May. After fit-ups and occupation by staff and faculty in June, the building will be ready for classes in September.

As published in the "GTA Construction Report"

Quinte Consolidated Courthouse

Quinte Consolidated Courthouse

The new $247 million Quinte consolidated courthouse in Belleville replaces four Ontario and superior courts, offering improved security and accessibility, and is expected to be a catalyst for the community’s downtown revitalization. The 173,000 sq. ft. project is one of five Infrastructure Ontario (IO) projects for the Ministry of the Attorney General, constructed under the public-private alternative financing and procurement model. “The courthouse has been designed to adapt to a changing justice landscape impacted by population growth, new legislation and new technologies, says Angelo Gismondi, IO’s vice-president of project delivery. The building “can be modified to accommodate changing caseload volumes and the latest court technology.” Gismondi says the consolidation brings together Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice functions, Crown attorney offices, courts administration and victim/witness services offices. “A single address for court matters will help to reduce delays in the court system and increase access to justice.” “Within . . . interior spaces, materials such as limestone, rift cut oak and terrazzo will help create an environment reflective of the dignity and stature of the courthouse,” he said. “The exterior of the courtroom block is clad mostly in limestone and brick.” Public spaces and open office areas requiring natural daylight are located along the outside walls. As well, several courtrooms will have access to direct exterior views, making the building open and airy. Accessibility features include enhanced interpretation resources. One room is permanently equipped and three portable units can be used where they are required. The building also has infrared for the hearing impaired. “The courthouse is fully barrier-free to accommodate users with physical disabilities in the public area, the courtroom well, the witness box and the court clerk and reporter desk,” Gismondi said. “Nine of the 11 courtrooms will have a barrier-free dais, and all jury boxes will have one barrier-free seating position to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices.” Camera systems throughout the building provide increased security. Distinctive built-in security systems accommodate the different visitors and users of the courthouse as public, accused, judges and staff all have their own requirements. Gismondi says all of the five new courthouses, which have been designed to achieve LEED Silver certifications, reflect the Ministry of the Attorney General’s design principles including dignity, functionality, value, durability, flexibility, accessibility, security, independence, context, environment and clarity. “There was not necessarily a specific design to be followed for all but certainly a specific interpretation and characteristics to be reflected in the design of all five of the courthouses,” he said. The project is built through the Brookfield Partnerships consortium, including Brookfield Financial Corporation, Morguard Corporation, PCL Constructors and WZMH Architects. “Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerships Quinte assembled its construction team and it included a large number of local companies and workers,” says Gismondi. “More than 80 per cent of the construction team was made up of local workers and included the carpet supplier, masonry and exterior stone work, drywall, and roofing and flashing.” At its peak, the Quinte project had more than 200 workers on site and is expected to host 500 staff and visitors daily when it opens. The site’s location is intended to act as a catalyst for Belleville’s downtown, with restaurants and shops potentially opening to support additional pedestrian traffic. The courthouse, sited cross from the Moira River feeding into Lake Ontario and with a beautifully landscaped
civic plaza in front, “is a world-class facility that will become a cornerstone civic building and make a significant contribution to the revitalization of Belleville’s downtown core,” Gismondi said. Construction is almost complete. In May 2013 the International Union of Elevator Contractors began a province-wide strike and, although elevators had been installed, work to license and operate the units stalled. “As soon as the elevator constructors are back at work PCL will seek to obtain the occupancy permit,” says Gismondi. “We are currently anticipating the Ministry of the Attorney General will be able to move into the courthouse in late summer.”

