In a building with an area of 18,000 sq. m, designed by Dublin-based Grafton Architects, has lecture halls, informal learning spaces, academic offices, music rehearsal and arts spaces, squash courts and a 20m x 35m sports hall.
To accommodate this range of use, a rotating design was developed to creatively meet the need for the ever-increasing spans required to transition from smaller spans at the upper level to the ground and lower ground levels. The result is an incredible series of "tree-shaped" concrete columns and beams in the form of tapering diagonal "branches", giving the building an epic grandeur. The proAV system integrator was responsible for the AV installation for the Marshall Building. IT provision will be provided by the IT team of the University. This project is the third large-scale AV deployment of proAV in the LSE building environment. Previous projects, including the central building, were completed in 2019. The Marshall Building is located in the center of the LSE campus, with three separate entrances leading to the huge Great Hall, an open space for meetings and networking. The interior is a striking visual centerpiece in sustainable concrete, with a sweeping staircase leading to two different levels of classroom space. After winning the tender, LSE engaged proAV to review and redesign audio-visual equipment in all classrooms, auditoriums, other conference rooms, rehearsal rooms and music rooms to include digital signage and hearing aid systems.
In collaboration with Sound Space Vision (rehearsal studio consultants) and Wide Angle Consulting, proAV had to take into account that campus learning standards already existed in order to develop a modern and future-proof learning solution for LSE. Was the completed project very different from the original plans of the two consultants? “We work directly with our customers, so a lot has changed since the original specification,” says proAV senior project manager Mark Dunbar. “Clients want blended learning or blended learning and they have increased their demand for the Zoom platform, which was not in the original consultant briefing, so it has really gone through a lot of changes.”
From an AV perspective, what does the LSE require from proAV? “They want AV for classrooms, they like projection screens, they like speakers to amplify sound, and they need microphones and lecture recording systems.” More people are coming into the building, "but due to Covid, it's moving into a more hybrid learning space where they'll have multiple people in the classroom, but also remote students, and be able to interact with Zoom and do video teaching." The entrance to the building's Great Hall is a large flat space above which proAV installed an Epson triple projection display system, iPad video and audio control, and wireless performance capability with a Mersive Solstice presentation system. The digital signage in this open space uses the Tripleplay signage platform to broadcast London Stock Exchange news and cafe deals on Samsung monitors. Inside the impressive Harvard Lecture Hall, the main projection display is combined with the Samsung relay screen. The AV system is controlled through Extron switching, distribution, and control. All classrooms are designed to provide a hybrid solution using Shure MXA910 ceiling microphones and Shure table microphones, allowing remote participants to hear all students in the room during a Zoom conference call. There are two improved Harvard lecture halls, each with a capacity of 90 people. people, and there are also four Harvard lecture halls, each with a capacity of 87 people. In the expanded theater, a Shure tabletop microphone was added to each seat, allowing multiple people to record debates and lectures, and a live broadcast system was installed for distance learning. Conference rooms and classrooms combine collaborative and interactive styles to make use of a variety of teaching methods.
The Rehearsal Studio is a fully equipped practice and performance space with a large 5m wide Screen International projection screen, 32 stage lights, ETC lighting control and production panels, an Allen & Heath mixing console, EM Acoustics sound equipment and a Sennheiser mobile connect assisted hearing system.What were the biggest challenges facing proAV in this project? "It was an APR negotiation and how it would fit into the building. Many containment routes were pre-determined before the APR package was agreed, so we had to redesign various elements. We had to work with the General Contractor to develop containment routes as simple as possible. Additional paths need to be added containment due to more core drilling. From an architectural point of view, this was difficult as there was specialized woodwork on the walls and APCs were not allowed. Worked with the carpentry team to see how to fix this. With the non-standard ceiling finish, we had to agree on the exact placement of microphones and see how we can place them between partitions without conflict Working with client and architect After many coordination meetings, a solution was finally found.”
How did proAV choose the technology for this project? "The LSE AV team prioritizes technology, so they have a lot of say. In this case, LSE is an Extron company, so it has an Extron control system. Most things like Biamp DSP are what they have in things that located on campus." Dunbar said that while the LSE strives to standardize a lot of technology, the Marshall Building does have a few technological innovations from the university. "Mersive was new to them and had to pass all of their security checks. Another new technology for them became the WyreStorm AV over IP device.”
List of BundlesAllen & Heath Audio MixersAudacBiamp Tesira Audio Matrix SpeakersJBL Column PA Sennheiser Speakers Handheld & Lavalier Microphones, Hearing SystemsShure Ceiling Array Microphones & Tabletop MicrophonesSonance Ceiling SpeakersPoly Trio Conference MicrophonesQSC Amplifiers
Post time: Sep-06-2022