A World class conference centre built in record time
The ACSA International Conferencing Centre, at OR Tambo International Airport, stands as a flagship facility, engineered for high-profile events, global connectivity, and world-class technical performance.
When a venue hosts governmental briefings, multi-nation negotiations, and global events, every word, image, and signal must be delivered with perfect clarity, and without glitch or hiccup.
Delivered in just three months, this landmark project was a collaboration between Data Connectivity Solutions (DCS), Tiber Construction, Claasen Auret Electrical Engineers, Mace QS, and other leading specialists. The result: a seamless blend of architectural design, advanced audio-visual systems, and enterprise-grade ICT infrastructure, all integrated to perform flawlessly under pressure.
Delivering a facility of this scale in just three months required absolute precision and teamwork. Proof that world-class doesn’t have to take years.
- Errol Boolkin CEO
We had to deliver a platform that will adapt to the needs of tomorrow’s events with future proof technology and facilities, within an unprecedented timeframe.
Executive Boardroom Design
The ACSA centre is more than a venue, it’s a gateway for ideas, partnerships, and global engagement, right at the heart of Africa’s busiest airport. The prestigious facilities include five 50-seater executive boardrooms, and two 25-seater boardrooms.
TECH HIGHLIGHTS
The high-capacity boardrooms are equipped with Shure speakers and microphones for even, natural audio pickup. FLIR cameras provide intelligent video monitoring with ai analytics, while Barco ClickShare enables instant wireless presentation sharing to the boardrooms’ large LED presentation screens. The design supports seamless hybrid meetings, where in-room and remote participants are equally engaged.
Anyone who’s sat through a meeting knows how annoying time delays, echo, lip sync problems and frozen video images are. The ACSA installation overcomes these traditional problems with a high speed reliable network, robust technical specifications, and optimised system configuration.
500 Seater Auditorium
Designed for large-scale events, keynote addresses, and international conferences, the auditorium is powered by the JBL 900 Pro loudspeaker system with Crown amplification. The result is exceptional clarity, balanced coverage, and immersive sound — whether for a single speaker or a full panel discussion.
Acoustics Engineered for Clarity
In designing the 500-seat auditorium, the challenge was delivering the same clarity and presence to every seat — without overpowering the front rows or losing detail at the back. We solved this by pairing the JBL 900 Pro system with zoned Crown amplification. The result is a space where the sound clarity is breathtaking, from every seat in the room.
High-Fidelity Audio System: To achieve worldclass clarity and sound pressure level when the auditorium reaches full capacity, we selected a high performance JBL 900 Pro public address system that ensures sound is crystal clear in every seat of the room.
How we get Seamless Video and Audio in Conference Facilities
When a venue hosts high-stakes meetings, international press briefings, and diplomatic events, there’s no margin for muffled voices, lagging video, or clumsy tech handovers. Every aspect of the AV and ICT design was approached with precision.
In the past, setting up a conference calls and swapping devices involved fiddling with cables, adjusting projectors, or battling with settings. Now, with the one-touch control panel, the most common actions are automated sequences and the technology fades into the background – so the focus remains on the speaker.
Our system combats echo, delay, and stutter problems on multiple fronts with room acoustics, speaker layout, high speed reliable network, and top class digital processing, to deliver a seamless audio experience for presenters and audiences alike.
ROOM DESIGN
The solution starts with room design. ACSA’s media rooms were acoustically mapped to find and tame reflective surfaces. Absorptive panels discreetly reduce reverberation, while multiple smaller speakers spread sound evenly so no seat gets the “stadium effect” delay.
In the main conference rooms, bright LED screens are installed for presentations capable of crystal clear slides even in a well-lit room.
BARCO CLICKSHARE
To facilitate easy content sharing, a Barco ClickShare wireless presentation system is provided: users can simply plug a USB button into their laptop and instantly cast their screen to the big display, without messing with cables. This encourages interactive meetings where anyone can quickly share a chart or document from their device.
SHURE MICROFLEX
Shure Microflex ceiling microphones are strategically positioned to pick up speech evenly from anywhere in the room. Their beamforming technology focuses on the active speaker while rejecting unwanted noise, for real-time echo cancellation and level balancing.
Network-centric design
A standout aspect of this project is how it merges AV with IT, effectively turning the entire conference centre into a smart, networked environment. Unlike older AV setups which were isolated separate systems, the ACSA solution treats AV as part of a unified digital ecosystem.
A reliable high-speed network is the backbone to stutter-free, buffer-free, glitch-free audio visual excellence.
The facility is completely inter-connected, with over twenty kilometers of Commscope Cat7 cable for high-speed, high-capacity network and transmission of high definition video and audio.
A Cisco enterprise switching platform connecting over 800 IP devices
SITE SECURITY
SECURITY FEATURES
Guests are protected by FLIR IP cameras for surveillance coverage with IP CCTV points each with Ai analytics.
Extension of the Zyteq smoke detection system for fire safety protection.
TOA public address system for paging and announcements.
CAMPUS-WIDE WIFI
The entire campus is flooded with Cisco AP Wifi for high volume reliable internet access and data traffic.
Two 4,000 m² exhibition halls
One 500-seat auditorium
Five 50-seat executive boardrooms
Two 25-seat executive boardrooms
a world-class, future-ready venue
A seamless blend of glass, light, and contemporary design, built to impress before the first handshake. The system achievement is in how effortlessly the technology integrates, letting the events and speakers take centre stage.
Backed by advanced technology, secured by world-class systems, and made possible through local collaboration, this facility is a powerful symbol of national progress.
When delegates step into this space, they experience South Africa at its best — modern, connected, and ready for the world.
- Errol Boolkin CEO
From design to delivery, this project showcases the precision, collaboration, and technical excellence that define DCS. Principles we’re proud to live by.
A project of this scale, complexity, and speed takes more than just technical expertise of one company — it takes commitment, technical knowledge, and a shared vision from every partner involved.
The new ACSA International Conferencing Centre is a showcase of what’s possible when the right teams, technology, and timelines align. DCS extends our thanks and congratulations to everyone who contributed to making this venue a world-class asset for Johannesburg, South Africa, and the continent.
Project Partners & Key Suppliers
ACSA • Tiber Construction • Claasen Auret • Mace Group • Shure • JBL Professional • Barco ClickShare • Cisco • FLIR • TOA Electronics • Commscope
Technology You Can Trust. People You Can Rely On.
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Image Disclaimer: Due to the security protocols at the ACSA venue, the photographs and imagery used throughout this article are for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and whilst they offer a good representation of the centre, do not portray the actual facilities.