Sight N Sound Design sets systems for 30-year Quinte courthouse AV relationship

Sight N Sound Design, a design build audio-visual (AV) consultant, installed the Quinte courthouse’s AV systems, including evidence presentation, voice enhancement, audio recording, video conferencing, remote testimony facilities, and control systems. Sight N Sound president Ken Lewis says his company specializes in complex projects, including the recently completed Waterloo courthouse. “One element that is unique to these courthouses is the integration of legacy video and the new digital format into courtroom evidence presentation systems,” he said. While work on Quinte is essentially a scaleddown version of the Waterloo project (Waterloo has 30 courtrooms while Quinte has 11), Quinte’s integrated AV technology panels have been enhanced. “We completed the design for these between the two projects,” says Lewis. “While the previous design was sleek, this model increases available desk spaces for both the witness boxes and counsel tables where they will be used.” The new panels contain legacy and digital capabilities, data jacks, AC power and microphones, fit in the upper part of the desks and are connected by whip cables so are easy for maintenance staff to remove as required. Quinte will be the first court to use the new design. “Everything we installed is state-of-the-art but each component was designed as the technical solution for a particular situation. Every capability meets a judicial need so it is all very efficient.” Once the courthouse opens, Sight N Sound Design’s role changes, but the company’s AV experts will remain on site, reflecting the ongoing commitments in P3 projects..

As published in the July 2013 issue of "The Ontario Construction Report" (Page 5)

Thunder Bay Consolidated Courthouse

Thunder Bay Consolidated Courthouse

Thunder Bay’s new $247.7 million courthouse project has been completed after three years of construction. The 255,000 sq. ft. project consolidates Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice operations for the Ministry of the Attorney General, improves accessibility and modernizes operations. Community leaders also hope the project will anchor the city’s downtown revitalization. Plenary Group, Bird Design-Build Construction Inc., Adamson Associates Architects, Johnson Controls LP, Ricci Green Associates, and TD Securities started work on the building in 2010 under an Infrastructure Ontario DBFM (Design/Build/Finance/Maintain) contract. The six-story structure, designed to LEED Silver standards, has 15 courtrooms including a multiple accused high security courtroom, enhanced accommodation for interpretation, and a glass atrium. It also has a built-in capacity for expansion and internal flexibility to adapt to future needs. Angelo Gismondi, vice-president major projects with Infrastructure Ontario, says several courthouse consolidation projects have been completed and lessons learned from previous locations have translated to design changes in subsequent projects including the work in Thunder Bay. “As we progressed from Durham to Waterloo to Quinte to Thunder Bay accessibility requirements have evolved and in this new project we are fully barrier free including the witness stand and jury box. Audio visual systems are now comprehensive and detailed,” he said. Ken Lewis, president of Sight N Sound Design, says the Thunder Bay courthouse is the most technically advanced to date for its use of codec (coder-decoder) farm technology. His company has contributed to several courthouse consolidation projects. “This is the first time we’ve used this technology,” he said. “It is located in a central main audio visual room in the basement of the courthouse and will be shared between all of the meeting rooms and courts.” Lewis says the codec system connects signal processing so video conferencing to remand centres, jails or remote locations is possible everywhere. Previous projects had remote video capacities, but these were designated to specific courtrooms only. “In Thunder Bay any courtroom can be connected and there is the ability to link any court space to another within the building,” he said. “This would accommodate overflow issues or any situation where courtrooms needed to be joined.” He says video conferencing is used frequently in Thunder Bay, where winter weather can play havoc on travel and the court serves remote locations. The natural environment of Thunder Bay is represented both in the architecture and use of materials, which include wood, stone and glass. The exterior includes a combination of earth tone precast and water toned curtain wall. Vegetation indigenous to the region has been selected and a hardscape of concrete benches, epi wood seating and granite paving complements the natural look. An Aboriginal garden including sacred plants has also been created. Gismondi says the courthouse has Canada’s first Aboriginal Conference Settlement Suite (ACSS) which features a central stone hearth for ceremonial activities and is designed to give a stronger voice to First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in the justice process. “The suite is both an architectural feature and a design feature which is prominent from inside and out,” he said. “It was designed with ministry policy advisors and members of the aboriginal community and truly stands out as something unique and special. The suite will be a place where aboriginal traditions are acknowledged and understood and where case conferences, pre-trials and family and civil hearings can be dealt with in a way that is supportive to the healing process.” The suite incorporates many traditional aboriginal elements. The main room is circular in design with a domed ceiling. Millwork tables and cabinets have been made in a circular shape as well and tables have been built so that they can be easily removed to accommodate the many anticipated uses of the suite. Four entrances represent the four cardinal colours and a stone hearth in the center of the room will support smudgings and other ceremonial rituals. Gismondi says aboriginal groups conducted a cleansing ceremony before work started and co-ordinated other events at various project benchmarks. “This project has been a real journey with the community,” he said. “A lot of that is thanks to the excitement and support from both businesses and residents for the work going on here.”

