New NPR Headquarters Leverages Scala Software to Inform and Engage Visitors QUICK FACTS: NPR delivers breaking national and world news to 26 million listeners in the US each week Large mosaic LED videowall in main lobby provides up-to-date, dynamic content Videowall complemented by a range of other content-driven screens Large external digital tower and ticker displays viewable to drivers passing by Easy to use Scala solutions give NPR complete flexibility and controllability In spring 2013, NPR moved into its new headquarters in Washington, D.C. The building incorporates multiple vibrant visual aspects overseen by design consultancy Poulin + Morris Inc., including a large mosaic videowall, elevator lobby digital signage, and a digital tower and ticker screens located outside.
We know that it has the functionality, flexibility, and ease of use that made it the natural choice for NPR s new headquarters. Scala digital signage software manages, schedules, and delivers content to all the various elements of the installation. The project was deployed and managed by Scala Certified Partner, Imperatives, Inc. The underlying digital signage player hardware is a mixture of rackmount and mini-pc Nexlink systems from Seneca Data, configured with graphics cards from ATI and NVIDIA. The showpiece is the Mosaic Media Wall, an impressive floor-to-ceiling videowall comprising rectangular arrays of Sansi LED screens of various sizes. The Sansi screens, with their high pixel density and high brightness and narrow bezels, deliver stunning HD images with impact, making them ideal for videowall applications. Outside the building is the iconic NPR Icon Tower an imposing 55-foot tall feature that is a local landmark indicating the entrance to the lobby and designed with pulsing LED lighting to represent sound waves. On the exterior of the building are ticker screens that continuously display three different RSS news feeds. Scala is a leader in enabling the delivery of captivating content that engages whoever views it, said Jan Metzger, President of Imperatives, Inc. We know that it has the functionality, flexibility, and ease of use that made it the natural choice for NPR s new headquarters.
Content across partial, single, or multiple screens with advanced scheduling For the Mosaic Media Wall, Scala software allows a variety of information and information types such as music, arts and life, and news to be displayed on partial, single, or multiple screens within the wall. The software enables the simple grouping of items according to their classification, using text or still/moving images, with the option to have ticker information overlaid. Formatting is dynamic with words and images fading in and out, appearing from the side or scrolling in, to guarantee continual visual interest. Scala also allows NPR to schedule different information to appear at specific times of the day. Music content, for example, might be scheduled to run at 20 minutes past every hour. NPR is able to set the start and end time and date for a particular item, allowing control over how long a story is shown before it is replaced with another one. The software s flexibility and ease of use means that the organization can take full advantage of the functionality Scala provides. Imperatives designed and implemented the necessary scripts, templates and schedules at the outset and then trained NPR staff how to use, modify, and create their own. This allowed NPR to become completely self-sufficient.
NPR Headquarters Scala s software provides the means to map NPR s content across the patchwork of LEDs within the Mosaic Media Wall, allowing the development of distinct visual expressions across the LED modules for each section that correspond to the NPR website. The templates are built within the Scala system in a way that maintains the integrity of the Poulin + Morris design standards, but also provides flexibility for NPR to regularly adjust content. For the Icon Tower in front of the building, Scala s flexibility enables a rotating animation in different colors reducing or increasing the opacity of the logo according to the prevailing light conditions. Beyond this, Scala controls the three ticker feeds on the front of the building, synchronizing their content with that displayed on the Mosaic Media Wall. Back inside the building, Scala controls a display situated outside the lobby elevator, which is exclusively used for corporate and employee communications.
About Poulin + Morris Poulin + Morris Inc., an awardwinning, internationally recognized, multidisciplinary design consultancy, is led by Richard Poulin and Douglas Morris and involved in all areas of visual communications, including environmental graphics, donor recognition and wayfinding sign programs; exhibition design; branding; digital media; print media; and publication design. Poulin + Morris solve design problems for an extensive range of clients, from architects, corporations, and real estate developers to cultural, educational, governmental, medical, and non-profit organizations. Visit: http://www.poulinmorris.com About Sansi North America (SNA) SNA is a turn-key provider of LED lighting and indoor/outdoor LED digital video displays. For more than 20 years SNA has managed, fabricated, implemented and installed some of the nation s largest spectacular signs while offering clients a single source for both indoor and outdoor lighting, text, graphic, and video products. SNA s goal is to provide an alternative solution to the marketplace in lighting and digital products by offering total project satisfaction, ethical business practices and superior product solutions while maintaining consistent and fair pricing. Visit: http://www.snallc.com About Imperatives Imperatives, Inc. specializes in computer graphic systems and digital media signage. Since 1988, Imperatives goal has been to provide excellent service to companies and individuals having specific digital media and computer graphic system needs. Imperatives prides itself on providing quality products and excellent service to its clients. Together, the Imperatives Team has over 60 years of collective experience! Visit: www.imperatives.com About Scala Scala has a passion for creating intelligent digital signage solutions that move products, consumers, and employees. Driving more than 500,000 screens worldwide, Scala solutions increase sales, improve brand loyalty, optimize customer experience, and reinforce business objectives. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, Pa., with multiple subsidiaries across Europe and Asia, and over 500 partners in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit: scala.com.