The Sextant Group - Freemarkets Inc (Now ARIBA) Operations Center

The Sextant Group is consultants offering audio visual (AV), IT infrastructure, physical security & surveillance,architectural acoustics, noise & vibration control services. Located in Atlanta GA, Dallas TX, Phoenix AZ, Pittsburgh PA.

FREEMARKETS, INC. (now ARIBA)
Operations Center
Pittsburgh PA

The convergence of computing,
video and communications provides
new opportunities to employ digital
media technologies in all facets of
corporate communications.

Taking full advantage of that, FreeMarkets, Inc. is an on-line reverse auction service providing corporate and government purchasing clients instant access to suppliers worldwide with global, real-time bidding among competitors. The Market Operations Center (MOC) allows participants to view up to twelve of these auctions simultaneously and finalize a purchase within minutes.

Issues such as video compression standards, access to appropriate bandwidth for connectivity, satellite connectivity, acoustics, lighting and functional user interfaces set the parameters in the design of this high performance executive communications environment. Thanks to the convergence of digital technologies, a process that formerly required months to complete is now saving time and money for all buyers and sellers, while creating new and innovative ways to compete in the emerging e-business world.

To assure FreeMarkets, Inc. that its investment in multimedia technology is capable of withstanding technological change and allow for future growth, a set of guiding principals was employed:

   •   Standards-based: using off-the-shelf technology
   •   Flexibility: providing the proper tools and conditions for each
            activity type within each space
   •   Scalability: enabling implementation throughout the corporation
   •   Extensibility: Permitting video communication to grow beyond
            the Market Operations Center
   •   Operational simplicity: enabling all personnel to use the
            technology with minimal training.

A Technology Program document consisting of program goals and objectives, conceptual systems and facilities solutions, budget, and implementation time line was developed, along with acoustics, technical power, and mechanical systems recommendations, specs and cost estimates, detailed systems engineering documents.

Due to rapidly-expanding demand for service, this project set the standard for fast-track. Constructed at the peak of the expansion boom of the 1990's, the project was continually building out literally days ahead of occupancy, floor-by-floor.