As published in the June 2014 issue of "The Ontario Construction Report" (Page 4)

Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse

Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse

The new 430,000 sq. ft., $379 million Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse is one of five projects in a provincial initiative to create a modern, effective and accessible justice system. Construction commenced in March 2010 and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013. The project is expected to rejuvenate a section of downtown Kitchener. NORR Architects’ project manager Bob Kushnir says the courthouse will include 30 courtrooms plus a variety of other spaces for the judiciary, court staff, Crown, legal aid, probation and parole officers as well as other public services. “There is a ceremonial court and a multiple accused high security courtroom with additional layers of security,” he said. Kushnir described how numerous consultations with stakeholders about the function of spaces which helped sort out the project, in the refinement of functional spaces, and of interweaving the separate travel paths for different user groups who each have their own levels of security, access and purposes within the building. (Courthouse buildings have special challenges –for example prisoners in custody, judges and public each have their own circulation system and they cannot intersect each other.) Although each of the five court buildings contracted through Infrastructure Ontario meets many consistent standards, each region defines its own uses for spaces and approaches to problems and efficiencies so each building is designed to meet individual local needs. In Waterloo, NORR design principal David Clusiau established the initial design, which was then fulfilled by senior designer Joe Moro. “The design conceptually relates to the natural features of the Grand River Valley,” Kushnir said. “To reflect this, the courthouse has very horizontallyoriented architectual components presented through the stonework and windows. There are striations of pattern in the precast panels, and window patterning. These are complemented by curvalinear floor patterns which mimic water courses.” The three-storey glass atrium provides a clear, logical orientation for the visitor without need for excess signage and the landscaping of the main entry civic plaza across from the cenotaph will make the building a dignified, welcoming and well-used space. The new courthouse, located at the north-east corners of Frederick and Duke Streets in Kitchener, seamlessly adapts itself to the site’s challenging six-metre drop from corner to corner, while simultaneously using the change in elevation to separate program areas within the building itself. The site design of the Waterloo courthouse was done in collaboration with the City of Kitchener and the Region of Waterloo to create a project that would both rejuvenate the downtown and serve as a precedent for urban sidewalk design. The building is designed with energy and water conservation in mind and is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification. Sight N Sound Design, a design-build audio visual consultant, has responsibility for audio visual systems including evidence presentation, voice enhancement, audio recording, video conferencing, remote testimony facilities, control systems and audio-visual infrastructure. SnS president Ken Lewis says his company specializes in complex projects. “One element that is unique to this courthouse is that it is one of the first to integrate legacy video and the new digital format,” he said. “Essentially that means lawyers have the capability to use any known video support which supports the ministry’s spirit of providing the optimal services for every person’s right to a fair trial.” Lewis says the design and mock up phases of the work have been completed and his consultants are now working with the electrical contractor on the best way to integrate the technology into the building. “The new design and the efforts of everyone involved is all about doing the best job of ensuring the court can serve the needs it is there for.”

