Hurrairah bin Sohail discovers how the library commons at the University of Hong Kong was converted into a flexible learning space where students and lecturers can come together and interact freely
Education institutes are paying greater attention to their spaces with a concerted effort being made to improve the learning and teaching
outcomes for both students and
faculty members.
The University of Hong Kong
[HKU] decided to take a closer
look at its library commons and
decided to embark on a project to
maximise the usage of the space.
Audio Systems Consultants
(Asia) Limited [ASCL] was
contracted to manage the project.
Patrick Leung, director at
ASCL, talks about the initial
considerations for the project:
“The main objective for
HKU was to allow different
departments, no matter how
big or small the faculty might
be, to have access to a space and
AV resources on equal footing.
They also wanted to increase the
interaction between students
and lecturers.”
The existing AV systems at
HKU drove the selection of the
display technology at the library
commons as Leung details:
“Most of the lecture theatres
that the faculties have access to
feature projection. So, for the
library commons, HKU wanted
to provide a different option.
They decided to opt for a
videowall featuring LCD panels
and this allowed them to produce
different configurations and
layouts to view content and also
opened up avenues for content
sharing and connectivity.”
A 4 x 3 videowall comprising
Philips 55-in flat panels has been
deployed at HKU’s library
commons. The Philips panels
were chosen specifically due
to their 1.8mm bezel thickness
which enables the videowall to
have a seamless appearance.
The panels are kept in place with
the help of Chief mounts.
A Crestron DM-MD 16 x 16
matrix switcher is used to route
and manage video signals. In
addition, a RGBlink X2 videowall
processor is employed to enable
the multiple configurations and
layout modes for the display.
Regarding the selection of the
video matrix, Leung says:
“Reliability was important as we
knew that the library commons
space would be heavily used. We
expected a lot of people booking
this room and this is why we
selected the Crestron matrix. We
wanted to minimise the number
of faults caused by extensive
operations and we wanted less
interruptions for the AV system.”
The addition of the RGBlink
processor is also explained by
Leung: “We researched possible
processor options for the
videowall and found that the
RGBlink X2 was the most
reliable. It was also extremely
cost effective and provided all
the features we needed. RGBlink
itself was very engaged with us
and provided good support and
service during the installation
phase of the project.”
ASCL employed both products
together to bring about HKU’s
desired usage scenario for the
videowall. Leung details: “There
are eight different types of layout
settings or configurations that
the videowall can operate in. The
requirement for these different
settings arose from HKU’s
objective of enabling interactivity
and open communication
between the students and the
lecturers. We discussed the usage
scenario with the university
extensively and based on the size
of the videowall and the expected
number of participants we came
to the number eight.”
A total of 12 students can push
content from their devices to the
videowall at any given time in
the library commons and the
layout settings of the videowall
can accommodate this. Floor
boxes from Crestron and Kramer
provide the connectivity
required for students and
lecturers to hop onto the AV
systems.
Wireless connectivity is
provided via Mersive Solstice
Pod. Leung says: “The Mersive
wireless presenter provided
another feed of input. HKU was
already using Mersive products
so it was a simple decision to
continue with it. There were
other options available on the
market but none of them provided
a good balance between cost and
functionality for the client.”
The videowall system can be
controlled via an Apple iPad and
a Crestron CP3 processor.
Regarding the control options
available, Leung says: “An AV
technician is available on-site to
facilitate but nonetheless we
have designed the control system
to be friendly with a UX that
allows for anyone to control the
videowall themselves.”
Audio in HKU’s library
commons is provided by two
Tannoy DVS8 surface mount
speakers along with eight
Tannoy CVS6 ceiling speakers.
Two Ecler eGPA2-300 amplifiers
power the audio system while
processing is provided by a
Biamp Tesira Forte AI DSP. Audio
input is provided by Shure
microphones.
Interestingly, HKU has made
an addition to the library
commons with the help of the
integrator to further improve
interactivity.
Leung says: “The space
was perfect for the use of an
interactive whiteboard. It serves
as a collaboration tool, it can be
hooked up with the videowall
and it can also be used for ad hoc
sessions where writing has to be
supported. We’ve provided a
75-in Hitachi whiteboard on a
Chief trolley that can be moved
around the space and used as
needed.”
He continues: “Since the
whiteboard is a solution with
user experience at its core, it was
important for HKU to be able to
have an on-site demonstration.
We approached multiple
manufacturers but only Hitachi
was able to come to HKU’s
campus to demo their product.
There were 10 different
stakeholders from HKU that were
involved with the final decision
making process so finding a
common time for them to visit
an experience centre was not
feasible. We’re very happy
with the Hitachi whiteboard.
It supports 20 touchpoints at
any given time, can provide 4K
resolution visuals and has an
anti-glare display.”
Leung comments regarding the
challenges faced by ASCL during
the course of the project: “There
were many hurdles we had to
overcome. The installation of the
videowall was a challenge since
the supporting frame requires
the builder to provide adequate
infrastructure. Even though a 4 x
3 videowall is not very large and
we were using quality mounts
from Chief, there were a lot of
considerations when it came to
the alignment of the panels. Our
initial measurements had to be
on point because once work
commenced it would be very
difficult to re-do and start again.
“We were also facing a time
crunch since we only had a
month to complete the entire
installation. We countered this
by spending more time on
planning and researching for
the project so when it came to
the deployment phase, we were
able to cope with the shorter
timeframe because we were able
to cut down on revisions due
to the time invested earlier in
devising an accurate game plan.”