Middle Atlantic Products announced that the Configurator, its Web-based configuration tool, was the program behind planning the large-scale A/V installation at the Marine Corps University (MCU) in Quantico, Va. Integrator Karcher Group used the tool to design the control system racks needed throughout the new building, saving critical installation time.

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 impressive video systems that are designed to adapt to today's bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environment and the interactive preferences of users. This includes videoconferencing suites, video walls, flat-panel displays, and projection systems with an array of input options, all 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.

Accessible from any Web-enabled device, the Configurator — available to all registered Middle Atlantic users — facilitates the creation, personalization, and design process by streamlining the selection of suitable products and accessories for any type of system via smart recommendations. Users can also export CAD and other design documents to be easily integrated into their standard design process, enabling the creation of new projects, a stored history of user projects, and convenient direct online ordering.

“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, 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 has become a key step in our integration process.”