Westbury National Show Systems’
success in the systems installation field
lies in its well-established project and
site management processes. Westbury
provides systems for a variety of clients
and facilities, including corporate
boardrooms, houses of worship, arenas
and stadiums, convention centres,
hospitals, universities, theatres, casinos,
banks, retail stores and urban landmarks,
like the CN Tower.
For these complex projects, Westbury
has developed its own protocols to
operate within construction industry
parameters. This ensures that the
installation of the audiovisual system
integrates seamlessly with the overall
build or remodel, streamlining not only
the system installation, but also the
construction project as a whole.
Brock McGinnis, Sales Manager, Systems
Installations, says that fitting in with the
construction trades during a construction
project is crucial to meeting deadlines
and budget requirements.
“We’ve learned not to waltz in at the end of
a construction project to do the installation,”
McGinnis explains. “We come in at the
same time as the electricians, carpenters
and other trades and we follow their rules
– we’re part of their milieu and we’re really
well-regarded by the large construction
companies because we fit in.”
Because of this careful integration during
construction, equipment and logistical
challenges can be quickly resolved
with minimal impact to the schedule
or budget.
The sizeable team of professionals at
Westbury National includes engineers,
installers, technicians and programmers;
all fully trained experts in the field. To
ensure quality and maintain control over
scheduling and project management,
Westbury National rarely employs
subcontractors or freelance technicians.
This way, customers receive that extra
peace of mind in knowing that the people
working their project are capable and
dependable, with the full endorsement of
Westbury National behind them.
McGinnis says that the technical and
project management skills of Westbury’s
employees are distinctive in the industry.
“We know how to integrate the technology
that gets our clients what they need to do
their jobs,” he says.“The client doesn’t have
to worry about whether the systems are
going to work or not, they can just go about
their business.That’s the unique knowledge
that we offer.”
Just as valuable as Westbury’s in-house
staff are its fully equipped in-house
engineering and design capabilities.
The company’s engineering and design
teams have worked on some of the most
technologically advanced projects in
the country, making their skill sets a
value-added service, particularly when a
project is technical but also incorporates
creative elements.
“The technology is the number one
criteria,” says McGinnis. “We come up
with creative ideas, but they all need to
work. We have lots of creative people
here, but the engineering will always
take precedence.”
McGinnis refers to a technically
demanding project that also had to be
visually appealing: a new LED lighting
system for the CN Tower, one of the
world’s tallest freestanding structures
at 553 meters. To complete the
project, a multitude of factors had to
be considered, from lightning hazards
to seasonal bird migratory patterns.
“What it comes down to is working with
the engineering team to make sure the
client’s wild ideas function properly,”
he says.
Gerstein also cites the TIFF Bell Lightbox,
home of the Toronto International Film
Festival, as an example of Westbury’s
in-house competencies. The company
had to develop a system for the festival’s
movie theatres that would be able
to project any type of film produced
anywhere in the world in the history
of filmmaking. Because Westbury had
the resources to design, buy, install,
maintain and repair a system that met
these requirements, the project for the
world’s second largest film festival was
a complete success. In recognition for
completing projects like these time and
time again, Westbury was awarded
PRO AV
magazine’s Spotlight Award
for “Best AV Entertainment Project” at
InfoComm 2011.
The company’s depth of technical,
management and financial resources
allows for a nimble, solutions-based
approach to doing business. Problem
solving, engineering systems for optimal
value, overcoming site conditions and
adapting to scheduling challenges are
all par for the course at Westbury, which
underscores its reputation for doing
whatever it takes to complete projects,
meet deadlines and maintain budgets.
The Technology Behind the Curtain: Systems Installations
TIFF Bell Lightbox’s Master Control Room
TIFF Bell Lightbox