As published in the June 2012 issue of "The Ontario Construction Report" Page 7

Elgin County Courthouse

Elgin County Courthouse

The $250 million Elgin County Courthouse in St. Thomas, Ontario has opened. NORR designed the three-storey building in close collaboration with heritage architects Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet et Associés Architectes (FGMDA). EllisDon operated as general ontactor for the project. The Infrastructure Ontario public-private partnership project PPP), he first of its kind for a heritage renovation, includes design, construction, financing and maintenance. Construction began in June 2011 on the site of the historic Elgin County courthouse, originally built in 1853. The work consolidated the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, formerly in separate locations, to modernize the courthouse and provide better accessibility. The building has eight courtrooms and three conference settlement rooms. A heritage courtroom has been maintained from the original building. The north and west elevations, dome and copper roof and masonry and sculptural detailing from the original structure have also been conserved and restored. A modern addition connects the heritage courthouse and a former Land Registry Office which has also been refurbished. The addition adds 135,000 sq. ft. of new space. David Clusiau, NORR’s senior principal, architectural design, says the challenges in maintaining and incorporating the old with the new were numerous but worth the effort. “We had to insert modern mechanical systems and technology into the heritage building in as invisible and unobtrusive a manner as possible,” he said. “We also needed to bring the heritage building up to standard with regard to new security processes and accessibility requirements.” The design also needed to accommodate the different circulation/access requirements for the public, accused, and judicial officials. Clusiau said the design team created an addition to enhance the original buildings, supporting and complimenting heritage elements, while meeting LEED Silver standards. He says the design has achieved all of these goals in a way that is interesting and engaging. “Aside from the public atrium at the heart of the new addition and the associated public circulation system that provides views out to the surrounding landscape and adjacent heritage courthouse, one of the interesting elements of the projects is the inclusion of a programme of heritage plaques around the site,” he said. “The multiple storey one in the main atrium as well as the display case of historical artifacts that all add another layer of interest onto the already architectural layered site.” The design needed to be flexible, as the project will serve the community for at least three decades. Clusiau says this has been achieved through the addition of two additional courtrooms on the third floor and adaptations to the existing courtrooms. “We made modifications to the millwork, creating a two-sided crest that can be flipped for use by either the Ontario or Superior Court as needed.” Sight N Sound Design, a design build audio visual consultant, installed the audio visual systems, including evidence presentation, voice enhancement, audio recording, video conferencing, remote testimony facilities, and control systems. Sight N Sound president Ken Lewis says his company specializes in complex projects. Before this project, they were also involved with the Waterloo Courthouse and the Quinte Courthouse. “One element that is unique to these courthouses is the integration of legacy video and the new digital format into courtroom evidence presentation system,” he said. “Essentially that means lawyers have the capability to use any known video support material, which supports the ministry’s spirit of providing optimal services for every person’s right to a fair trial.” All of the systems needed to be tested for consistent quality sound with a 100-hour burn-in phase. “If something is going to fail it will generally happen in the first 70 to 100 hours so we let it settle and then retest to make sure everything is still functioning as it should,” Lewis said. “Everything we installed is state-of-the art but each component was designed as the technical solution for a particular situation. Every capability meets a judicial need so it is all very efficient.” Lewis says in this case the heritage courtroom posed unique challenges. “We had to integrate the same technology into this courtroom but into the existing furniture and walls instead of using purpose-built furniture as in the case of the other courtrooms.” He says connectivity has been integrated into a newly constructed wall that resembles the original woodwork. The millwork contractor also drilled up and through existing spindles where possible to hide wiring. Lewis says this kind of solution, part of collaboration in which consideration is given to each consultant or subtrade and their particular area of expertise, is the only way such projects succeed. Now that the courthouse has opened Sight N Sound Design’s role changes, but the audio-visual experts will remain on site, reflecting the ongoing commitments in P3 projects. “We’ll do training with all of the staff and more extensive training with key people,” says Lewis. “We will also take on a role of technical support to facilities management. If they don’t know how to do something, need more training or experience a problem, we will be there for the next 30 years to lend our support.” Lewis says his company has learned a lot about the judicial process and system through their work on these courthouse projects spanning more than a quarter of a century. They continue to observe the needs and changes that occur over time, will take away lessons learned, and gain an even greater understanding of this kind of project. Clusiau says this is first heritage renovation and addition courthouse delivered through the Infrastructure Ontario PPP process. “This process has been used primarily for new buildings and is the primary funding mechanism for such large projects. It is a significant milestone that this project was able to be successfully delivered through this method and hopefully will encourage other projects of this type that retain valuable components of Ontario’s built heritage.

