ICAEW Heritage Rooms Case Study

The Chartered Accountants’ Hall, opened in 1893 and located right in the heart of London, has been the home of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for over one hundred years. Boasting features reminiscent of Italian Renaissance and classic Victorian design, the building houses over twenty versatile rooms designed to suit a multitude of purposes.

Today, the ICAEW has over 208,000 members and students and is a founding member of the Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW). It is the first major professional body to be declared carbon neutral and continues to champion the creation of sustainable economies, with its headquarters in London an ever-evolving hub of forward thinking and innovation.

Heritage Rooms

Two of the most prominent rooms within the Hall are the Main Reception Hall and the Members’ Room, collectively known as the Heritage Rooms. 

The Main Reception Hall, formerly known as the Council Chamber, was designed with early Renaissance church features acting as inspiration, with high domed ceilings and classic mural images prominent throughout.

The Members’ Room has undergone several modifications over the years. Initially intended as a series of offices, it has now incorporated areas of the 1930s extension and the 1960s library addition to become a single, multi-faceted room that has retained much of its original décor and splendour.

The Challenge

As the name suggests, the two rooms are steeped in tradition and heritage and have been formally designated as Grade-II listed. As such, strict regulations related to modifications of the rooms had to be adhered to, which placed limitations on where Clear VC could operate during the installation process.   

In the Main Reception Hall, Clear VC were tasked with designing an easy-to-use solution that could be comfortably accessed by all of their existing members. The simplicity of the solution would allow for a quick turnaround in the event of multiple clients requiring the use of the space in a short period of time. It would also negate the need for a qualified technician to be required throughout the day to operate the technology. 

This was a similar problem faced within The Members’ Room. Martin Amos, AV Infrastructure Manager at ICAEW, stated that, “some of the challenges we’ve faced in this room in the past are trailing cables, dealing with different types of events and fast turnaround times.”  

Cables were a particularly persistent pain point. They heavily diminished the aesthetic of the rooms and provided a clear and obvious health and safety issue. 

There was also the goal of streamlining the solution to ensure that the technology and resources were shared between the two rooms. However, this only applied to aspects where service and maintenance on equipment did not impact both rooms simultaneously. 

The challenge, then, was to create a simple, highly versatile solution that respected the integrity of the building whilst modernising it with the latest audiovisual technology. 

The Solution

An important requirement for the project was that any structural work undertaken within the room needed to blend seamlessly into the overall aesthetic of the Main Reception Hall. The colour palette within the room is largely neutral, so any new installations needed to adhere to this. 

For this part of the solution, Clear VC and ICAEW collaborated with Hicks Joinery to create a bespoke credenza. This structure is intended to contain the AV components of the solution and blend into the aesthetic of the space. The credenza was designed to allow the screen to rise with the touch of a button and unpack automatically. Separate compartments housed the projector and control panel within the overall structure. 

For the projection screen, Clear VC opted for the Stewart AllRise 3000 display. As the name implies, this solution was selected as it allows for the screen to rise and assemble from the credenza rather than descend from ceiling mounts, negating the need to interfere with the structure of the building. The screen was created with Tab-Guy tensioning and allowed for rear projection. ClearVC also worked with Stewart to manufacture a bespoke arm system to support the rear ultra-short throw projection as there was nothing available on the market. 

“It’s perfect for the room,” Martin Amos said. “It fits away nicely into the credenza, stashed away when it’s not in use, and it cleverly extends out so it can be seen by the whole room.” 

Activation of the screen was simple. The screen could be operated with a Crestron TSW-1060 Touch panel. An iPad with the Crestron control app was also installed within the credenza, presenting the option of activating the AllRise with the touch of a button.  

ClearVC worked with the ICAEW network team to design VLAN in a complex network to support audio, video and control. This was achieved through use of Crestron NVX hardware, all of which was housed within the data centre located within the Level 1 Rack Room, a purpose-built space designed to house all AV hardware and equipment. 

Simplicity was the key to success for this installation. As well as the easy-to-use nature of the display, a Barco Clickshare unit was installed in both rooms to facilitate wireless presentation for clients without the need to physically connect. Audio requirements were handled by a Bose EX-1280C. Audinate Dante Output Adaptors were utilised to connect to hardware throughout the space. Dante revolutionises audio and video connections by utilising a computer network, enabling the seamless transmission of video and hundreds of audio channels through slim Ethernet cables with impeccable digital fidelity. 

A combination of Shure, Bosch and Revolabs Elite wireless microphones were utilised across the two rooms, ideal for the fast turnaround of space usage that ICAEW had highlighted within the briefing. 

Rebecca McCartney

Chief Operating Officer at ClearVC

“We are incredibly proud of the solution we designed for the ICAEW Heritage Rooms. The seamless integration of advanced audiovisual technology, while preserving the historical integrity of these Grade-II listed rooms, is a testament to our commitment to excellence. The versatile and user-friendly setup not only enhances the functionality of the space but also respects its rich heritage. It’s a perfect blend of tradition and innovation that will serve ICAEW’s diverse needs for years to come”

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The Result

Clear VC were able to seamlessly tap into ICAEW’s existing infrastructure, reducing costs for this particular part of the solution by 30%. It also set the environment up for further technological enhancements, reducing the likelihood of having to adapt the infrastructure again for the foreseeable future. Cabling within the space is now a thing of the past, preserving the visual landscape of the room for all events. 

Through careful planning and consistent collaboration and communication from all parties linked to the project, ICAEW are now in ownership of two outstanding spaces fully geared to accommodate all manner of events and purposes. The integrative nature of the solution allows for ease-of-use, even for those who aren’t technologically savvy, and there is scope for expansion and adaptation to new technologies when required. 

Martin Amos

IT/AV Infrastructure Manager at ICAEW

“ClearVC were really integral in the whole project. They worked very closely in the project team with the architects, the designers and heritage people to make sure we had the technology needed to take the business forward whilst also maintaining the integrity of the heritage rooms. They used their imagination and expertise in keeping all the equipment hidden away, out of sight.”

Continued Collaboration

As of now, we have worked with ICAEW for over twelve years and was named as the ‘stand-out’ contractor for both this installation and others that we have successfully completed. The mutual trust, respect, and understanding that we have been able to develop with ICAEW is something we strive to earn with all our clients, no matter the scope, size, or budget of the project.