In 2018, Selbert Perkins Design was approached by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) to audit a previously completed digital signage scope completed by another firm. They wanted us to study their 3 large convention center locations in Boston and Springfield Massachusetts to determine the best "bang for their buck" with regards to adding new digital signage. I worked as Senior Experiential Designer under the company owner to design, develop, draft, and create specifications for the signage and digital signage CMS. We worked alongside Kleinfelder architects and their sub-consultants on specifications for additional elements such as building upgrades for weight, additional electrical needs, building cladding, and server room integration for screen communications.

The MMCA owns 3 locations, two in Boston and one in Springfield MA. We started our tours with the MassMutal Center (MMC) in Springfield MA. About 1.5 hours drive from Boston, that location is both a convention center and ice hockey arena.

The next location, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center (the Hynes) is a similar sized location in the heart of Boston proper. During our project the Hynes was set to sold, but due to COVID those plans fell through. Although we surveyed and designed for this location, the Hynes project never had any official planning to be completed.

The last location, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) located in the seaport area of the city, is a monster of a building with 3 levels and 2.1 million square feet of space including a ballroom, exhibit hall, and meeting rooms. The location also boasts an outdoor location referred to as the Lawn on D.

The Design MMC

We explored a variety of digital signage upgrades on the exterior of the building only. The MCCA wanted to create a better connection to the location and feel as large at the casino across the street. Due to their location surrounded by multi-story buildings on all sides, we approached these signs as vehicular only. The only exception to this was the 3-sided screen near the front entrance. It is directly seen from the park across the street and we suggested the possible use of this screen as movie projector of sorts for events in the park.

Again, because the MCCA was trying to find a way to connect more with the community and get the most "bang for buck", we studies only one location at the Hynes. This location was the interior connection point between the convention center and shopping mall. The connection was typically ignored by users of the space in favor of the well defined exterior entry point, which was more inconvenient to use with the public transit system.

The Design BCEC

This location was talked about extensively as needing a full digital signage overhaul as the MCCA hoped to one day turn all the wayfinding signage into a cohesive digital system. For our brief though, we focused on the Lawn on D space, which the city of Boston had requested more public events at. Since this location is legally owned by the state, the MCCA wanted to honor that request. The addition of one or more digital screens in that area would allow for film screenings and additional artwork displays beyond their current event schedule.

In March 2020, the project went on hold as the BCEC became a make shift hospital for patients that did not suffer from COVID-19. The project was shortly after canceled, which we thought was the end of it. Below are some of the technical drawings of the items the MCCA had decided to implement. The Hynes had been removed from the project by this point and the MMC had been reduced in quantity of signs.

In late 2021, Kleinfelder architects came back to us with a proposition from MCCA to restart the Springfield MA MassMutual center design and implementation. The MCCA wanted to rethink the design opportunities and even considered a pedestrian level kiosk before opting to only install the 3-sided screen at the main entry. The project is still currently in progress of installation with completion to be sometime in early 2023.

The MCCA's mission is to generate significant regional economic activity by attracting conventions, tradeshows, and other events to its world-class facilities while maximizing the investment return for the residents and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The MCCA owns and oversees the operation of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center (The Hynes), The Lawn on D, the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts (MMC), and the Boston Common Garage.

Selbert Perkins Design is an international design firm specializing in the integration of Branding, Wayfinding, and Placemaking that drives economic success for their clients.