 In
order to continue hosting the largest agricultural
show on the east coast, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
needed to expand their facility. The growing number of exhibitors
necessitated increased space. To resolve the demand,
the administrators enlarged the original structure with a new front entrance, main lobby, exhibit hall, equine arena, equine barn, and outdoor animal exercise area.
They built a two-level concourse, connecting the
original complex to the new areas, allowing for movement of visitors and animals.
International consultant Shen, Milsom & Wilke, Inc.
worked with the PA Department of Agriculture to provide A/V design services for the project. Once the design was finalized, SAGE Technology Solutions, Inc. was chosen as the
most qualified local contractor to provide equipment integration and installation services for the project.
The close proximity of SAGE's headquarters
to the Farm Show facility made them a perfect fit
for prompt service and labor on a system of this scope.
SAGE Delivers:
 The
proposed system needed to provide high quality
audio, but with enough flexibility to route signals
from one zone to another and to coordinate support
with the calendar of events. The facility could be a
rodeo arena one day and a ballroom the next, and the
prospect of versatile sound reinforcement
represented the first major challenge. SAGE chose the Peavey Media Matrix Main Frame with
custom programming and AMX control. This was a
logical choice: it would meet changing needs, but
would be manageable enough for Farm Show personnel to operate.
 Through the use of the AMX
touch screen and a custom graphical user interface (GUI), SAGE was able to seamlessly integrate the
entire audio/video system, making preparations for the many different events at the Farm Show fast and effortless. The configurations for an RV Show, for example, can be saved as a
preset within the GUI screens.
Consequently, there is no need to reprogram the A/V system each time
that the Farm Show hosts an RV event.
Cutting Edge Audio/Visual Technology:
 The new A/V system allows all audio and video in the newly constructed areas to be controlled from one location. All necessary controls
(such as volume and source selection) are activated
from an easy-to-use touch screen located in the main A/V equipment room. These same controls can
even be accessed over the facility's local area network. This flexibility
enables Farm Show staff to control audio and video while sitting in the new Equine Arena, Exhibition Hall, or even from their offices.
Solutions Provided by SAGE:
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- Flexible Audio/Video Matrix for simultaneous operation of many programs
- Designated destinations capable of use independent from other areas
- Microphone and line level inputs provided in eight Exhibition Hall Zones and the Equine Arena
- Wireless microphones available for use throughout the new areas
- Background music available from CD changers and cassette decks
- Plasma screens in the lobby and TVs in the link to display event schedules, cable TV stations,
and other video sources
- Exhibition Hall and Equine Arena cameras provide a view of rooms;
cameras can record via dedicated VCRs
- Can view video sources over local area network, allowing potential clients opportunity to view facilities remotely
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Equipment Highlights:
- AMX NetLinx Integrated Controller
- Peavey MediaMatrix Audio, Communication, and Media Systems Processor
- Pelco PTZ Color Cameras installed in Exhibit Hall and Equine Area
- AKG Acoustics wireless handheld and lavalier microphones
- CD player, cassette deck, and VCR A/V display capabilities
- B&C 12" coaxial Exhibit Hall speakers
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Overcoming Challenges:
 Due to project construction delays by the other trades, time was the most critical factor
in delivery and startup of the systems. Right before
the biggest event of the year, SAGE had
to complete installation and fine tuning in only sixteen calendar days. SAGE
coordinated with the site electrical contractor, the Edwin L. Heim Co., to complete the project
in time.
Despite a seemingly impossible time frame, the
system was made ready.
Ongoing Capability Improvements:
 Recently, SAGE
Technology Solutions completed a complex-wide wireless voice
and data
network at the Farm Show. This system grants Farm Show exhibitors
access to the internet, letting them
demonstrate their products online and use telephone service
to complete credit card transactions in real-time. With the
numerous functions of the Complex' exhibit areas, installing hard-wired drops for these purposes was not possible: wireless was the only option! SAGE
works with the Farm Show prior to exhibitor arrivals to activate the services,
remaining on-site as technical support.
Half of the country's population lives within an
eight-hour drive of the complex in Harrisburg.
Realizing its potential, the Pennsylvania Farm Show
strives to reach all of them, pushing to be the premier
farm show exhibit hall on the East Coast. The technology installed by SAGE Technology Solutions
takes them one step closer to achieving their goals. |
