Hurrairah bin Sohail explores the exceptional AV deployment at the South Australian Sports Institute. The installation won integrator Pro AV Solutions the coveted Education Project category at the Inavate APAC Awards 2025.
The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) High Performance Centre in Mile End, Adelaide, presents an example of how AV technology is shaping elite sport, research, and education in Australia. Developed as a shared environment between SASI, the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR), and the University of South Australia (UniSA), the facility was conceived as more than a training base. It is a hybrid ecosystem where coaching, sports science, teaching, and analytics operate simultaneously, often in real time.
Founded in 1982, SASI has long played a central role in Australia’s elite sports development pipeline, providing athletes with access to high-level coaching, recovery, and scientific expertise. The relocation in 2024 to a purpose-built headquarters co-located with research and academic functions marked a strategic shift in how elite sport could integrate with education and scientific inquiry. At the centre of this vision sits an AV infrastructure that needed to operate across more than 45 spaces, supporting everything from biomechanics analysis and immersive training simulations to lectures, collaboration, and performance review.
The facility’s design, led by Mott MacDonald and refined through implementation by Pro AV Solutions, serving as the system integrator, had to support client requirements without creating friction between the different users who would occupy the building daily.
From the outset, the objectives of the project were ambitious and unusually broad. The AV environment had to enable real-time performance feedback for athletes and coaches, support rigorous academic research and data analysis, and facilitate immersive training environments capable of simulating real-world sporting conditions. At the same time, the system needed to remain interoperable with specialist technologies procured by the client while maintaining longterm stability, security, and a unified user experience across dozens of spaces with very different functional requirements. The result was a design challenge that extended well beyond typical integration work.
For the integration team, the process of reaching the final design was far from straightforward. Elliot Prestwood, account manager at Pro AV Solutions, explains: “The tender process was long, arduous, and complex. We explored a lot of options, and it was a mix of reading the specification and drawing from our experience with both clients in similar bespoke spaces. Our ability to put forward a conforming spec with our own ideas attached is what got us a seat at the table. We held workshops that evolved into them nominating us to help design a more fleshed-out solution.”
That early phase set the tone for a project defined by collaboration and constant refinement. The SASI development was not simply about deploying technology into pre-defined rooms; it required reconciling the expectations of multiple stakeholders, each with established operational standards and technical preferences. This became particularly apparent when addressing the differing AV ecosystems required by the institute and the university partner sharing the building.
Peter Inverarity, AV systems engineer at Pro AV Solutions, outlines the challenge: “The reason there is a mix of manufacturers is because there are two different tenants in the building, each with their own standards. The SASI tenant, taking up the lower floors, was fairly open to whatever standard suited the brief. However, UniSA had very firm standards regarding the AV-over-IP hardware they support. That was not to be compromised. They are on separate networks. It was an adherence to those standards, which is a sacred thing; you need to respect client standards. Thankfully, we’re an agnostic house with access to all manufacturers, so we’re flexible enough to work across either platform.”
The resulting architecture reflects that pragmatic flexibility. Rather than forcing a single platform across the entire building, the design embraced a dual-system approach built around AV-over-IP distribution. SASI and ORSR-controlled areas operate primarily on a backbone powered by Crestron technology, specifically NVX endpoints and CP4N control processors, while university-managed spaces align with campus standards based on solutions from Extron. The systems coexist across segmented networks while maintaining the ability to share content and workflows where necessary.
In practice, this meant constructing a network capable of handling a vast number of source and destination combinations without latency becoming a barrier to performance analysis or teaching activities. More than 100 routing paths were created, allowing content from cameras, computers, media players, and athlete tracking systems to move freely across displays, projection surfaces, and control rooms. Managed switches with multicast routing, redundancy protocols, and prioritised traffic ensured the system could handle high bandwidth demands reliably. The design also addressed a fundamental human factor: the need for a consistent user experience even when different technologies sit behind the scenes. Gateway nodes, VLAN segmentation, and mirrored control templates allowed rooms built on separate ecosystems to present a familiar interface to coaches, lecturers, and administrators. For users, the complexity disappears; the room behaves predictably regardless of which AV platform is running underneath.
This attention to usability becomes especially important in spaces like the Movement Studio, which was one of the most technically impressive environments within the facility. Designed as an immersive training and performance analysis space, the studio allows athletes and coaches to simulate game scenarios, analyse movement mechanics, and receive instant feedback through a combination of large-scale visualisation and tracking technology.
The studio incorporates two large LED walls and multiple projection surfaces supported by six ceiling-mounted laser projectors from Epson. Together, these systems create a dynamic environment where an athlete’s movement can be visualised, recorded, and replayed almost instantly. Twelve 4K cameras, both PTZ and fixed, integrate with specialist performance systems such as Fulcrum and HawkEye, while custom motorised trusses support sensors and additional capture equipment. For coaches and athletes, the result is not simply visual immersion but accelerated learning cycles, where biomechanical feedback can be reviewed within seconds, fundamentally changing how training sessions are structured. The visual spectacle only hints at the complexity behind the scenes. The projection mapping system used to transform the floor into a fully interactive training surface proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of the entire project. Initially removed from the baseline scope due to complexity and cost concerns, the concept was reinstated late in the build when the client recognised its value for training.
Inverarity recalls the process: “At the start, projection mapping was shelved as an idea. It was in the ‘too hard’ basket, or the cost was high and the idea was sidelined. It wasn’t in our baseline contract. It was added very late in the game when the client decided they wanted to go ahead. By that point, most of the building was already built. The structural mounting points were there, but there was no description of how to do it or what it needed to achieve. We had to collaborate with the structural engineer, builder, and architect to workshop it. It was complicated because we were shooting down through a gantry that raises and lowers, and has cameras and lights positioned on it. We were essentially shooting through a ‘keyhole’ to project onto the floor, dreaming this up on the fly as the space was being finished.”
Installing projectors above a moving gantry meant accounting for vibration, weight distribution, and extremely tight spatial constraints. Inverarity continues: “We had to account for variables that hadn’t been considered: the extra weight of the projectors on the structural steel, and the vibration of the moving gantry. There was a risk that vibration would cause lens shift or drifting. We had to engineer how to accommodate that and ensure the cabling for the gantry operated freely just millimetres away from the projector mounts. It was a very stimulating part of the job because of those constraints.”
Ultimately, custom steel truss brackets were fabricated to maintain precise spatial alignment, with calibration tolerances kept under 2mm per edge. Camera-based pixel warping and edge correction software ensured the projection remained seamless across the full 16m by 8m floor area. Even details such as flooring reflectivity and potential flicker shadows were analysed to prevent visual distractions during high-speed training drills.
Elsewhere in the facility, technology had to function in environments that place unusual demands on AV hardware. The environmental chambers, for example, simulate extreme climates to help athletes adapt to competition conditions. These sealed spaces required careful consideration of heat, humidity, and condensation, limiting the types of devices that could be safely installed inside them. PTZ cameras were housed within ventilated enclosures, while audio systems and AV-over-IP endpoints were configured with isolation and failover capabilities to ensure reliability during monitoring sessions.
Prestwood emphasises the importance of durability in these contexts: “In the actual training zones, the gear has to take ball strikes and body hits. We identified this early. When we quote a project like a sports environment or an aquatic centre, the question is always ‘what is the environment, and what product will work for the next 15 years?’. The Dicolor LED videowall was specifically chosen because it can take those strikes.”
Inverarity adds a practical perspective shaped by years of integration work: “We were always discussing whether to invest in something bulletproof or treat certain items as expendable where it’s cheaper to replace than to over-engineer. There are also environmental chambers where they change humidity and temperature for conditioning. We were limited to speakers and some inputs there, but we had to strictly check IP ratings and operational specs to ensure they’d survive.”
The need to balance robustness with cost-effectiveness runs throughout the project. Many installations across the training areas required tamper-resistant enclosures, reinforced mounts, and specialised cabling to protect equipment from impact or environmental exposure. At the same time, the system had to remain adaptable as sports science evolves and new measurement tools emerge. That adaptability is evident in how the AV infrastructure integrates with a range of specialised sports technologies brought into the facility. Systems such as Hawk-Eye cameras, Fulcrum analytics platforms, and local positioning hardware operate independently yet feed visual and data outputs into the broader AV network. Dedicated patch points and standardised connection protocols were established so that SASI staff could deploy and test equipment without disrupting the integrated environment.
Inverarity explains the philosophy guiding that integration: “While there is crossover between Hawk-Eye and performance measurement, that is best handled by their own proprietary software. Our job was to integrate those outputs into the AV-over-IP system so coaches and players could view the data on any display. We kept a clear line of delineation. It’s not in the best interest to attempt to simulate a specialised platform on an AV control system that isn’t designed for it. It’s a clean-cut separation.” Beyond the high-performance training zones, the building also functions as an academic and administrative hub. Lecture theatres, teaching laboratories, meeting rooms, and boardrooms all required AV systems aligned with the daily workflows of university staff and institute administrators. Dual-screen teaching environments, lecture capture with ceiling-mounted microphones, and seamless compatibility with collaboration platforms ensure the building can host everything from research presentations to hybrid classes connecting multiple campuses.
Meeting rooms throughout the facility reflect a similar emphasis on usability and flexibility. Displays ranging from mid-sized panels to large-format screens support video conferencing, content sharing, and performance review sessions. Room booking panels integrated with scheduling systems streamline access for users moving between training, research, and strategic planning meetings during the day. Underlying all of this is a network capable of managing a significant volume of content simultaneously. Inputs include laptops, Apple TVs, media players, iPads, AirPlay streams, NDI feeds, and direct HDMI connections. Outputs range from LED walls and LCD displays to projection systems and monitoring stations in control rooms. The system’s low-latency architecture allows camera feeds from training sessions to be recorded and replayed within seconds, enabling coaches to deliver immediate feedback during drills.
In many ways, that immediacy captures the broader purpose of the SASI High Performance Centre. The facility demonstrates how AV technology has moved beyond supporting presentations or communication to becoming an active participant in performance development. Data, video, and analytics converge in real time, giving athletes and coaches a clearer understanding of movement, technique, and strategy than was previously possible.
The success of the project lies not only in the sophistication of its technology but also in the way it accommodates the priorities of different organisations without forcing compromise. SASI’s operational needs, the university’s academic standards, and the government’s long-term infrastructure goals are all embedded within a system that remains intuitive for daily users.
As Australia prepares for a new era of elite sport investment leading toward major international events such as the Brisbane Olympic Games, facilities like SASI provide a glimpse of how integrated environments will likely evolve. Facilities of this kind increasingly demand AV systems capable of bridging disciplines, handling complex data flows, and adapting to emerging technologies over time.
For the integration team, the project showcases the role AV now plays in shaping how institutions collaborate and innovate. What began as a complex tender involving dozens of potential equipment configurations ultimately resulted in a cohesive environment that reflects the ambitions of everyone involved. The SASI facility is not simply equipped with advanced technology; it is structured around it, using AV as a framework to connect sport, science, and education into a single, high-performance ecosystem.
Professor Jon Buckley, executive dean of UniSA's Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit, says: “This new facility is among the top high-performance sports precincts in the country, and we’re incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with SASI and the world-class sports environment we are now part of.”
Katrine Hildyard, minister for recreation, sport and racing – Australia, sums up: “Through this remarkable new SASI, our Government is proudly ensuring South Australia is at the forefront of world-class sport performance and research, and empowering more athletes to chase their sporting dreams.”