NEW YORK — Big Show Construction Management (BSCM) co-managed the construction and installation of 14 new interactive exhibits as part of a major renovation to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in midtown Manhattan. The exhibits invite visitors to explore topics ranging from robotics and nanotechnology to animation and HDTV production. BSCM gutted and rebuilt approximately 6,200 square feet of space over a year-long construction period,
Along with the construction work, the renovation included upgrading systems for HVAC, lighting control, electrical, fire safety and security. BSCM also coordinated the output of the design firms handling the architecture/exhibit design, media development, lighting and acoustics, and managed various sub-contractors and vendors involved in the project while budgeting and tracking the project.
“We were involved in the successful renovation of the second floor of the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in 2003, and were delighted to return to upgrade the third and fourth floors in a joint venture with Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership,” said Rod Hickey, president of BSCM.
Because Sony Corporation of America opted to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for the project, BSCM worked closely with a LEED consultant from International Green Building Associates toward that goal.
Those efforts included preservation of indoor air quality during construction and extensive recycling of materials extracted during demolition. In addition, BCSM worked with the designers and architects to reuse as much of the existing building interior as possible to reduce construction waste, and to use new building materials that contain recycled content and/or were locally produced.
With exhibits geared primarily toward 8-14 year-old visitors, BCSM also undertook special efforts to use durable and maintainable materials and finishes. The renovation significantly reduced the facility’s power consumption as well.
Three Byte Intermedia, in cooperation with Big Show, designed the control system that keeps SWTL’s interactives running as they should. The system was constructed to continually monitor the Lab’s exhibits and automatically alert technical staff to any issues that may arise. It also communicates with the lighting system to run the Unison and Pharos controllers that cue the architectural lighting and extensive LED system used to visually demonstrate the flow of data throughout the Lab.
Dimensional Communications fabricated the consoles and graphic treatments associated with each of the new exhibit areas.
For more information, please visit www.bigshowcm.com.
