News

Middle Atlantic's Configurator delivers interactive, collaborative digital content to Marine Corps University

April 29, 2016

Middle Atlantic Products announced that the Configurator, its Web-based configuration tool, is the program being used in planning a large-scale A/V installation at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. Integrator Karcher Group used the tool to design the control system racks needed throughout the new building, according to a press release from Middle Atlantic Products.

The building includes 29 classrooms, two tiered classrooms, three large collaboration rooms, five small collaboration rooms, a 300-person lecture hall, a 500-seat theater, as well as other meeting and teaching spaces. Many of the rooms are outfitted with video systems that are designed to adapt to today's bring-your-own-device environment and the interactive preferences of users. This includes videoconferencing suites, video walls, flat-panel displays, and projection systems with input options, all of which are operated from a control system that's tied into the school's central help desk, where instructors can request assistance when problems arise. All system inputs and signals are fed back to more than 50 A/V equipment racks throughout the building.

"As an integrator and a Middle Atlantic customer, working with the Configurator simply made my job easier," said Hong Cheng, vice president of technical operations for Karcher Group. "Many of the rooms had the same systems, so I was able to quickly order an identical rack configuration for all those classrooms. Instead of ordering a list of parts, my entire product list is bundled into one part number — streamlining the ordering process. While having the equipment racks shipped preassembled saved our team a ton of man hours, my favorite feature — by far — on Configurator is the ability to easily see the equipment and layout visualized exactly where I wanted each component. The tool is indispensable for large A/V projects; it's become a key step in our integration process."

Accessible from any Web-enabled device, the configuration solution that's available to all registered Middle Atlantic users facilitates the creation, personalization and design process by streamlining the selection of products and accessories for any type of system via smart recommendations along with a priced materials list, the release stated. As part of the personalized digital experience, users can also export CAD and other design documents to be integrated into their standard design process, enabling the creation of new projects, a stored history of user projects and direct online ordering. Users can browse through the Middle Atlantic catalog, generate quotes on projects with or without pricing and receive orders pre-assembled or with downloadable assembly instructions from the site.

"Part of the Middle Atlantic value proposition is the level of service we provide our customers, and that includes supplying the powerful support tools available on our site," said Dan Tarkoff, vice president of customer experience for Middle Atlantic. "From beginners to experts, we want our customers to be able to build intuitive, personalized systems that match the exact design and installation needs of today's demanding A/V environments. By using the tools available on our site, including the Configurator, Karcher Group was able to successfully complete the installation at MCU with ease and time savings."