The Client

The American Bankers Association (ABA) is a trade association representing the nation’s $23.4 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional, and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $18.6 trillion in deposits and extend $12.3 trillion in loans. In late 2022, ABA moved to its current 87,000 square foot headquarters at 1333 New Hampshire Avenue in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood.

The Challenge

Since the majority of ABA people work two days a week from the office and the remaining time at home, there is a big need for video conferencing to support regular, daily meetings as well as weekly meetings of ABA stakeholders in other locations. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) capabilities in all the meeting spaces, were also an important requirement.  The project had an 11 month schedule which ran through the middle of the COVID-19 product shortage issues faced by many manufacturers.  All of the main spaces in the facility needed to be monitored, controlled and maintained from a central location to reduce any potential downtime, provide remote assistance and execute updates simultaneously.

The Solutions

TRITECH designed and installed an AVoIP network via a central headend located in the AV room, that connects all the meeting rooms and allows the required monitoring and control.  The boardroom is equipped with a Planar 109” Direct View LED display as well as a ceiling mounted projector which creates a 110” image.  Multiple PTZ cameras provide views of presenters and meeting participants while ceiling mounted and handheld microphones capture audio in the room.  Control of the various technologies and the room environment is done through Crestron NVX systems through 10” touch panels located throughout the room.

Similarly equipped large conference rooms provide space for up to 30 people in each of the 2 rooms.  Both are Zoom enabled and are similarly controlled through Crestron control panels.  Each room is also equipped with mobile cart connections if additional displays are required.

TRITECH also provided all in one video conference systems in many of the Team rooms dispersed throughout the facility as well as a digital signage system that is used to distribute news, event schedules, menus and other useful information to employees and guests.

The Outcome

Extensive prototyping and testing of the systems prior to installation was key to the project’s success. According to Tony Neal, the ABA’s Zoom-centric facility is working as planned. “Our staff and people from the outside say that the rooms are great,” he said. “They work — knock on wood — flawlessly. We've had very few issues with them, almost zero issues with them, to be honest.”