Increasingly universities are looking at AV, lighting and control systems as a tool, not only to provide an enhanced learning environment and experience for students, but also as a way to reduce carbon footprint to help meet government energy saving targets.
A new project at the University of Surrey in Guildford, demonstrates how a Crestron-controlled professional AV system is helping achieve all these aims, and has provided the IT department at the University with a model for how to achieve future cost savings through investing in technology.
Upgrading audio visual equipment and facilities is a common experience for many universities. The University of Surrey had earmarked its Austin Pearce Building to be the first phase of an upgrade programme that will eventually encompass the whole campus, home to some 12,000 students and 3,000 staff. The Building features two large lecture theatres that required upgrading to incorporate 21st Century audio visual equipment that would satisfy the needs of students and lecturers alike. Alongside featuring new screens, projection equipment, Document Cameras and a Crestron control system, the theatres also showcases new LED lighting. All systems were designed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.
The new AV systems include HD projectors, interactive Crestron touch panels, a Roomview™ remote room management system, high end document cameras and a new audio system. It also became apparent that given the age of the existing lighting dimmers it would not be possible to properly control them with the new AV system, so the decision was taken to use this opportunity to install new LED lighting to support the university’s energy saving aims.
A major part of the AV upgrade project was to ensure standardisation when specifying equipment; this allowed the project team to incorporate Crestron lighting control, thus avoiding the use of another independent system. This has facilitated reducing, and allowing, centralisation of all operating and technical support services for the complete system.
For a copy of the full case study please contact Crestron on 0845 8738787