Hospitality Case Studies
SIR Corp: Great food with a side of AV.
SIR Corp operates 45 high-concept restaurants in Canada and in the US. The company challenged ET Group with meeting a rich creative vision incorporating high-quality audio systems with innovative digital signage and control solutions at its new Jack Astor’s restaurant in downtown, Toronto. They asked us to deliver an unforgettable experience for patrons, whether already seated or waiting to be shown to a table.
The older building would be converted into a 21st century eatery, complete with technology to keep diners entertained while they tucked into their meals. "The building, originally, was quite broken up," explained Steve Fletcher, Vice President of Development. "The idea was to open it up so, when you walked in you got a sense of everything that was there, even though there’d be some surprises around corners."
Wired to amaze
ET Group designed in 72 LCD screens, three projectors and 60 speakers routed to 11 different audio zones. The AV is controlled by a user-friendly Crestron system, while digital signage content is managed through a dynamic messaging system from ADFLOW Networks. Design and implementation took about three months. Jack Astor’s celebrated its grand opening in July 2008 – and it’s not just the food that keeps its customers coming back.
The client’s take
"I was aware of ET Group’s capabilities because I had worked with the company in the past," said Fletcher. "When I came to SIR Corp, and Jack Astor’s, and saw what focus was placed on audiovisual, I knew ET Group would be capable of doing what we needed." Fletcher added that he was pleased with the training and after-sales support provided by ET Group. And because similar systems are in use at other SIR Corp locations, company personnel can be trained to use them at other SIR Corp facilities. "There are probably six or seven people in each restaurant capable of running the show," said Fletcher. "The interface is graphically simple and intuitive; it represents the restaurant in a way anyone can recognize."
Product solutions deployed
- NEC LCDs
- Crestron Control Systems
- Nexia DSP
- Kramer Signal Distribution Systems
- JBL Speakers