Canary Wharf is one of London’s busiest corporate hubs. If you’re running an event in one of its offices, whether that’s a conference, a team meeting scaled up, or a client presentation, the AV setup you choose will have a big impact on how the day goes.
Office spaces in Canary Wharf tend to be sleek and modern. But modern doesn’t always mean AV ready. A lot of these rooms have built-in screens and a basic speaker system that works fine for small meetings. Push attendance past 30 or 40 people and you start to notice the gaps. Audio gets thin, screens become hard to see from the back and the whole thing starts to feel less professional than the occasion deserves.
Here’s what actually works for events in these spaces.
Sort the audio first
Audio is the thing people notice most when it goes wrong. If attendees can’t hear clearly, nothing else matters. For most Canary Wharf office events, you’ll want a proper PA system rather than relying on whatever’s built into the room. Add wireless microphones for any speakers or panellists and you immediately lift the quality of the whole event. A handheld and a lapel option gives your speakers flexibility depending on how they present.
Think about your screens early
Most office boardrooms have one screen, usually fixed to a wall at one end. That works for a small group. For anything larger, you need more coverage. Two LED screens positioned so the whole room has a clear sightline is the standard fix. If you’re expecting people standing at the back or a U shaped seating layout, plan for that specifically. The last thing you want is half the room craning their necks for the whole presentation.
Lighting makes more difference than people expect
Office lighting is designed for desk work. It’s functional but flat, and it tends to wash out faces on camera if you’re recording or running a hybrid element. If you have a speaker on a stage or at the front of the room, adding basic stage lighting makes them easier to see and gives the event a more deliberate, polished feel. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Even a simple front wash makes a real difference.
Hybrid and virtual? Plan it separately
A lot of Canary Wharf office events now have a remote audience as well as a room full of people. That’s a different technical challenge. You need a camera that covers the room, a microphone setup that picks up floor questions clearly and a reliable streaming connection. If you leave this until the day, something will go wrong. Treat the virtual element as its own production track and build the setup around both audiences equally.
What to look for in an AV supplier
The venue itself won’t usually manage this for you. Most Canary Wharf offices will let you bring in an external AV company, and that’s what you should do for anything beyond a standard meeting. Look for a supplier who:
- Has experience in office and corporate venues specifically
- Sends a technician to be on site for the full event, not just setup
- Does a proper site visit or venue check before the day
- Can turn around a quote quickly when you’re working to a deadline
The setup we’d recommend for a typical Canary Wharf office event
For a conference or presentation with 50 to 150 attendees:
- PA system sized for the room
- Two wireless handheld microphones plus a lapel option
- Dual LED screens or a main screen with confidence monitor for the presenter
- Stage or front of room lighting
- On site technician for the full event
Smaller events need less. Larger ones with panel sessions, breakouts or a hybrid element will need more. The starting point is always the room size and the format of the day.
One thing worth knowing
A lot of AV problems at office events come down to timing. The setup window in a working office is usually short because the room is in use until close to the event start time. A good AV company will work within that constraint without cutting corners. Make sure whoever you hire knows the schedule in advance and has done this kind of venue before.
If you’re planning an event in Canary Wharf and want to talk through what you need, get in touch with the team at AV Hire London. We work regularly across Central and East London and can put together a setup that fits your room, your format and your budget.