September 30, 2010

Corus Entertainment officially opened Corus Quay, the company’s new Canadian headquarters built on Toronto’s waterfront. It integrates advanced digital technologies and automated systems that, boasts Corus, make Corus Quay both North America’s most advanced broadcast facility and Toronto’s smartest building.

“Corus Quay gave us the opportunity to transform the operational and
technological processes that underpin our business,” said John Cassaday,
president and CEO, Corus Entertainment. “Our fully integrated digital
infrastructure provides Corus with the agility to respond to our
customers needs in a changing marketplace. Corus Quay will also allow us
to efficiently leverage all future growth opportunities.”

“With a fully integrated and 100% digital infrastructure, Corus is more
prepared than anyone for a digital world because it can deliver content
to distributors in any format for any platform with equal speed and
efficiency,” said Marcos Gonzalez-Flower, global head, Media Consulting,
Siemens IT Solutions and Services Inc.

With Corus Quay, the company has consolidated its Toronto-based
operations from 11 distinct locations, including 24 television services,
three Toronto radio stations and over 1100 employees into one facility.
Not only does Corus Quay house all current operations, its
configuration allows for up to three times as many services to be
delivered from the facility.

Corus Quay features a reduced power signature, a five-storey “bio wall”
for air filtration, a green roof and energy-efficient lighting. Corus
Quay uses low-flow water fixtures and re-used rainwater to reduce water
consumption. To encourage employees to use non-carbon generating forms
of transportation, Corus Quay provides an underground storage facility
for more than 70 bicycles.

 CORUS QUAY BUILD VIDEO

Converged infrastructure
HP delivered on its HP Converged Infrastructure portfolio to complete
the consolidation and migration of multiple data centres to the new
Corus Quay facility. HP ProLiant BladeSystem and HP StorageWorks
technology now provide “improved performance with reduced power and in
less space”. Using HP Virtual Connect wire-once technology, Corus can
now add, move and change servers connected to local area networks (LANs)
and storage area networks (SANs) without rewiring. With over two
petabytes of storage, Corus has optimized storage use and management of
its data capacity needs.

Virtualized server and desktop architecture
Through ongoing work with Siemens IT Solutions and Services Inc., Corus
has consolidated its computer systems with virtualization technology,
reducing the number of servers required by more than 90%. In addition to
reducing maintenance costs, this creates a significant cost savings on
electricity, measured to be more than 40% at Corus Quay overall. Corus
has also implemented virtualization technology for its user desktops,
allowing mobility and cost savings.

Communications
Corus selected communications and networking products from Cisco,
including a high-capacity unified network, fiber-based distribution and
more than 150 wireless access points spread throughout the building.
VOIP phones are used exclusively. Cisco Telepresence units are found in
Toronto and other Corus locations across Canada to reduce travel costs
and encourage face-to-face meetings whenever possible.

Lighting systems
Corus selected Fifth Light—a Canadian company based in Oakville, Ont.—to
provide dimmable fluorescent lighting controls. Each of more than 4000
lights at Corus Quay is individually controllable, typically by
schedule, by occupancy sensors, or by daylight harvesting sensors.
Digital control panels found throughout the building enable lights to be
easily adjusted, controlled by the internet and through each desktop
phone. This provides unprecedented light control and energy efficiency.