When City of London Investment Management Company relocated its North American headquarters to the historic Turks Head Garage building in downtown West Chester, it was more than just a change of address.
It was a complete reimagining of the workplace experience — one that Haverford Systems played a pivotal role in shaping.
The space at 17 East Market Street was gutted and fully renovated, and Haverford Systems was brought on early in the construction phase to design and install a comprehensive audiovisual solution tailored to meet the evolving needs of a modern, hybrid workforce.
The centerpiece of the project is City of London’s executive conference room, a technologically sophisticated space designed to deliver top-tier performance in a hybrid meeting environment. A Sennheiser ceiling microphone array ensures even voice pickup from all participants, while QSC speakers installed in the ceiling provide crisp, evenly distributed sound throughout the room. These components are managed by a Q-SYS Core, allowing for fine-tuned audio programming that guarantees clarity and consistency.
Video conferencing is powered by a PTZ Rallycam, which provides high-quality visuals, and dual displays that allow remote attendees and in-room staff to simultaneously view participants and meeting content. A Microsoft 365-integrated room scheduler is mounted on the glass wall just outside the room, providing real-time availability for scheduling and booking.
Two additional conference rooms feature similar A/V systems, and the company’s huddle rooms are equipped with Logitech MeetUp devices, enabling quick, efficient collaboration for smaller teams.
“The sound quality is impeccable,” said Matthew Szoke, City of London’s Head of Information Technology. “We’ve got ceiling microphones that pick up everybody’s voice really well. It’s just the overall experience of our meetings has gone up several notches.”
As the office buildout progressed, Haverford Systems also installed a Biamp sound-masking system, which increases privacy and reduces distractions. Digital signage displays were also mounted throughout the building, giving City of London the ability to broadcast customized internal communications — such as market updates, announcements, or corporate news — instantly and efficiently.
This installation, completed about two years ago, has evolved into an ongoing partnership. City of London was so impressed with the outcome in West Chester that it has since tapped Haverford Systems to replicate the technology setup in other locations, including in offices in upstate New York and the United Kingdom.
“After using these meeting rooms for a couple of months,” said Szoke, “the decision was made that we wanted to do the same at our other offices.”
R.T. Chalfant, Sales Manager at Haverford Systems, noted that “meeting equity” — the ability for all participants, in-person or remote, to experience equal levels of clarity and engagement — was a core goal from the start. That vision, paired with Haverford Systems’ experience in end-to-end A/V integration, has helped City of London build a workplace that’s ready for whatever the future of work brings.
“With this integrated system,” said Chalfant, “City of London now has a smarter, more connected workplace that supports their day-to-day operation.”
Learn more about Haverford Systems and how its commitment to personalized service means offering a hands-on approach throughout a project’s lifecycle and beyond.
