Even in famously beautiful Paris, with its many architectural attractions, the
Tribunal de Paris is an impressive addition. The stunning new complex covers more
than 400,000 square meters (4.3 million square feet) of buildings on 106.25 acres
of land, and brings together the core activities of the Parisian justice system,
previously scattered across some 30 sites. Its centrepiece is a 40-story tower, 160
meters (525 feet) high, designed by architects at the Renzo Piano Building
Workshop and featuring a cascade of terraces and a transparent glass base.

When completed-operations prior to occupancy commenced in February 2017-the
eye-catching edifice will house, among other spaces, the 90 courtrooms of the
Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI), or Court of Justice. Fifty-five courtrooms are
equipped with networked AV systems co-designed by Axente, Bouygues Energies &
Services, and Audiovisuel Solutions, and based on Symetrix Prism DSPs.

“This was a big project because of the number of courtrooms,” observes Axente
Director of Audio Alain Hercman. “Networking 55 courtrooms required 37 Symetrix
Prism 4×4 DSPs, 18 Prism 8×8 DSPs, and 130 Attero Tech unDIO2x2 interfaces.
Each courtroom is handling a different case, so we did not need to send audio or
video between rooms, but all 55 AV systems are connected to the network at a
central technical room, from which they are managed.”

To enable an efficient and manageable AV system in a big building where
courtrooms are often located far from the technical room, the design team specified
a Dante network. “Dante was the best solution,” Hercman confirms.

Although the 55 courtrooms are similar, they are not identical. “Some rooms can
accommodate more attorneys than others, and some have secure boxes for the
accused, with glass everywhere,” Hercman explains. “So we needed slightly
different equipment in those spaces. But the way we use the Symetrix Prisms is
basically the same in all rooms. Analog signals go to and from the unDIO2x2 boxes,
which route Dante streams over CAT cable and fibre to and from the Prism DSPs.”

Hercman emphasizes that the TGI AV system was the result of a cooperative effort.
“The integrator was Bouygues Energies & Services (BES) of Montigny le Bretonneux,
and Audiovisuel Solutions (APE) of Nanterre was a subcontractor installer,” he
specifies. “The studies, solutions, and designs were a collaboration between Axente,
APE, and BES, which worked very well.”

The TGI project was special for the Axente/APE/BES team. Not only was it a large
installation in a beautiful and soon-to-be-iconic building, but the new Court of
Justice will be an important part of civic life in Paris. “It’s an important job in many
ways,” agrees Hercman. “We are confident that everyone will be pleased with the
AV system, and with Symetrix DSPs, the network will perform at a high level for
many years.”