The Problem
UC Davis needed a large lecture hall on campus to accommodate their ever-growing student body. Being the only addition of significant classroom space in over a decade on campus, staff and students were interviewed to see what they would want to be included throughout the building. Through the public bid process, UC Davis accommodated the Active Learning Campus trend in new construction by including state-of-the-art Audio Visual technology. Skylights throughout the building help reduce the electrical footprint, but presents a common challenge for AV presentation systems due to ambient light.
PCD’s Approach
PCD installed “high-gain” projection screens that allow them to be utilized in bright natural or fluorescent light with a 14,000 center lumen, dual-lamp, digital projector. In addition three confidence monitors that show the instructor what the students are seeing was installed. The Audio Visual system includes control systems, infrared systems for hearing assistance, and a recorder that captures, manages and searches live and on-demand streaming content.
PCD’s Solution
PCD installed three 15-foot by 24-foot DNP brand high-gain Supernova Infinity Screens, a Christie WU14K-M M-Series projector, three Planar 98” Ultra HD resolution annotation screens for class notes, and three NEC P554 55″ confidence monitors that show the instructor what the students are seeing. The Audio Visual system includes Extron SMP 351 Streaming Media Processor and Crestron DM-MD32X32 control systems, Middle Atlantic rack with LabGruppen C284230E power amp, Symetrix Radius AEC DSP, Shure SM87A and MX418D/S microphones, Audio-Technica System 10 PRO microphones, and Vaddio RoboShot PTZ cameras. It also includes QSC ceiling speakers, Soundtube LA880I-BK 3-Way Line Array ceiling speakers, JBL 305P MkII desktop speakers, Williams Sound SoundPlus infrared system for hearing assistance, and a Sonic Foundry Mediasite RL900 Series MultiView Recorder DVI/SDI which provides capture, management, delivery and search of live and on-demand streaming.
The Result
At 16,365 square-feet, California Hall is now the largest lecture hall on campus. As part of the Active Learning Campus trend in new construction, the hall includes rotating seats and table top surfaces instead of desks so peers can collaborate, architecturally integrated projection screens and skylights throughout the building to reduce the electrical footprint. California Hall has earned a LEED-gold designation.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT
Karen Morgan Photography