Convene 237 Park unveils enhanced technology and ‘gorgeous’ LED wall

As part of a commitment to providing an exceptional client experience, Convene invests in keeping state-of-the-art technology a pillar of its venues. Clients can now enjoy new technology upgrades at Convene 237 Park in Midtown Manhattan. The location closed for renovations in December 2024 to install an updated technology infrastructure, more reliable connectivity, and state-of-the-art digital displays, including a 29.5-foot LED Wall in the Forum with an increased capacity of 315 people.

Convene 237 Park is popular for off-site meetings and high-production events due to its proximity to Grand Central Station, a brisk seven-minute walk from the terminal to the Welcome Desk on the ground floor. In anticipation of the increased demand for off-site meetings and events in 2025, the Design and AV Product teams refreshed the entire venue from the ground up with new furniture and aesthetic upgrades throughout.

We spoke with the on-site team and AV designers about upgrades in technology meaning the difference between a standard gathering and a “wow” factor, as well as how this New York City event venue is now serving clientele with more flexibility and comfort than ever before.

LED digital wall creates a 'wow' factor at Convene 237 Park

Anyone who has waited to upgrade their phone for two, three, or more years, understands how the annual release of enhanced features can quickly eclipse former models. Convene updates AV systems every five years to take advantage of increased functionality and efficiencies, including audio equipment, digital displays, and WiFi connectivity.

A notable event technology enhancement at Convene 237 Park is the installation of a 29.5-foot LED wall in the Forum, the largest meeting room on the property. The LED wall is ideal for presenting high-impact video demonstrations, immersive presentations, interactive content, live-event streaming, or showcasing real-time data and social media feeds. This continuous display replaces two smaller projector screens. Projection technology has been the gold standard for decades with AV technology systems. Recently, LED has become favored for its high-impact brightness and bold color, which are less impacted by ambient light. Sharper detail and clear images, however, are just the beginning.

“I look at these screens as, what’s possible?” said Mike Galardi, AV designer at Convene. “I want to find ways to make an event way more impressive for clients.” He said one major advantage is a more accurate color representation, ensuring branding is true to the overall message. The LED wall also delivers a more dynamic presentation due to greater coverage and higher fidelity for a crisp image and unified presentation.

Injecting greater flexibility for audio and video distribution

Infrastructure enhancements included a new network for audio and video distribution, called “Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol” or AV over IP, meaning microphones and video equipment aren’t fixed to a single location. Clients gain more flexibility during a meeting or event because video and audio endpoints can be anywhere on the network. AV Designer Galardi compared the upgrade to operating a laptop versus a desktop computer: audio and video technology work wherever you are.

At Convene 237 Park specifically, the AV over IP system leads to greater flexibility with room orientation thanks to mobile units that can be used anywhere in the room versus stationary built-in equipment.

Additional technology enhancements in the Forum include:

• New speaker and microphone system offering Voice-of-God audio
• Video conferencing improvements, including new cameras and video conferencing in all meeting rooms
• New control system to manage lighting settings across the venue
• Updated seating in the Forum for maximum comfort

Galardi mentioned the Forum’s speaker system is so advanced that it’s often used for live bands and professional DJ sets. Plus, the team increased the power capabilities in the Forum three-fold, ensuring increased demand on the system remains as reliable as the AV technology.

Enhanced event management technology in every meeting room

Clients are greeted at reception by a warm hospitality team and five new 65-inch portrait digital signage screens. For increased branding opportunities, the portrait displays can feature information the moment guests enter the reception area, such as listing the day’s agenda. Behind the meeting planner station, displays progressed from small screens to two large screens for logos or additional promotional material. Touchpoints include upgraded projector systems and 4K displays, ranging in size from 55 to 98 inches, in all seven meeting rooms at Convene 237 Park.

“Seeing the return clients be blown away is validating,” said Evan Schachter, General Manager at Convene 237 Park. “The word of mouth on this has been huge. These tech upgrades better position us as a leading option for various high production value industries such as pharmaceuticals, investor days, and various tech or FinTech organizations.”

Due to the L-shaped configuration of the Midtown Manhattan event venue, Schachter explained how clients benefit from what is essentially 75% of a partial buyout when reserving the Forum that leads into the Dining and Display Gallery. On the Club side of the venue, small to medium-sized gatherings enjoy access to a more intimate setting with event technology upgrades in the rustic-meets-modern Club Lounge and sun-lit Club Studio with its ochre walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

“One of the things that makes [Convene] 237 [Park] unique is all the breakout spaces,” said Schachter. “Clients return to us often because we find there are so many conferences that require not just that keynote space, but breakout rooms are so important for nine out 10 events we host. We have the new and improved Forum but everything else offers the flexibility of smaller breakouts needed for those more tailored meetings.”

In addition, a built-in bar in the Dining and Display Gallery is an ideal configuration for receptions, said Schachter, “if you want a holiday party, networking reception, or just want some fun at the end of your conference.” The clean, modern lines and marble stonework elevate the room and allow an additional buffet to maintain a steady flow throughout an event. The Gallery also received a high-resolution, 75-inch digital display.

Seamless technology across Convene properties

To further benefit client-facing equipment, event management technology upgrades streamlined how the integrated AV system operates across the 37 Convene locations in nine global cities. Equipment and functionality have more cohesion across Convene venues anytime clients visit another property. For example, technology manager Lamoúnt Williams explained the addition of a full-time AV booth at Convene 237 Park saves the internal team on setup and, most importantly, provides a world-class experience for clients and their guests.

“We have a lot of repeat clients who have been hosting events with us since I started in 2019,” said Williams. “Each one that has held an event this year has offered very similar compliments, ‘This looks so good’ or ‘Wow, you guys really outdid yourself,’ just to state a few.”

Event planners will also benefit from the ability to test logos and client material on displays during a site visit and planning stages. “It’s this bright and amazing space in terms of the aesthetic, so guests are going to be able to see what an investment you’ve made even when video conferencing and if watching a recording of the events,” said Schachter, the property’s general manager. “The LED wall, it’s also just gorgeous.”

Interested in booking an event at the newly refreshed Convene 237 Park for 2025? Inquire here.