Tate Modern is a top three UK tourist attraction with over 5 million visitors a year to its iconic Bankside site.
THE Challenge
As part of Tate Modern’s ethos of pushing art boundaries, Tate needed to build out a wireless network in short timescales to support an upcoming interactive game.
Delivery of the wired and wireless aspects of the network was going to be a challenge in such a large and historic building as Tate Modern. Tate were therefore keen to engage a trusted partner that could assist in ensuring impartial supplier management was achieved, especially during the initial technology selection process.
It was also essential that technologies were carefully evaluated to ensure they would continue to deliver long-term value and become a strategic asset to Tate Modern.
“We engaged with Everslea to achieve what I thought would be the impossible, to design and install a public facing wireless network solution at Tate Modern in
under 4 months. ”
BUSINESS Benefits
The benefits of a single wireless network across the whole of the Tate Modern were numerous.
As well as reaching out to visitors with new interactive opportunities using popular handheld devices such as iPod’s and smartphones, the network was also expected to further strengthen Tate Moderns unique corporate hosting facilities.
With the launch of open Internet access on this wireless network, its possible for visitors to access not just Tates extensive learning portfolio directly, but also Youtube videos and other media channels that Tate media and curators experiment with. Future initiatives are expected to expand the usage of the network as a means to improve staff maintenance of artwork through the use of wireless handsets to streamline reporting processes.
As an organisation focused on promoting modern and contemporary art, and with technology changing the way people access information, the wireless network will ultimately provide a foundation for ever increasing visitor participation over the coming years.
“Everslea’s technical project manager was superb at every stage. He quickly grasped what was required and worked seamlessly across Tate as if he had always been part of the team. He was key overcoming supply chain issues to reach a final design and without his help I am certain we would not have been successful.”
Everslea Services
Everslea first worked with Tate to help form the overall requirements and ensure a well-considered approach and project programme was created to complete a successful delivery.
Leading wireless vendors were engaged and technology proposals were evaluated to ensure they met both Tate’s short and long term objectives.
As an impartial and trusted partner Everslea worked to streamline this technology selection process and work on Tate’s behalf to ensure best value was achieved. Upon selection of a 3Com powered wireless network, Everslea then provided Technical Project Management expertise to deliver the network across the Tate Modern site. This involved coordinating onsite cabling and engineering resources to achieve the best possible coverage within tight building constraints where asthetics are especially important.
Throughout the project Everslea provided constant feedback to Tate stakeholders on programme progress, and ensured commercial contractors delivered their obligations in a timely and co-ordinatned manner to maximize project value.
Result
The wireless network was successfully delivered on time and on budget.
Tate media used the network to deliver their first interactive game on iPod Touch and iPhone devices as part of the Tate Modern 10th anniversary.
This encourages visitors to use the building and artwork as an online playing field, with the wireless network underpinning the ability for visitors to play against each other across the site.
This is just the first of many new initiatives expected, and is expected to expand considerably as Tate Modern experiment further.
“We launched the network on time and within budget - what more could I have asked for! All in all, Everslea were a pleasure to do business with and would not hesitate in using their services again.”
