This Center for Innovation and Creative Technology - a construction of the municipal government of Querétaro - was conceived to be a high-impact multifunctional space, capable of hosting everything from corporate events and congresses to audiovisual productions, interactive classrooms and immersive experiences.

BLOQUE' s ambitious mission involved significant challenges. Rodrigo Ruiz Ballesteros, director of BLOQUE, commented: "From the beginning of the project, we needed to create an innovation ecosystem in the city of Querétaro focused on entrepreneurship, entertainment and education. We needed to offer flexible and adaptable spaces for the present and the future. This included specialized areas such as an eSports arena, AI and VR development spaces, an auditorium, multipurpose rooms for conferences and training, and a large reception area with large video walls. BLOCK needed spaces versatile enough to accommodate all of these activities."

To respond to this diversity of uses, a robust, flexible and high quality audiovisual system was required. The firm in charge of this ambitious integration was smart.corp, with Gerardo Morelos leading the project.

"The project came about as an initiative to integrate cutting-edge technology into a versatile and innovative space. The main challenge was that we didn't know who the end user would be, so we designed everything for multiple scenarios," explains Gerardo.

Total flexibility as a strategy

That initial uncertainty forced smart.corp to design a resilient audiovisual installation, capable of adapting to any need without compromising performance. Modular solutions were implemented with a focus on scalability and compatibility.

"We worked with a redundancy strategy at all levels, from connectivity to audio and video processing," Gerardo notes. "The idea was that, regardless of the type of event or activity, the system would respond without friction."

The heart of the system is the Q-SYS platform, which allows seamless integration between audio, video and control. This technological choice facilitated the centralized and remote operation of all spaces in the building.

A tailor-made installation, floor by floor

BLOQUE has seven levels, and each was designed with a specific functionality:

• Common areas: uniform and discreet ambient audio to create immersive atmospheres.
• Auditorium: capacity for 300 people, with advanced microphones, curved videowall, real-time collaboration solutions and premium audio quality.
• Congress Center: a transformable space that can be divided into up to four rooms by acoustic curtains. Each room functions autonomously, allowing simultaneous events without interference.
• Boardrooms and interactive classrooms: equipped with collaboration technologies, wireless connectivity, touch screens and smart cameras.
• Production studios: acoustically conditioned spaces for podcast recording and content generation.

"Each floor has a different personality, which is why we use different equipment configurations. We select them for their quality, yes, but also for their ability to integrate into a coherent operating ecosystem," says Gerardo.

Videowalls that impress

The videowalls are an emblem of the project, both for their size and the creativity of their installations:

• Exterior façade (316 m²): imposing square LED screen with 3D projections to generate optical illusions from a specific angle.
• Videowall "Tree" (127 m²): circular structure with a 360° immersive experience, using special projectors for curved surfaces.
• Lobby curved videowall (63 m²): accompanies the entrance to the building, generating an immediate visual impact.
• Auditorium (21 m²): integrated curved screen that complements the audio system for an immersive experience.

"It's not just technology, it's visual storytelling. These screens are designed to tell stories and generate emotions," Gerardo emphasizes.

A façade that projects the future

In keeping with its mission to be a beacon of technological innovation, the large-format LED screen on its façade redefines visual communication in urban spaces. This fixed outdoor installation with Hikvision P3.9 models covers an area of 316 m², with a pixel pitch of 3.9 mm, allowing a resolution approaching 23 megapixels.

With dimensions of 10 meters high by 10 and 21 meters wide, respectively in two sections, this screen is one of the largest 3D Naked Eye installations in Latin America, ideal for reproducing three-dimensional content without the need for glasses. Its structure has an aluminum chassis, which allows heat dissipation, and is equipped with IP67 certification on the front and IP66 on the back, which guarantees resistance to dust, water and temperatures up to 60°C, critical conditions for outdoor installations in climates such as Queretaro.

"The implementation of LED screens has successfully fulfilled our vision of a tech-savvy innovation center and has positioned BLOQUE at the forefront of digital innovation," says Rodrigo Ruiz Ballesteros. "It creates a vibrant environment that fosters creativity and technological advancement."

In addition to its aesthetic and technological impact, this LED solution allows the BLOQUE team to display attractive visual content that promotes educational activities, workshops, conferences and key events, reinforcing its focus on the 4E model: Entrepreneurship, Education, Employment and Entertainment.

Sustainability and automation

One of the most innovative aspects of BLOQUE is its comprehensive approach to energy efficiency. Its façade is completely covered by solar panels, which, in addition to generating electricity, allow natural light to enter the building, reducing energy consumption.

In addition, a BMS (Building Management System) was implemented to control air conditioning, lighting and audiovisual systems, optimizing the building's performance and enabling intelligent management.

"Everything is interconnected. The audiovisual is not an isolated system, it is part of the nervous system of the building," explains Gerardo.

An operation with no margin for error

The success of such an installation depends not only on the equipment, but also on its constant operation. That is why smart.corp has three full-time technicians dedicated to operating and monitoring the BLOCK system.

"We have preventive protocols and real-time monitoring. Our goal is that the end user never has to worry about anything. Everything should work naturally and without interruptions," Morelos explains.

Beyond technology: a complete experience

For Gerardo, the greatest achievement of the audiovisual system in BLOQUE is not in the amount of equipment or technical figures, but in the impact it generates on visitors.

"The technology is not noticeable, it is felt. People enter the building and are impressed by the quality of the sound, the sharpness of the images, the fluidity with which everything works. That's the best validation of the work we did."

Feedback has been positive since the inauguration. BLOQUE has hosted events, exhibitions, courses and social programs, all taking full advantage of the installed audiovisual capabilities.

A long term project

The entire process - from initial design to commissioning - took about three years. Coordination with other specialties, such as automation, renewable energy and architecture, was constant. Today, the operation is consolidated and the results are measured in both technical performance and user satisfaction.

"We designed the after-sales support based on manufacturers' recommendations, and complemented it with operational experience. The system is prepared to last and evolve," concludes Gerardo.

A super interesting project with many technical details that can help in all types of installations! Do you also have a case worth sharing? Our Call for Presenters is now open! You can apply to bring your experiences to our congresses and provide more knowledge to the market. Find all the information in this link.

If you want to talk more about BLOCK and other topics, the Hikvision team will be present at booth #115 at InfoComm Latin America, with all their solutions and some news, register and don't miss it!