Lecture Halls & Theaters

Please select one of the reference projects below to see more details

University of Guelph
Ryerson University

Who: University of Guelph
What: Biodiversity Institute Visualization Center
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Completed: 2006
Design Co.: Chamberlain Architects and Advanced Presentation Solutions, TRP General Contractors
Products: Infinite plasma videowall, Crestron control, Polycom videoconferencing, NEC projection, SMART interactive whiteboards, Sierra matrix switching, Symetrix digital audio processing,

About the University of Guelph

Education on the Guelph campus has a long tradition spanning over a hundred years ago when the Ontario government purchased a five hundred-acre farm from Frederick William Stone for its new School of Agriculture. Established in 1964, the University of Guelph consists of seven colleges with 17,484 full-time and 1,494 part-time undergraduate students currently in the Guelph campus alone.

The Installation

The leaders of the Biodiversity Institute wanted to include a lecture hall in their new building that would fit with the complex yet highly important topic of Biodiversity. The theater needed to engage the audience and include state-of-the-art audio visual technology to help attract key speakers and attendees. The end result was the Visualization Center which functions as a multi-purpose presentation area, the centerpiece of the room being the 'bezel less' Infinte plasma videowall in a 4x3 format or 12 plasma displays. Space and audience impact were key factors and made the Infinite plasma the perfect choice.

The videowall display is designed to function not only for basic presentations but also for videoconferencing with the capability of showing multi site videoconferences. Through a Sierra switcher and Crestron control system, the videowall is controlled in an easy to use format with the most flexibility possible. For example the videowall has the capability to be split for various applications. Multi-endpoint sites for videoconferences can be designed to fit into their own zones within the display allowing for seamless communication and the ultimate in collaboration.

The Polycom videoconferencing system has the capability of doing up to 6 sites at one time which is the maximum allowed by any system today. Two cameras have been specified which allows for increased collaboration and flexibility in distance meetings.

The Crestron control system allows for 2 control panels to be installed, one on each side of the videowall. From these vantage points, not only is the videowall content controllable but this also allows for audio volume control and videoconferencing control - all from the touch panel.

In addition to controlling the videowall, the touch panels will also be programmed with the capability of controlling 2 projectors in the breakout areas at each side of the room. A wireless touch panel is also utilized in these breakout areas.

All audio video devices such as processors, amplifiers and subwoofers are wired and installed in a vented audio video rack which is housed in the audiovisual closet adjacent to the videowall.

In the larger, breakout presentation area, an LCD projector and electric screen accommodates the presentation needs here. In the smaller breakout area a less powerful projector is used in conjunction with an interactive Smartboard for small/medium group collaboration.

Images

Who: Ryerson University
What: Ryerson Business Building on Bay Street
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Completed: 2006-2007
Design Co.: Advanced Presentation Solutions (APS), Toronto, Ontario; Consulting Participants along with Advanced.

Services provided - met regularly with the above representatives to provide consulting services to Ryerson. Specifically, we have met to coordinate AV specifications, communicate and introduce new and innovative design ideas as well as provide CAD drawings and specification cut sheets when required.

Products

NEC and Christie projectors, electric screens, Elmo pan/tilt zoom cameras, Wolfivison document cameras, Sonic Foundry streaming, Tannoy audio and Mackie audio mixing, QSC stereo amplifiers, Shure mics, Crestron control, Kramer matrix switching, Clear one assistive listening, custom lecterns

About Ryerson University

Ryerson University was founded in 1948 as Ryerson Institute of Technology. In 1993, it received full university status. In 2002, it changed its name once again to what is now known as Ryerson University. Currently, the school has approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 1,100 masters and PhD students. Investing in its future, Ryerson is moving forward on more than $210-million capital expansion that will transform the University campus with five new buildings.

The AV installation

Advanced has been partnering with Ryerson University going back to 1998 and many lecture halls and theaters of varying sizes have been completed over the years. The most recent project of note relates to the new Ryerson Business Building on Bay Street which is highlighted below.

The new Ryerson Business Building features some of the most technologically advanced presentation technology available today. There are 31 rooms with 6 different system configurations depending on the size and requirements of the classroom.

All Classrooms - Some components are common to all classrooms, despite their size. These include a 4000 lumen multimedia projector, a multi-format dvd/vcr and a high resolution document camera to display acetates, printed material and 3D objects. They also include an integrated 8-channel mixer/amplifier powering high-dispersion ceiling speakers and a wireless lavaliere diversity microphone. The system is operated via a custom-programmed Crestron control system that simplifies use of the components by allowing the instructor to press their selected operations onto a 10" colour touchscreen. By simply selecting "Laptop" for example, a series of commands is sent automatically from the touchscreen that lowers the motorized screen, turns on the projector, switches the projector to the right input, turns on the audio system and switches it to the right input and sets the volume level. All user-accessed equipment is contained in a teaching podium fashioned out of Hard Rock Maple wood veneer. Assistive listening systems are also provided in all rooms to increase accessibility for the hearing impaired.

500 Seat Lecture Theater - The 500-seat lecture hall is a showpiece room in terms of presentation technology. It features a giant 20' wide screen and a powerful 10,000 lumen high-definition projector. It also has an ultra-high resolution SXGA document camera. A ceiling mounted pan/tilt/zoom camera allows the lecture to be archived or streamed live to remote viewers. An integrated digital scaler up-converts every video source in the room (dvd, vcr, computer, laptop, document camera, video camera) to high definition and displays it through the projector. Six amplifiers deliver 6000 watts of power to precisely positioned 7.1 channel surround sound speakers and dual subwoofers. A separate set of ceiling speakers provide voice reinforcement for the instructor.

200 & 135 Seat Lecture Halls - The 6 x 135-seat and 2 x 200-seat lecture halls have dual 10' wide screens with 4000 lumen high definition projectors. They have a high resolution XGA document camera and a ceiling mounted pan/tilt/zoom camera allows the lecture to be archived or streamed live to remote viewers. An integrated digital scaler up-converts every video source in the room (dvd, vcr, computer, laptop, document camera, video camera, etc.) to high definition and displays it through the projector. An 8-input, 8-output matrix switcher allows any source to be displayed on either of the 2 screens or both. Ten ceiling speakers and two powered subwoofers provide both program audio and voice reinforcement for the instructor.

The Completed Project