In today’s rapidly evolving world of technology, schools and universities need to meet the demand for high-performance technology both in and out of the classroom. With Crestron technologies, easy-to-use tools for teachers and professors are literally at one’s fingertips.  One tap on a touchscreen and one can stream a video, display a document, broadcast a lecture, or start recording a lesson that can later be distributed to distance learners.

Crestron systems support hundreds of rooms within a building or across a campus while leveraging existing infrastructure.  Remote management capabilities cut down on time spent troubleshooting technology, optimising class time for educators and learners. Crestron enables educators and support staff to focus on providing a high-quality learning experience with technology that is guaranteed to work.

Three world-class institutions of higher learning have deployed Crestron AV solutions to radically transform the learning environment on their campuses with outstanding outcomes for both staff and students.

The University of Surrey

The University of Surrey, a top university in the UK, recently opened its new School of Veterinary Medicine Buildings. Local integrator proAV was commissioned to equip the new facilities with AV technologies that would create a world-class centre of educational excellence at the Veterinary School.

Utilising Crestron’s Digital Media™ and CP3 processing technology as the backbone, the installation covers 30 small group teaching rooms, a clinical skills laboratory, a biochemical lab, a simulated veterinary surgery, various meeting rooms and communal areas, as well as lecture theatres and teaching areas.

The clinical skills laboratory has both 3D and 2D displays, which are used to present streamed content from connected devices, 3D cameras to stream content out to the network/IPTV distribution, flexible 2D cameras, microphones and controls. The biochemical lab features interactive displays with cameras and mics to capture and stream content. In the lab for anatomy teaching, 3D displays are controlled by a central control panel interface to display streamed content and a portable camera and overhead 3D camera both feeding the IPTV encoder via video matrix for viewing in other rooms.

In addition, the project included a mock surgery area, 30 small group teaching pods, and large meeting rooms with projection and video conferencing facilities. “We are delighted that the university is now able to use powerful displays with state-of-the-art 3D streaming, viewing and content distribution to create a collaborative and interactive learning environment across the new facility,” comments Mike Phillpot, marketing director at proAV.

University of Copenhagen – Mærsk Tower

The University of Copenhagen’s iconic Mærsk Tower is part of the Panum Institute and home to the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Mærsk Tower is one of the largest AV installations in Copenhagen, with over 5,000 components. The AV project was donated by the A.P. Moeller Maersk foundation, who selected Stouenborg as AV advisor and integrator for the project.

The Mærsk Tower houses four auditoriums, lecture rooms, laboratories, classrooms, research facilities, as well as meeting and social areas. Stouenborg set the foundations for the AV solution by installing an extensive network infrastructure, before installing Crestron’s Digital Media™ 3-Series to manage signal distribution throughout the 40,000m2 tower.

The four auditoriums, each with their own control room, can be used as individual areas or linked to accommodate an audience of up to 1000. The area is controlled via the Digital Media™ system, which facilitates video conferencing and streaming between auditoriums. Presentation and AV systems are operated with Crestron touch screens, which have been customised for the University and can be operated using any smartphone or tablet. Five Crestron CP3 processor networks manage and control the IP-based technology throughout the building, linking it back to the central network and control system. This unique programming architecture provides superfast processing and ensures a scalable networking solution.

Anders Jørgensen, project manager at Stouenborg, comments, “Crestron products are designed for enhanced scalability, high-speed delivery and real-time multitasking, which is essential in a high-level educational environment with hundreds of students. Crestron technology allows for the seamless integration between the different aspects of the project, creating the perfect environment for lecturers and their students.”

University of Technology Sydney, Australia

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) recently launched a ‘SuperLab’, as the centrepiece of its new Science and Graduate School of Health Building. The concept of a SuperLab is a relatively new model that allows instructors to run different classes of variable sizes simultaneously in a single venue.

UTS proposed a state-of-the-art SuperLab, with space for 220 students modelled on the first SuperLab, installed at the London Metropolitan University. The lab includes 26 workbenches configured in groups of eight, each fitted with touchscreen PCs and microphones that allows up to 12 classes to work concurrently in a single computer lab. Every alternate bench features a demonstration station for teachers, while multiple break-out areas accommodate group work and informal meetings.

The all-in-one Crestron DMPS300-C presentation switcher proved to be the ideal core for each of the 12 teaching stations. The system provides local control, as well as video source switching and audio de-embedding and mixing. Output signals are routed to the central equipment rack via Digital MediaTM across a single Cat 6A cable. At the rack, a Crestron Digital Media Switcher provides outputs to the monitors as well as feeding signals back to the benches. Knowing that a clear graphical interface would be crucial, the designers chose to use the Crestron X-Panel and placed a virtual touch panel directly on instructors’ PC screens. This configuration allows up to 24 inches of space for the interface when needed, and frees up bench space by using one screen instead of two.

UTS AV project manager, Rob Hardy states, “The result is so elegant that it looks simple, but there is a lot of work and more than a little Crestron magic that went into the design, testing, installation, interfacing, programming and commissioning to achieve that simplicity,”.

For more information on Crestron’s education solutions, kindly visit http://www.crestroneurope.com