A Game-Changing AV Transformation at the Olympic Center

Lake Placid’s history in the Winter Olympics is truly remarkable. Despite being a small town of 2,227 people, it has hosted the Olympic games twice, in 1932 and 1980. The 1932 Jack Shea Arena and the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval still stand today—the latter one of the last of its kind. 

Lake Placid’s 1980 Olympic games are now forever remembered by the “Miracle On Ice” hockey game between the USA and USSR. Today, the Lake Placid Olympic Center still hosts athletes and organizations visiting from far and wide for its conferencing spaces and facilities. 

But while Lake Placid’s Olympic Center has a rich history, its AV technology was stuck in the past. Prior to McCann Systems’ involvement, AV operations at the Olympic Center were cumbersome and tedious. 

Ryan Grady, the Technical Operations Specialist at the Olympic Center, describes the old setup: “We just had a couple of TVs on carts, and if you needed to display something, you had to wheel in a TV, hook up a laptop, and set everything up manually. It wasn’t streamlined at all.”

That all changed with the implementation of a new Crestron control system. Today, projectors are ceiling-mounted, screens are seamlessly integrated, and audio zones are managed effortlessly. “It just really made it a more professional, more user-friendly interface for everyone involved,” Grady explains. Here’s how McCann Systems did it. 

SEE ALSO: Rethinking Conference Room Technology for Engagement and Inclusivity

Keeping the Legacy, Powering the Future 

When the Olympic Center set out to modernize its aging AV infrastructure, they needed more than just an upgrade—they needed a solution that would unify multiple spaces, simplify operations, and deliver a professional experience for their guests and conferences.  

McCann Systems initially designed the AV and conference room systems remotely, as Lake Placid is about five hours from our New Jersey office. Finally, we traveled up through New York State, spending a week or so on site to transform the historic Olympic Center into a more functional and efficient conference center.

A Fully Connected Experience

McCann Systems’ installation extended Crestron control throughout the Olympic Center, linking conference rooms, hospitality areas, and event spaces. 

“The biggest thing that McCann did was link the two ends of the building together, which was insane,” says Grady. “Now, if there’s a conference going on, and they have a sub-meeting down in the Empire Room, we can push the screen, the projector feeds, and everything right down to the Empire Room across the building or vice versa.” 

McCann Systems also expanded Crestron into Roamers, the cafeteria bar and coffee shop, and the Miracle Plaza, the grand entrance and foyer. The new system provides centralized content distribution, background music control, and customizable audio-visual setups for a variety of events.

One of the most notable features is the ability to manage AV operations remotely. “I can be anywhere in the building or in my office, watching a conference presentation from my screen,” Grady notes. “If there’s an issue, I can just hop onto my iPad and control everything from wherever I am.”

Professionalism and Efficiency

Beyond improving aesthetics and ease of use, the new AV system has significantly enhanced the guest experience. “Now, when state agencies and private organizations book our spaces, they don’t have to worry about bringing their own projectors or setting up their own equipment. They just plug in a USB stick, and we handle the rest,” Grady says.

“We host a lot of major events, from the New York State Mayor’s Conference to VIP welcome parties for international sporting events. Having a professional, reliable AV system makes a huge difference in how our facility is perceived.”

The Installation Process

Executing this project wasn’t without its challenges. Given the scale of the renovation, extensive wiring, equipment installation, and testing were required. “McCann had two or three techs on-site for about a week, running cables, setting up hardware, and verifying everything,” says Grady. “They were very responsive, very professional. They made the job easy.”

Looking to the Future

The Olympic Center’s modernization is a testament to how strategic AV integration can elevate a venue. With a state-of-the-art Crestron system in place, the facility is now equipped to handle high-profile conferences, sporting events—and who knows, maybe another Olympic games someday? 

For Grady, the transformation is clear: “It’s a well-oiled machine now. Everything just works.”

McCann Systems continues to deliver reliable AV solutions that make spaces more functional, professional, and engaging. 

If your venue is ready for an upgrade, contact us here to discuss how we can enhance your AV capabilities.