The James A. Byrne United States Courthouse in Center City Philadelphia serves as the home of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Overlooking Independence National Historical Park, the courthouse was constructed between 1970 and 1975 and remains a key judicial center for the region.

With 50 courtrooms, each outfitted with different audiovisual systems, the courthouse faced challenges due to inconsistent technology and aging equipment. To address these issues, the Pennsylvania Eastern District initiated a plan to standardize and modernize its AV systems, requiring extensive research to identify a scalable and efficient solution.

Michael Corkery, director of information technology for the District Court, emphasized the importance of stability and longevity when selecting new AV systems. “Initially, we considered another manufacturer, but supply chain shortages led us to explore alternatives. During this process, I connected with Visionary, whose PacketAV Matrix Series impressed us with its low Power-over-Ethernet draw and minimal bandwidth consumption. The devices operate at just 7 to 10 watts, significantly reducing power requirements, while consuming only 200 Mbps, sometimes as low as 80 Mbps—a critical factor for our network infrastructure.”

After testing Visionary’s demo kit and evaluating its energy efficiency and network impact, the courthouse adopted PacketAV Matrix Series solutions. Corkery further solidified his decision after touring Lincoln Financial Field, where he observed Visionary’s technology in a large-scale venue. “I approached this project with complete vendor neutrality, and Visionary earned its place based purely on technical merit. Over 12 months, we equipped six courtrooms, and the results have been outstanding.”

A typical courtroom at the James A. Byrne Courthouse includes:

• Jury box monitors equipped with PacketAV Matrix Series decoders
• Attorney tables with two monitors per table, totaling six PacketAV Matrix Series decoders
• Wireless presentation solutions connected to an encoder
• Large gallery displays, often 86-inch monitors
• MV4 Multiviewers, with plans to upgrade to MV5 Multiviewers

In June 2024, the courthouse received its first MV5 Multiviewer, integrating it into a new courtroom setup.The district is currently upgrading its third courtroom and plans to modernize 25 courtrooms over five years, starting in December 2023. The goal is to upgrade five courtrooms annually, addressing outdated systems and preventing equipment failures that could disrupt trials.

Corkery praised Visionary’s customer support, noting the proactive engagement of Lewis Eig, director of business development and Chuck Larson, director of training and support. “Visionary’s team has been outstanding. While I try not to bother Lewis too much, he regularly checks in to ensure everything is running smoothly. Chuck has also provided invaluable technical guidance, making our collaboration seamless.”

The MV5 Multiviewer supports 4K60 4:4:4 video output, offering default presets such as quad view, side-by-side, full screen, and picture-in-picture, along with customizable layouts. It ensures zero frame loss during transitions for uninterrupted video playback. The PacketAV Matrix 5 Series expands Visionary’s capabilities with:

• 4K60 4:4:4 1GbE encoders and decoders
• Isochronous USB over IP for webcam extension
• MJPEG substreaming for remote monitoring

By implementing Visionary’s PacketAV Matrix Series and MV5 Multiviewers, the James A. Byrne Courthouse is creating a modern, scalable AV infrastructure that improves reliability, efficiency, and long-term adaptability for the federal judiciary.