Carl J. Rosenberg
Principal Emeritus
When Northern Kentucky University’s College of Informatics started planning for their new building, it was a given that the creation of information and its display would be central to the project.
Every classroom was to be equipped with state-of-the-art digital audiovisual systems to support the College’s educational program. Acentech was selected to design each of the audiovisual systems and turn this vision into reality.
The premier space in the $53 million building is an auditorium, known as the Digitorium, that supports a variety of activities, from lectures to performances, student project work, and experimental programs. The front of the room is dominated by a 25’4” x 15’10” video wall composed of Christie MicroTiles, used for lecture support, display of student work, or even as a set backdrop for dance or other performances. “Opera boxes” running along each upper side wall are equipped with computer workstations for student project work that can be displayed on the video wall individually or all eight at once. If multiple projects are presented at once, viewers can use wireless headsets to listen to the audio corresponding to the video of their choice. The system also supports three-dimensional video projection, 7.1 surround sound, and video recording locally and from the building’s video studio.
The typical classroom system allows for recording of faculty or student presentations for streaming or later viewing over the school’s intranet. Other specialty spaces include a digital news lab, audio and video studios, a CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) room. Public displays include digital signage, interactive information kiosks, four projectors to display imagery on the building itself after dark, and an interactive projection display that responds to viewer gestures.
Acentech also consulted on architectural acoustics, including sound isolation recommendations and mechanical system noise and vibration control. Acentech’s acousticians collaborated with the design team to identify the acoustical and noise control requirements for the different spaces within the building and resolve potential adjacency conflicts. In addition, we provided advice on the placement and design of the mechanical systems, in order to provide suitable background noise levels in the Digitorium and classrooms.
