University of Exeter - SWIoT
AV INSTALLED
75" LG Displays
Dalen AVI Towers
Chief LVS Mounts
Crestron NVX AVoIP
Dalen Lecterns
BirdDog P100 PTZ
The University of Exeter is a leading educational institution, with 23 academic subjects in the UK top 10 rankings. GVAV have a long-standing relationship with the University and have worked on a number of projects across the large city campus.
The South West Institute of Technology (SWIoT) is a partnership between a number of educational and employer institutions across the South West with investment from the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Focusing on the development of state-of-the-art facilities, the SWIOT specialises in the training and development of the next generation of technicians and engineers.
The University of Exeter AV Development team did the initial design and then worked through it with GVAV to ratify the schematics and finalise the control system design. Due to the nature of the space a lot of time was spent confirming various mounting solutions for the AV hardware in the room.
The University of Exeter required AV in the new £3.1million facility on the Streatham Campus containing an AI Arena and Computer Learning Laboratory. The space included requirements for multiple cameras and ceiling microphones to cover the area, in addition to an advanced audio system and projection, with group workstations throughout the space. All teaching and group area sources needed to be available to route to all video and audio destinations including UC and lecture capture. Due to the room featuring a partition to split the two spaces, it was necessary that all the AV equipment had the flexibility to split and join based on the operational requirements of the room.
In the computer laboratory, for maximum visibility and collaborative learning, five 75” LG displays were installed around the space on wall-mounted Dalen AVI Towers, fixed to Chief LVS series pop-out mounts and featuring Crestron NVX AVoIP connectivity to the wider rooms and local connectivity for group work. A Gemini lectern takes central position on the far side of the room, fitted with Sennheiser label and handheld mic, Audiotechnica Gooseneck Mic, Kramer K-Spider for BYOD connectivity, Phillips monitors and a WolfVision CYNAP Pure BYOD wireless presentation system, in addition to Crestron processing, touch panel, along with hardware from Extron, Crestron, Biamp and Magewell for the switching, distribution and conversion of signals for local presentation and UC calling via the lectern PC. It’s the ideal presenting solution for lecturers and group teaching.
To support this, the lab also features an NEC P605UL 6000 lumens projector and a PROJECTA electronic tensioned presentation screen that lowers from the ceiling when required, for larger scale presenting. The AI Arena benefits from an additional projector and screen combination due to the agile nature of the space. A Dalen Juno lectern was wall mounted to function as a smart but compact lecturing solution. Four 55” LG Displays were wall-mounted and integrated into the acoustic panelling along the far wall, each of which featuring the same group work and NVX as the towers in the other room, in addition to two 49” repeat monitors from the ceiling.
Both teaching spaces were also fitted with BirdDog P100 PTZ cameras operating over NDI (a network video protocol) to enable lecture capture and hybrid teaching as well as Cloud pendant speakers for high quality audio reproduction. As a result of ceilings and walls being primarily exposed concrete in design, with acoustic cladding and hanging acoustic rafts throughout, a variety of technical mounting solutions were required for the AV equipment installation.
The Crestron control system was programmed from the outset to suit the application whilst sticking to the core tenets of the client’s user interface standards and expectations to ensure ease of use and familiarity, whilst incorporating the new functionality for the space.
Due to supply chain issues, the GVAV team had to work efficiently in a short project timeline to complete the installation. Integration with the building design and infrastructure services to facilitate a full AVoIP solution with Dante, NVX and control all co-existing on the customer network, was tricky and fraught with changes. However, due to effective collaboration efforts between GVAV’s experienced installation, commissioning teams and the University’s AV team, the project was completed successfully and on time.
Check out the video below from the University of Exeter to see inside the new building!
