![Laser projection shines the light within Leeds Arts University’s £22m extension](/ContentStorage/Generic/CaseStudy/content1/f068252c-7737-4e33-aa34-1e80e500af6c.jpg)
Industry Higher education |
Region Leeds, UK |
Type of Solution High brightness laser projectors |
Installation Company AV2000 Audio Visual Solutions |
www.av2k.co.uk |
Based in Leeds, AV2000 supplies and installs audio visual systems across the UK for corporate, education, health and public sector clients. Tel: 0113 256 2200 Email: [email protected] |
Challenge
Leeds Arts University wanted the best AV for its new £22m state-of-the-art building. Among the new facilities for students would be industry-standard film and photography studios which would allow the university to expand its course provision, including the introduction of BA (Hons) Filmmaking and BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance.
It needed high resolution, high brightness projectors in each of the new photography studios as well as within the standard teaching spaces in the university’s new build extension.
In the studios the projectors would need to compete with bright photography lights and would be installed inaccessibly high up – so choosing a low maintenance option was absolutely key.
Michael Flower, Academic Computing Manager at Leeds Arts University, said: “The projectors would be used for lectures and seminars across a range of creative subjects. Being able to show bright and clear images that display correctly is particularly important when teaching visual arts subjects. The equipment would also be used for visiting speakers, including creative professionals at our external networking events, so being able to show a high quality image was incredibly important.”
Solution
Leeds based AV experts AV2000 installed 17x Optoma high brightness ZW500T laser projectors together with Extron DTP systems to play and receive content and power the input plate in each room.
Andrew Cripwell, Director at AV2000, said: “Brightness and low maintenance were the central reasons for choosing these laser projectors.”
The ZW500T is a bright and compact WXGA resolution 5,000-lumen laser projector. With a low operating noise of 28dB, it is one of the quietest projectors in its category. Engineered for 24/7 continuous operation, it offers up to 30,000 hours light source lifetime in full brightness mode and needs minimal maintenance with the airtight optical engines independently certified as IP5X dust resistant. Its lamp-less laser light source provides consistent brightness and colour accuracy.
Horizontal and vertical lens shift come as standard, as does four corner adjustment and an impressive 1.6x optical zoom. The projector can be installed in any orientation and HDBaseT connectivity further adds to installation flexibility by allowing users to easily send and display audio and video files with a single cable.
Each projector is connected to an individual PC into which lecturers and visiting speakers can connect their laptops or content to present.
Results
The 173-year-old institution, which has trained celebrated artists including Damien Hirst, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, marked the opening of the new extension to the public in February with an exhibition by Yoko Ono.
Michael said: “All the facilities in our new build have been well received by students and lecturers. The projectors have ensured teaching in our new classrooms can be delivered to a high standard using appropriate supporting media and high quality images.”
Andrew added: “Thanks to the high resolution projectors and the laser light source, the projection is detailed and clear with rich, accurate colours which is incredibly important for photography courses.”
Leeds Arts University
Founded in 1846, Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts further and higher education institution, based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, with a main campus opposite the University of Leeds.
www.leeds-art.ac.uk
Photography copyright: Leeds Arts University. Photography by Hamish Irvine