Junior Achievement of the Heartland Inspiration Center

Moline, IL

Services

Audio/Visual
Electrical Construction
Structured Cabling
Telecommunications

Markets

Commercial & Retail
Design/Build
Educational

Junior Achievement (JA) of the Heartland, a longstanding educational organization, transitioned into a new facility at the Vibrant Credit Union Headquarters in Moline, IL, after occupying a space in downtown Davenport, Iowa, since 1999. This move was driven by their desire to provide local students with hands-on learning experiences focused on career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. The new location, with its former warehouse structure, was transformed into a modern, interactive learning environment tailored to these educational objectives.

The completion of this project has equipped the new Junior Achievement Inspiration Center with modern tools below for communication, collaboration, and branding:

  • Digital Signage System – A network of televisions was installed throughout the facility to serve as digital signage for individual businesses operating within BizTown. Each screen was configured to display customized content, allowing companies to showcase their branding and messaging, aligning with JA’s mission to engage students with real-world business environments.
  • Centralized Audio System –  A DJ station, complete with microphones and Bluetooth input, was set up to play music and make announcements throughout the building, enhancing the atmosphere and fostering a dynamic learning environment. A distributed speaker system was installed, ensuring consistent and high-quality audio coverage across all areas of the facility, facilitating clear communication for both staff and students.
  • Building-Wide Paging Integration – The existing phone system was integrated with the audio infrastructure, allowing for effective paging and announcements throughout the building. This integration ensured smooth communication across the facility, supporting both staff operations and educational activities.
  • Conference Room Technology – A fully equipped conference room was designed and installed, featuring a high-quality pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera integrated with Microsoft Teams. This setup supports seamless video conferencing, allowing for virtual meetings with remote participants, and fostering collaboration for both students and staff. An advanced audio system was incorporated to ensure clear communication during virtual meetings, further enhancing the learning experience and productivity for all users.

These improvements reflect Junior Achievement’s commitment to creating a vibrant, connected space for students. The facility is now equipped to offer interactive learning experiences that are both educational and engaging, empowering students to explore career paths and entrepreneurial opportunities in a real-world setting. Staying within a tight budget, the Tri-City team worked closely with the owners and the construction team to provide a project schedule defining the design, procurement, and construction of the project, along with a detailed execution plan.