UTAS Audio-Visual Installation
Congratulations to our Audio-Visual team which recently completed an impressive AV project at the University of Tasmania’s Philip Smith Centre, on Hobart’s Domain.
Built in 1910, the Philip Smith Centre was Tasmania’s first purpose-built facility for teacher training and was the home of the Hobart Teachers’ Training College.
After World War II, the University of Tasmania’s Faculty of Education was established in the building.
Over the past few years UTAS has undertaken a $13.5 million restoration of the heritage site, enabling educational activities to continue at the Centre for future generations.
Contact Group was contracted to deliver a state-of-the-art AV System, which includes interactive screens, large format displays, multiple PTZ cameras, hearing assistance, Shure ceiling tiles and pendant speakers.
This equipment was designed to integrate into the University’s Zoom Room teaching platform that allows students and lecturers to dynamically interact and collaborate with other students remotely through the Zoom Room video conference.
The system was installed in accordance with the architect Lovell Chen’s design aesthetic, to maintain the building’s heritage values.
Contact Group installed and programmed technology in two custom rooms and six standardised teaching rooms, in line with UTAS’s video-conferencing guidelines.
“It means a lecturer can come from any UTAS campus and deliver their presentation or video conference – it’s simple to use and the same technology in all buildings,” AV Account Manager Michael Macey said.
In the largest lecture theatre, there is a Logitech Scribe System, an AI powered whiteboard camera which effortlessly shares whiteboards into video meetings and classes with outstanding clarity.
The main challenges with this project were associated with minimising impact to the heritage site.
“Installing the cable and finding pathways that didn’t affect the fabric of each room, was the biggest issue,” Michael said.
The fixing of equipment into heritage building materials was another challenge.
“A 400-milimetre drill bit was required to insert the cable through the pressed tin ceiling from the floor of the level above,” he said.
The attic space was also transformed with multiple screens and pendant speakers, lights and microphones all suspended at the same height.
“Not only did we have to consider the building’s aesthetics, but working in this space posed acoustic challenges,” Michael said.
The building also features digital signage on two different levels, Logitech Tap Schedulers for room bookings, and people counters so UTAS can obtain analytics on room usage.
Michael said it was interesting to work in a building which has such a rich history.
“The finish of the heritage surfaces and the work that goes into a project like this, that no one will ever see, is what I like best about it,” he said.
