Fenway Health has completed construction for their new state-of-the-art 10-story 100,000 square-foot health facility and research center. Opened in 2009, it is one of the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) oriented centers ever constructed.

Acentech designed the audiovisual and IT systems for the new building. Audiovisual systems serve several conference rooms, a 3-segment divisible meeting space, as well as a tiered 176-seat auditorium. The systems include digital signage, complex display systems, videoconferencing, distance learning, and room scheduling capabilities. We designed the IT system to support these technological spaces, as well as a VoIP phone system, building wide data network, and WiFi connectivity. Taking advantage of the data network allows the AV systems to be interconnected and provides the Fenway staff with a single point of management, in addition to supporting the various pieces of medical equipment and needs of the staff.

Knowing that Fenway has limited AV-IT support staff, Acentech designed the high-tech systems to be simple to use and operate by members of the staff and visiting lecturers. Each room includes a touch screen control panel located just outside the room so that users can schedule the room and check activities occurring within an occupied room locally. We also worked closely with the project architect, Anshen + Allen, to seamlessly integrate the system designs into the building's architecture, ensuring that the various audiovisual devices are hidden from view when idle.

Acentech's acousticians provided room acoustics, sound isolation, and mechanical system noise and vibration control consulting. Our recommendations included measures for speech privacy in patient registration and waiting areas, sound isolating constructions around clinical and administrative spaces, and room finishes for the auditorium and boardroom. We also made recommendations for duct noise attenuation and vibration isolation to reduce mechanical system noise and vibration transmission to the building.