The School of Engineering is housed inside the Grade II listed Queen’s Buildings, a Gothic Revival University building. The project involved the remodelling of two  existing rooms to create two flexible learning spaces that can accommodate 200 students and 90 students respectively.

Both teaching spaces have a column free open-plan environment based around tables of six and twelve. Mobile room dividers allow for flexibility within the space and to create distinct working zones.

This new, modern facility needed to incorporate flexible and scalable connectivity options, allowing staff and students to share content to different displays within the new spaces. The AV design for both rooms was conceptualised by Drama By Design with usability, collaboration and continuity in mind throughout the suite.

Each room feature 65” displays mounted on the walls around the room together with 86” Clevertouch screens mounted on electronically height-adjustable column display mounts, at the teaching positions.

The 65” displays each have the facility for local wired (HDMI and USB-C) and wireless connection with a local button control panel to enable the user to select inputs or blank the display.

An AVoIP (Audio Visual over Internet Protocol) system was utilised to provide a scalable, flexible and forward-thinking solution for video and audio signal distribution. This advanced system harnesses the power of IP technology to seamlessly distribute audio and video signals throughout each space.

Any source throughout the space can be distributed to each or all displays via a simple to use touch screen user interface. Thus students can be working collaboratively on one of the room displays, but their work can easily be displayed on the main teaching display or all the displays in the room.

The rooms also feature pan tilt camera for lecture capture and hybrid teaching and learning. Microphones mounted on the ceiling together with radio microphones ensure the lecturer’s voice is captured. Ceiling loudspeakers provide zoned voice reinforcement for the lecturer and program sound.

“From concept to detailed design, meticulous planning, and the attention to project particulars has led the way in helping develop these two unique spaces. Delivered on time within budget and to a high standard, these rooms are helping build the universities portfolio of technically advanced and state-of-the-art learning spaces.”

Pete Dunsire | Senior Project Manager AV/IT, Cardiff University