Sprint space update

[JackieKazil]

We have an awesome problem. The problem is two great possibilities for
sprint spaces - PBS & WaPo. Both spaces are have there own positives
that are desirable.

To make sure that we have the best space for conference attendees, I
was thinking after we find out details on insurance for the space that
I will pass summaries to the larger DjangoCon list for discussion and
final decision.

Sound good to everyone?
Yes? No?

[Sean O'Connor]

Sounds good.

Thanks for coordinating all of this Jackie!

-- 
Sean O'Connor
http://www.seanoc.com

[tomatohater]

+1

[Joshua Ginsberg]

Sounds good - I'll follow up with the outstanding questions to the WaPo facillities folks.

-jag

-- 
Joshua Ginsberg <j...@socialcodeinc.com>

Head of Engineering - SocialCode

On Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 12:19 AM, JackieKazil wrote:

[Thomas]

I am still waiting to hear back from our admin dept on insurance and facilities on amperage rating and configuration for the outlets.

Tom@PBS

[Jacqueline Kazil]

This all sounds good.

Whenever you guys have the info, please post to the list. 

Thanks everyone. 

--
Jacqueline Kazil | @jackiekazil | 573-356-7915

[thomas crenshaw]

Update from PBS

Insurance - No additional insurance is required

Power for computing - Still waiting to hear from the building engineers on how the outlets are wired and breaker size. From here it is simple math to determine capacity.

Additionally, admin has given me initial details on a Friday evening event that we could host in conjunction with the sprint. I do not have all the details yet, but will forward to the list once I know more.

Tom@PBS

[Joshua Ginsberg]

Alright, finally got the answers we need. Final total set of details for the WaPo space.

• If you didn't see the space or aren't familiar with it, there's a walkthrough video here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3049229/VID_20120228_190303.3gp - please forgive the karaoke happening in the adjacent hall.
• The space is outside security just inside the front entrance - nobody needs to sign in or out, nobody needs to navigate hallways
• There's a front entrance with a reception desk that we can staff or not. The room across from the reception desk can be locked and used for storage.
• The hall is huge, with fire code cap over 400 people. There's a stage with a PA system and a projector. The loading dock is immediately adjacent to the space.
• The concept had been to use the four corners of the main section as breakout spaces and the long column down the middle for tables.
• The shuttered area seen in the video is a kitchen and can be used as a buffet area.
• There are 6 stalls per restroom
• The space is entirely handicap accessible.
• No insurance is required to use the space.
• We can serve alcohol and use outside catering services (in fact, it was tacitly recommended we do use an outside service).
• Each column in the main room is on a separate 20A breaker. Each of the corners of the main room is also on separate 20A breakers. Thus all told there are eight 20A circuits feeding the room. We could power a small data center.
• We would need to rent tables/chairs. We could likely utilize whiteboards from WaPo.
• Given sufficient heads up, WaPo IT can provide a dedicated VLAN to the room and we can connect our own WiFi to that VLAN. We can have as much bandwidth as we could practically require.

HTH.

-jag

-- 
Joshua Ginsberg <j...@socialcodeinc.com>

Head of Engineering - SocialCode

[thomas crenshaw]

Hello,

PBS space information that was originally compiled and sent around by Jackie. I have added updates in bold:

• There is a good amount of space, but would probably be at capacity at 150 in the main space. 
• The space includes a main hall with walls that move to open up for more space. The combined space of the mainhall which opens into a lounge area like it could fit 150. 
• The lounge area with a couch and some comfortable seats. 
• There are also three conference rooms that would be available as breakout spaces. Two of the breakout spaces are equipped with projectors and the other one has a large TV with VGA input for display.
• During business hours, the front-desk staff will be aware of the event you should be able to check-in with them and proceed upstairs to the main conference area.  PBS regularly hosts events at this space so this is not unusual for the front-desk staff.  Outside of business hours, there will be PBS staff on hand to ensure that the building is accessible and you will be free to come and go at your leisure.
• There are ~36 outlets in the main hall and more in the lounge area and in the meeting rooms. Building engineers have indicated that there is more than enough power for the expected demand. To cover all possibilities, PBS can also drop some 50 amp plugs within the main space as a source of supplemental power.
• The space is fully accessible. The main space is on the second floor. 
• Two of breakout rooms are on the first floor just behind the main lobby. Attendees will be able to travel freely between the two spaces. There is an open stairwell connecting the spaces and an elevator. The elevator will not be available to regular traffic to use, because it is behind a secure door. If someone needs to use the elevator, we can accommodate by letting them through the secure area.
• There is a fridge, microwave, coffee-maker and ice-machine in a pantry area located adjacent to the main hall!!
• Room available for lock up of stuff overnight.
• A public area with benches right outside, which has access to the Crystal City public wifi.
• PBS is 1/2 mile from the conference hotel
• PBS has a visitor wifi hotspot that can accommodate 500 simultaneous connections. As with any wifi hotspot, the available bandwidth will go down as more users are connected.
• The network inside of the main conference room is on a separate network, so additional hotspots can be setup to accommodate the WiFi traffic
• Space includes tables and chairs, so we wouldn't have bring these in from an outside source, but there is an extra cost to run the building's air conditioning after 1p on Saturday. That cost is $110/hour for 8 hours, which equals $880. The team at PBS are going to try to absorb this cost for us.
• There is only 1 white board in one of the breakout rooms, but we have sticky notes and lots of wall space.
• Full A/V built into the main hall and larger breakout room (the one with the white board). One of the other breakout rooms has wide screen TV with SVGA connection.
• There are two sets of restrooms. One set is on the second floor. The other is on the first floor but will require an escort.
• Insurance is not required
• After business hours on Friday and all-day Saturday alcohol is allowed
• Did I mention that PBS is 1/2 mile from the conference hotel and that conference attendees will walk right past the PBS office on their way to the Crystal City metro station ;-)

The space is still available for a tour if anyone is on the fence.

Also, PBS is definitely interested in hosted an event, so if hosting the sprint sessions does not work out, we would be open to discussions regarding other opportunities to support the conference due to our proximity to the conference.

Let me know if I have missed anything.

Tom@PBS

twcre...@pbs.org

thomasc...@gmail.com

[Jacqueline Kazil]

These are really good descriptions. If everyone is okay with I am going to pass along to the main organizers list for discussion and final decision. I will wait a couple of days to give people a chance to speak up.

I will cc Tom & Joshua just in case someone has any specific questions that haven't been address. If you would like to be cc-ed on the email, please let me know. 

If you would like to join the main pycon organizers list, please visit: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pycon-organizers

-Jackie

[Jacqueline Kazil]

Did I say PyCon? I am meant DjangoCon. 

http://groups.google.com/group/djangocon-organizers

Sorry, I have PyCon on the mind. :-)

[Sean O'Connor]

Sounds great.

Thanks again everybody for helping to gather such through info :)

-- 
Sean O'Connor
http://www.seanoc.com

[Sean O'Connor]

Hey Everybody,

The votes are in and it's official, we'll be having the Djangocon.US sprints at the WaPo offices this year.  Additionally we're talking to PBS about having them host some fun additional events during the conference.

Thanks to everybody for doing all of the fact finding and feedback on this.  It is really awesome to have so much local support :)

I'll be making a post to the general organizers list with the news later today.  If anybody has any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks!

-- 
Sean O'Connor
http://www.seanoc.com