Just this month, the University of Charleston in W. Va. opened its all new Innovation Center, a dedicated space for students to enjoy live sporting events and connect with their peers.
The Tech Decision
During the building process, the University decided to incorporate innovative technology that would truly establish an engaging environment. To do so, Advanced was hired to conceptualize and install two spectacular Planar LCD displays with a control component.
“The University asked for two attention-grabbing displays that could easily and seamlessly be controlled by staff,” David Weatherhead, President of Advanced says. “After meeting with a few different solutions providers, the University selected Advanced because of our ability to deliver a well-thought out plan that best suited their needs.”
The Solution
During the building process, Advanced designed two Planar LCD video walls. One hangs as a 6×1 welcome banner at the front entrance and the other serves as the 3×3 central display fixture in an “entertainment hub” in the building’s atrium. According to Greg Priest, Senior Account Manager at Advanced, Planar was the ideal manufacturer for this particular application because of its ability to source power from a distance.
“With these monitors, the power modules are offloaded into quad controllers, which allows us to install the displays directly against the wall,” Priest says. “This makes them significantly lighter because they have no immediate backing components. They don’t need to be directly plugged in, thus eliminating the need for on-site outlets. With that being said, we were able to hook up both displays to an equipment rack in a control room that’s located about 100 feet away.”
Advanced also installed a Crestron Control System that allows University staff to control the on/off displays through a 7-inch touch panel located at reception.
“In addition to being able to control basic functions of the display, they can also control the content’s format,” Priest says. “If they’d like the entire display to relay one image, they can do so. If they’d like it to break into three different images, they can do that as well. The system gives them complete control over sophisticated functions with the touch of a button.”
The Impact
Since the Innovation Center’s opening, the University has used the displays to relay school-related information, as well as broadcast live sporting events.
“The 6×1 banner is the perfect welcome sign, because it could be personalized to the season, game, or event being hosted within the Innovation Center,” Priest says. “With Tight Rope Media Digital Signage players, key staff members can design and display whatever messaging they’d like. Customization is key to a warm welcome, and digital displays allow them to do just that.”
Additionally, the 3×3 Planar LCD video wall in the entertainment hub now acts as the ideal central location for students to watch live sporting events.
“The University of Charleston really wanted to create a space for students to come together,” Priest says. “We were truly able to create this new entertainment space with engaging digital signage.”
The University of Charleston is so thrilled with the environment that the displays have helped to create that they have called on Advanced to integrate a complimentary multi-room audio system.
“They now want a separate audio component that will even further unite students while they watch sporting events,” Priest says. “The best indication of a job well done is when a customer comes back for more.”
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