Middle Atlantic Products

Oct. 7, 2021 - As businesses and organizations continue to roll out return-to-office plans, increased demand for enhanced videoconferencing-enabled meeting experiences will drive the future of hybrid meetings. End users will expect better sound, video and ease of use. To meet this need, Middle Atlantic is launching the Forum™ Collaboration Suite to enhance the hybrid meeting experience for everyone, whether in the room or remote.

"With the demands and uncertainty around return to work and the future of meeting spaces, we wanted to design something more dynamic and flexible," said David Albright, Business Development Manager at Legrand | AV. "This à la carte collection of solutions can be independently used or paired together in support of each other to create anything from a huddle room to a conference room."

The heart of the collaboration suite is the Forum Display Stand. Designed for both open plan or more traditional enclosed meeting spaces, the Display Stand is available in Free-Standing (FS) or Floor-to-Wall (FTW) mounted versions in either Dark or Light finishes. It includes a Chief Fusion mount that supports up to a 75" display and can be customized with a wide range of standard Fusion accessories like camera and speaker mounts. Up to 18" of display height adjustment allows optimal sight lines for different table heights and space sizes. Storage options include 4RU of vertical rack space and an integrated Lever Lock™ system to mount small devices within the Display Stand. Equipment can be fully accessed from the front through sliding doors, and from the back through removable panels for ease of service (Free-Standing only). 

Developed in partnership with Focal Point, a Legrand lighting sector brand specializing in acoustic lighting solutions, the Display Stand is wrapped in the acoustic felt as well as the included display shroud. The acoustic felt is certified to meet the Living Building Challenge Red List Free criteria, and it helps dampen audio reverberations to provide the highest quality audio experience for both in-person and remote audiences.

"Acoustics are frequently an issue in videoconferencing environments," Albright said. "With more people joining meetings from remote locations, high-quality audio pickup in the room is vital to ensure everyone is heard well. Our acoustic felt reduces reverberations prevalent with glass and other common acoustically-reflective meeting room materials."

Several table options are available as part of the Forum Collaboration Suite. The Angle Tables and Arc Tables are designed to enhance the remote participant experience by making sure all in-room meeting attendees are visible to each other and to the camera system. The compact laminate tabletops are ultra-thin, stylish and extremely durable to resist the wear and tear of daily meetings while also being easy to clean. Each table comes in either sitting (30") or counter (38") height and in one of two finishes – Dark or Light – with complementary acoustic felt leg covers and modesty panels. An optional Wiremold ModPower modular power system is available for device charging hubs at the users’ seats. Built-in cable management within the table legs means no cord clutter. 

Customization doesn’t end there. The Forum Collaboration Suite is a perfect home for compatible Legrand | AV solutions like Vaddio’s HuddleSHOT or the upcoming ConferenceSHOT ePTZ cameras. The slim bases of the Display Stands are designed to accommodate Wiremold OFR and Connectrac raceways under the adjustable leveling feet for elegant routing of power and data throughout the meeting space.

This collection was developed with substantial empathy from global partners including key end-users, commercial interiors dealers and pro AV integrators to understand the holistic demands of an ideal hybrid meeting space and user experience. Middle Atlantic co-developed this new Collaboration Suite with BOLTGROUP, an internationally recognized Design Innovation firm.

For Albright and Dean Wheelan, Associate Product Manager, this initial offering is the first of many to come. 

"This really addresses a core need in the emerging hybrid workspace, and we’ll continue to listen, learn and evolve the offering over time to meet the developing needs of this new market," Wheelan said. "We’re always listening."

BOLTGROUP is an internationally recognized Design Innovation firm, based out of Charlotte, NC. The firm works across multiple industries to create innovative, human-centered design solutions that transform their clients products, brands, and services into higher performing assets for their business, their people, and the communities they serve.