Flexible spaces help new London School of Economics building excel
When the London School of Economics team set out to create a flexible and sustainable teaching building, they relied on proAV to complete the AV integration.
Founded in 1895, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the world’s foremost social science universities. Some 12,000 students (2017-18) come from over 148 countries to study in LSE’s 23 academic departments and 22 research centres.
proAV has enjoyed a long partnership with LSE, having completed several integrated AV projects in recent years, including an all-embracing AV scheme that was rolled out across the New Academic Building.
The latest project they were involved in, Centre Buildings Redevelopment, took 18 months to complete and involved the demolition of several buildings – East Building, The Anchorage, Clare Market and St Clement’s (core and eastern wing) – to create new landmark building and public space for students, faculty and alumni visitors.
State-of-the-art teaching
Designed by renowned architects Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners, the new building, the largest in LSE’s history, comprises 13 floors and a basement. Consultant Chapman BDSP, AV consultant Wide Angle Consulting/CBDSP and contractor Mace also played vital roles in seeing the project come to fruition.
The basement and first three floors are dedicated to providing flexible state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces that facilitate independent and group study, enabling educators to create and deliver innovative teaching.
This area also needed to include a 200-seater auditorium with associated control room and green room, and a first-of-its-kind LSE-style lecture theatre to seat 80. Smaller Type B lecture theatres and seminar spaces with divisible options offer flexibility of space and relaxed seating arrangements. Further breakout spaces and open plan study zones create more spaces for study, discussion and time out.
proAV supported the CBR project by providing design, system configuration and integration, supply, installation and testing/commissioning of all audio visual equipment whilst coordinating with other contractors to meet tight project timescales.
By utilising their advanced off-site test facilities to commission and programme systems as far as possible prior to installation, the team reduced the time required onsite. Special consideration was given to the impact of AV equipment on the architectural surroundings, so all products were positioned in accordance with the architects’ guidelines. Custom colour finishes were also produced to complement fixtures such as ceiling baffles, lighting and wall cladding.
Functional solutions
LSE boasts a variety of tech-enhanced spaces, including a reception; alumni centre; auditorium; control room; Green Room; 80-seat lecture theatre; two Harvard-style lecture theatres; 10 seminar rooms; and two divisible seminar rooms.
The auditorium – a large teaching, presentation and events space with a seating capacity of 200 – has been equipped to allow a high degree of functionality. It includes production lighting, multiple high-definition Panasonic PTZ cameras with recording facilities and a comprehensive sound system including solutions for programme, voice reinforcement and hearing assistance sound.
A twin front projection system was set up using 12K Epson laser projectors backed up with two 65” NEC repeater screens. A wireless collaboration solution from Kramer, central audio and lecture capture are managed centrally via an XTP Extron control system through to the control room which houses a Panasonic vision mixer and Allen & heath audio desk allowing operators to take full control as and when required.
The new 80-seat LSE-style lecture theatre boasts a unique design with audience seating either side of a central presentation position. Again, dual projection and four repeater displays enable teaching and collaboration to take place seamlessly without the need to move the furniture around.
Further lecture and seminar rooms feature either dual projection or single projection displays, Kramer wireless presentation solutions and Sony PTZ cameras. Wolfvision desk cameras and Echo 360 lecture capture systems combine video management with lecture capture to support active learning for students. Tripleplay IPTV and digital signage solutions can be seen in the open zones around reception displaying LSE communications and news on 55” portrait Philips screens.
Beyond the main building the new alumni centre is a dedicated space created for their global alumni and offers business facilities including meeting rooms and relaxed social spaces for events. An Epson laser projector and Screen International projector screen provide large display solutions for events whilst two 65” NEC displays enable meeting room collaboration using Kramer VIA Connect PRO and Logitech ConferenceCam. Audio is managed through Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones and Tannoy pendant speakers.
The complete kit list for the innovation-packed learning and communal spaces is as follows…
Reception
2 55” Philips flat panel displays in portrait orientation and Tripleplay IPTV signage.
Alumni centre
2 65” NEC 4K flat panels; Epson 6K ANSI Lumen laser projector; Screen International projection screen; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Logitech ConferenceCam; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; Tannoy pendant loudspeaker system; Extron TLP Pro touch panel control; and a Tripleplay signage player.
Auditorium
Twin projection system utilising Epson 12K ANSI Lumen laser models; NEC 75” repeater screens; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Panasonic 4K PTZ cameras; Wolfvision document camera; Echo 360 Lecture capture; Tannoy VX speaker system; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; Biamp Tesira Audio DSP; XTP Extron control system; Stage lighting bar with Fresnels and RGBW LED Moving Lights; and a custom lectern to match internal auditorium cladding.
Control Room
NEC camera preview LCD monitors; Panasonic Vision mixer and controller; Allen & Heath 48 channel audio desk with Dante; Biamp Tesira Audio DSP; JBL monitor speakers; QSC amps; 12” Extron TLP Pro touch panel for technician control; Zero 88 48 channel lighting console; and a custom control desk with integrated racking.
Green Room
NEC 40” flat panel display
80-seat LSE style lecture theatre
Twin projection system utilising Epson 8K ANSI Lumen laser models; 4 55” Flat panel repeater displays; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Sony Dual PTZ cameras; Wolfvision document camera; Echo 360 Lecture capture; Tannoy loudspeakers; Biamp audio DSP; 45 Televic conference microphones; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; XTP Extron control system; Extron TLP Pro touch panel; Ampetronic Hearing assistance system; a custom lectern to match internal theatre cladding.
Harvard-style lecture theatre
Twin projection system utilising Epson 6K ANSI Lumen laser models; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Sony PTZ camera; Wolfvision Desk camera; Echo 360 Lecture Capture; Tannoy loudspeaker system; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; Vaddio AV Bridge for streaming; Extron DTP control system; Extron TLP Pro touch panel; Ampetronic hearing assistance system; and a custom lectern to match internal theatre cladding.
Seminar Rooms
Epson 6K ANSI Lumen Laser projector with custom drop projection screen; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Sony PTZ camera; Wolfvision Desk camera; Echo 360 Lecture capture; Tannoy loudspeaker system; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; Beyer lecture capture microphones; Extron control system with TLP Pro touch panel; Ampetronic hearing assistance system; and custom Top Tec Explorer lecterns.
Divisible Seminar Rooms
Epson 6K ANSI Lumen Laser projector with custom drop projection screen; Kramer VIA Connect PRO wireless collaboration and presentation solution; Wolfvision Desk camera; Sony PTZ camera; Biamp audio mixer; Echo 360 Lecture capture; Tannoy loudspeaker system; Sennheiser Speechline wireless microphones; XTP Extron control system with TLP Pro touch panel; Ampetronic hearing assistance system; and custom Top Tec Explorer lecterns.
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Posted: 30th April 2020