Aspen Properties is a boutique real estate company that owns and manages 3.8 million square feet of commercial office space in downtown Calgary and Edmonton. After purchasing The Ampersand, an A-class office complex comprised of three identical towers, Aspen looked to modernize its key spaces, with the atrium as a top priority. The goal for The Ampersand was to offer the type of amenity-rich and positive office environment that is in high demand by today’s workforce.
Background
Aspen Properties, a boutique real estate company that owns and manages 3.8 million square feet of commercial office space in downtown Calgary and Edmonton, focuses on creating welcoming workspaces where people feel connected, get inspired, and know they belong. In 2018, Aspen Properties purchased The Ampersand, an A-class office complex comprised of three identical towers offering over 1.1 million square feet of space between them. The three office towers are connected by a spectacular 20,000 square foot glass covered atrium. As these towers were originally constructed in the 1980s, Aspen looked to renovate and modernize its key spaces, with the atrium as a top priority. The goal for The Ampersand was to offer the type of amenity-rich and positive office environment that is in high demand by today’s workforce.
Bringing The Ampersand into the 21st Century
Upon purchasing The Ampersand in December of 2018, Aspen immediately began to redevelop and renovate the property. The renovations added 57,000 square feet of amenities, including a library, conference center, and tenant lounge. The renovation also included adding an oversized, tiered seating area called the “social staircase”. While generally this social staircase would be used as built-in seating for occupants to enjoy a morning coffee or quick lunch, Aspen also wanted the staircase to allow people to congregate in the new plaza to see a live performance or watch a presentation on a theatre-style screen.
Aspen’s management team looked to Matrix Video Communications to liven and brighten the atrium space with digital signage technology. The idea was to employ digital signage for communicating building messages, tenant announcements, theatre-style presentations, and visual art. In turn, this would elevate the design and technological capabilities to align with Aspen’s commitment to be more than just an office space.
Beginning in December 2020, Dave Crisanti, Account Manager at Matrix Video Communications, led the efforts in selecting the technology to upgrade the atrium. Dave and his integration team had utilized NEC’s projection products and large format displays in the past and was impressed by the price point and quality. Additionally, the Sharp team had provided outstanding customer service support from start to finish. They helped determine which technology solutions would best fit The Ampersand’s needs and assisted with the installation and post-installation process, which was a major benefit to Matrix.
Choosing direct view LED
When determining which display technology would equip their updated lobby most effectively, Aspen Properties prioritized cost-efficiency, product longevity, and striking imagery – and a dvLED wall fit the bill. NEC’s dvLED panels are extremely cost-effective, and when considering product longevity, dvLED modules outshine large format displays. With a typical lifetime range from 70,000 to 100,000 hours before they reach a brightness output 50 percent below the original value, a dvLED is hard to beat.
Moreover, The Ampersand’s lobby is flooded with natural light – this means that a typical image would be easily washed out during the peak workday hours. Because dvLED delivers a brighter image than LCD display and projection technologies, it works well in bright environments like this building’s atrium. NEC’s dvLED panels offer large, crisp, and bright images ranging from 600 cd/m² to 1,000 cd/m² with a tight pixel pitch from as low as 1.2 mm, making them ideal for indoor use and accommodating the need for a variety of pixel pitch sizes. The design flexibility of dvLED panels also allowed Matrix to work through a 90 degree inside corner, customizing the size and ensuring a seamless image that doesn’t stop on the corner ribbon wall.
“We implemented NEC technology to not only refresh an outdated space, but to provide tenants with a convenient and quick way to stay up-to-date on relevant building information,” said Crisanti. “The result is a modern, aesthetically pleasing space that utilizes energy- and cost-efficient technology. NEC’s dvLED panels were the easiest dvLED products to install, and the most seamless dvLED we had ever worked with. Even the packaging and mounting structure was top notch. NEC’s dvLED panels will be our number one, go-to LED products moving forward.”
An Impactful Workplace for All
Upon completion of the installation in January 2021, the atrium became a space that inspires those it serves. Digital displays now wrap around the second floor mezzanine. And a large theatre-style screen is suspended from the exposed steel beams at the southern end of the lobby, all of which are viewable from the social staircase. Additionally, each tower has a dedicated video wall to further modernize the space and showcase the uniqueness of each of the three towers. The dvLED walls also added much-needed color to the lobby, taking it from an industrial, cold space to an area where people can comfortably gather and unwind for work or play. As more and more employees return to the workspace, they will find a home away from home that suits their needs in every way.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
