Extron technology has been used to power a network-based AV system at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The 400-seat tiered lecture theatre, located in the lower ground floor of the Cheng Kin Ku Building, hosts academic lectures, public discussions, and televised broadcasts. The venue is used for recording BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions programme.
The university required technology capable of supporting daily academic functions and hybrid events. The system needed to accommodate external broadcast crews who regularly connect to the internal infrastructure for live events.
LSE collaborated with UK-based integrator GVAV and Extron to develop a system centred on network-based video distribution and AV control. The design uses Extron NAV Pro AVoIP solutions, which the company says provide scalability and signal fidelity with HDMI and USB sources.
The AV upgrade was completed during a three-week window during the holiday period. The initial vision included an LED wall, but an alternate display system was specified with three edge-blended laser projectors due to cost and scheduling implications.
The NAV system includes multiple NAV E 501 and NAV E 101 encoders, supporting HDMI, Ethernet, and USB, and NAV SD 101 scaling decoders to distribute content across endpoints. All NAV endpoints are managed by an Extron NAVigator system manager, designed to enable centralised configuration and switching of content sources.
IPCP Pro 360Q xi control processors and TouchLink Pro tabletop and wall mount touchpanels provide control for instructors and technicians. The visual system comprises three edge-blended laser projectors, each delivering 10,000 lumens with 4K enhancement, supplemented by a pair of 75in 4K displays.
For hybrid and remote teaching, four Panasonic PTZ cameras were specified to capture the theatre from multiple angles.
Michael Courts, marketing manager at GVAV Ltd, said: “The Sheikh Zayed Theatre upgrade was a collaborative effort that brought together LSE’s vision, Extron’s technical expertise, and our installation experience.
“The Extron NAV system has given the venue the flexibility and reliability it needs to host everything from daily lectures to high-profile broadcasts, all managed through an intuitive control interface. Seeing how easily the staff have embraced the new capabilities is a real testament to the design and planning that went into this project.”
