Keele University Central Science Laboratories

Keele has always adopted an innovative approach to teaching science both in the lecture theatre and in the laboratory.

The new CSL brings together over ten core science disciplines and will support both our existing high-class teaching but also as importantly allow us to develop our teaching methods through effective use of technology and working across disciplines.

The AV capability is core to this pioneering mission and, like the laboratories themselves, is leading the way for the UK Higher Education sector.
 

- Paul Cartwright, Faculty Business Manager, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele University

Keele University’s Central Science Laboratories is a new, four-floor, state-of-the-art building for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It houses open plan teaching and research laboratories, IT provision and student social learning space.

The AV in this building needed to provide a configurable solution which worked alongside the flexible set-up of the learning spaces, with high-quality sound and visual reproduction and an easy to understand user interface for users.

The Solution

Throughout the building, there are 20 flexible teaching locations and 90 screens, each of which receive content from an AV over IP receiver. Additional AV items in the building include a four-screen video wall in the main entrance and seven digital signage screens installed across the four floors.

Each floor of the building comprises of different teaching zones, each of which has a teaching point, a digital microphone and ceiling speakers. IR Induction Loop transmitters and large format displays ensure the space is as accessible as possible for all users. The completed solution allows for zones to be used individually or combined with others, depending on the required capacity.

The Benefits

Feedback from training sessions has commented on the ease of use of the system. The main system has simple, self-explanatory button controllers which are easy to use, and the flexibility of the learning spaces allows academic staff to use a number of different approaches to delivering learning content.

This was the first large-scale AV over IP installation at the University and has served as a testbed for future projects. The system also offers a 4k solution which should support the visual needs of science subjects for years to come.

As with other projects, Pure AV clearly knew what they were doing and offered valuable advice to enhance our initial ideas.

As this install was going into a new build there were some issues with the provision of power and data, but this was all handled professionally by the Pure AV installation and project management team.
 

- Matt Boulton, Senior Technician, Audio Visual Services, Keele University