Rooms were judged for their "blend of architectural ingenuity, engineering excellence and technological sophistication to fulfill the communication needs of the people who use the room". Judging criteria are available at http://www.presentations.com/judge_bpr.
The de Grandpré Communications Centre is equipped for multimedia presentations, videoconferencing, distance learning and telemedicine. The room seats 67, with a central conference table for small group sessions. The adjoining Bell Room is also available for small groups or to expand the capacity of the de Grandpré Communications Centre. Microphones and computer interfaces are accessible from every seat. Full videoconferencing and audioconferencing capabilities connect the facility to off-site locations, and state-of-the-art presentation technology - projector, plasma display, document camera, overhead projector, slide converter, and electronic whiteboard - are all built in.
The Centre's Executive Architect was Mr. Robert Hamilton of Bobrow Architects. The System Design and Supplier was Applied Electronics.
The Centre was made possible by a gift from the Family of Hélène and A. Jean de Grandpré. The Montreal Neurological Institute (http://www.mni.mcgill.ca) is a McGill University (http://www.mcgill.ca) research and teaching institute, dedicated to the study of the nervous system and neurological diseases. Since its founding in 1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, the MNI has helped put Canada on the international map. It is one of the world's largest institutes of its kind; MNI researchers are world leaders in biotechnology, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders.