Before the main installation of the new AV technology, both proAV and Aston University undertook a time-consuming design process where several iterations of shortlisted technology were tried and tested to make sure they met the project requirements. To pinpoint the best products to use, a pilot room was set up which allowed the university’s resident academics to trial the space and offer their unique feedback which was then used to adjust the design accordingly.

Integrating the new technologies over the course of the academic year was a challenge as students were in attendance. To try and minimise disruption to student’s ongoing education, two special “Decant” rooms were created to transfer any affected lesson or lecture into them while their original location was having their AV refreshed. 

When it came to the core technology components in the refreshed Lecture Theatre, Classrooms and IT Labs rooms, the main primary display of choice is a Panasonic UXGA Laser Projector. Where space or design did not allow for the inclusion of a large projection screen, Samsung 4K UHD Large Format displays were deployed instead as the main display.

In all spaces, where additional screens were required for students, additional Samsung 4K UHD Large Format displays were utilised to relay content from teaching lecterns.

The core system of the AV’s content presentation and capture are installed in each room’s lectern. The AV system is based with the teaching podium and operated with the use of a Crestron touch screen control panel. The specially designed graphics user interface presents switching between display source via USB-C and HDMI to the main projection or display screen.

Content can also be presented wirelessly with the integration of Airserver Connect 2 to offer the ability to use AirPlay, Google Cast and Miracast to project content. Lecterns also offer the use to an Aver M70 visualiser for additional presentation options for teachers. 

For audio broadcast facilities, lecturers can allow their voices to be heard using a BeyerDynamic Revoluto mounted array microphone or a Catchbox Plus System with clip-on-wireless microphones. For distribution in rooms, Extron speakers including two-way ceiling speakers and four channel bridgeable output amplifiers were used.

Assistive Listening for students who are hard of hearing is made possible by the deployment of Sennheiser’s MobileConnect technology. Set up on the University’s network, it provided audio access for those who are hard of hearing and also those who require to access lessons remotely. 

The panel can also grant control over key AV technologies used to capture content including  Aver PTZ Cameras and Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 Microphones, providing teachers the opportunity to capture not just themselves but in-room students who may ask questions during the lectures.

AV Distribution and switching was achieved with Crestron DM NVX 4K 4:4:4 HDR Network AV Encoders and Decoders alongside QSC Core 110f DPSs, Audinate AVIO I/O Adapter, and Magewall USB Capture with NVX output.