As published in the April 2014 issue of "The Ontario Construction Report" (Page 11/12)

Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex

Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex

Sight N Sound Design Inc. has completed its role on the $497 million 550,000 sq. ft. Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex (FSCC) in Toronto. The highly secure LEED Gold facility houses the Toronto operations of the Center of Forensic Sciences (CFS), Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC), and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Unit (OFPU). With the recent completion of an interior fit-up on two floors, it will also house Ontario’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC). A DBFM (design build finance maintain) project through Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the project has been constructed through a consortium of Carillion Canada Inc., Concert Properties Ltd., Stantec Architecture, Ltd., McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie Inc., Carillion Construction Inc., Modern Niagara Toronto Inc., The Univex Group of Companies and BMO Capital Markets. WZMH Architects acted as planning and design compliance architects. Sight N Sound Design Inc. had responsibility for the complex audio and video requirements. The five-storey structure, which sits on six acres of land in Toronto’s Downsview area, also includes an underground level and has been designed to emphasize natural daylight through an expansive central atrium, includes a large green roof and many operational energy efficiencies. Internal spaces include autopsy stations, including Canada’s first Containment Level 3 autopsy suite (for higher infectious and hazardous risks), laboratories, offices, vehicle examination bays, ballistics facilities, and two courtrooms for OCC. Ken Lewis, president of Sight N Sound Design, says his company is experienced with this kind of complex, highly detailed project. The company has previously worked on several courthouse projects including in Quinte, Thunder Bay, Elgin County and Waterloo. The PEOC fit-up took place on the second and fifth floors after the rest of the building was completed and operational. Considering the project’s highly secure nature, this created some challenges but a high-standard initial design mitigated some of the problems. “The original plan was for this operation to be at another location. The fit-up requirements were high, including a tremendous amount of audio video cabling but because the building had originally been purposebuilt for labs and similar spaces, much of the essential infrastructure was there.” The PEOC includes a voice lift system with 83 separate microphones for 82 participants and 30 video screens installed on a 175 ft. long wall. “The video wall is one of the largest in the country and will allow the command centre access to a variety of news feeds, interaction with field personnel, and other streams of input so they can monitor what is happening in various scenarios and provide input and direction based on what they are seeing,” Lewis said. Lewis says the command centre will be brought online in time for this year’s PanAm Games and then will remain as the province’s operations centre. The complex audio video set-up will allow staff to deal with multiple scenarios. He says this required a high audio design requirement to avoid feedback, which is challenging considering all 83 microphones could potentially be active at the same time. “The command centre has to be available 24/7 and 365 days of the year so the longevity of the equipment was also critical,” Lewis said. The PEOC includes a main room plus five smaller suites that can be used as breakout rooms. These include a duty office, and logistics, plans, command and scientific rooms. Sight N Sound had contributed first with the original construction which included the forensic courthouses, flexible meeting room spaces and autopsy suites with viewing capabilities. “The courtrooms required the ability to record proceedings for transcripts as well as capabilities for electronic evidence, both digital and legacy.” Interpretation capabilities were also required. The facility is equipped with flexible space for meeting and training purposes. Comprised of an open space with the capability to be divided up as needed, Lewis says the audio and video requirements had to meet the flexibility demands, providing service for any possible configuration. Sight N Sound Design Inc. is a leading audio visual consulting, design and audio visual project management group based in Richmond Hill. The company has experience working with architects, interior designers, electrical and mechanical design teams across North America, Bermuda and the United Kingdom on complex corporate and courtroom projects. Lewis says Sight N Sound provides full commissioning and end-to-end performance testing and is committed to providing innovative audio visual solutions, while adhering to the highest standards of integrity and quality. “We create audio visual solutions that consider all aspects of the project to integrate the technology with the construction elements of the space.” Lewis has been awarded an International Communications Association Manufacturing award and is a two-time winner of the Best of the Best award from the Toronto Construction Association.

As published in the January 2015 issue of "The Ontario Construction Report" (Page 4/5)

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