UNLV Hospitality School Enhances the Technology Experience

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV), needed to upgrade the Hospitality School with classrooms and learning spaces that could provide a user-friendly experience with technology. UNLV has been on the cutting edge of collaborative learning environments, remote monitoring and management, and tech support for students and faculty.

Las Vegas has a high demand for hospitality graduates, and UNLVs hotel administration program is well respected. To maintain that position, the new Hospitality Hall facilities would have to include convertible, interactive classrooms, an instructional kitchen, a PGA golf management learning center, and a holistic design to celebrate the connection between the college and the community.

To meet the AV plans for classrooms and learning spaces, a wide-ranging, robust suite of solutions would be needed.

 

Download a solutions guide for a kitchen lab

Solution:

Under Legrand | AV, UNLV could find the right mix of products to outfit each room to achieve the desired results. Chief, Da-Lite, Middle Atlantic and Vaddio solutions all helped to transform the spaces where students learn.

Chief

Display mounts, monitor mounts, projection mounts and more from Chief® were able to help place AV technology precisely where they needed it.

“Chief has a solution for mounting almost anything,” said Frank Alaimo, AV/IT Systems Specialist – Classroom Technology Services. “It is helpful to have a one-stop shop for mounting solutions of any type.”

Alaimo said the Kontour™ K1D Dynamic Desk Mount was particularly helpful in overcoming the challenge of limited space on work surfaces. They also wanted monitors that could adjust to any user.

Serviceability is also key for choosing the right solutions.

“We need to be able to get behind a monitor and replace any failed hardware as soon as possible to eliminate down time. Chief allows for that,” Alaimo said.

Da-Lite

Da-Lite® screens have been part of the standard UNLV design for years. Top reasons include quiet motors and the new five-year warranty for service and support to limit classroom downtime.

Tensioned Advantage® Electrol ® Screens were used in all classrooms. In the auditorium, they specified two custom extra-large Advantage Tensioned screens to ensure maximum viewing distance. To achieve this, they needed to add five feet of black drop to clear the soffit above the instructor and a custom case to fit the surface. Special requests like this are easily done using the Da-Lite Design Center. 

“One of the most important features is the quiet motor. Da-Lite provides a very quiet screen that is not disruptive to raise and lower during class time,” said Alaimo.

Middle Atlantic

Racks from Middle Atlantic® provided the space for AV equipment and cable management, which is key for serviceability. Racks that allowed access for quick cable or equipment swaps were necessary to limit downtime down the road.

In the kitchen, space was particularly limited for adding AV equipment. The SR series helped keep the rack off the floor and allowed swing out capabilities for service. The ERK series worked in the learning studio and the MRK series provided storage space in the auditorium control room.

“Middle Atlantic has the best solutions for racks, cable management and rack storage in the industry,” said Alaimo.

Wiremold® RFB9 Series Floor Boxes provide power in open space areas, eliminating the need for stretching power from the wall to the room’s center in the learning studios and classrooms.

Vaddio

RoboSHOT™ 30 HDBaseT™ cameras were used throughout the project to provide exceptional image quality. Even when zoomed in from a far distance, the image remains stable. Three RoboTRAK™ systems were also installed to enhance the lecture capture experience for viewers – both in the auditorium and the learning studios. 

“One of the biggest factors we use when choosing equipment is the ability to work with our existing standard and program. Vaddio® cameras are very easy to configure with the Crestron® control systems,” said Alaimo.

In-ceiling, half-recessed enclosures provided a clean installation look, particularly in the kitchen spaces. Everything that is done at the instructor station is captured by two RoboSHOT 30 PTZ cameras and fed into five 58” displays mounted from the ceiling, so students can see what is happening no matter where they are.

 

Results

“The brands collectively supported the vision of UNLV for the college to ensure the best results. Each brand worked closely together to support the installation,” said Alaimo.

“We have had great relationships with all of the brands independently in the past, but now with them all under Legrand | AV, it is even stronger!” Alaimo said.

Download a solutions guide for a flipped classroom 

Faculty have been praising the team for the standardization from room to room. They enjoy being able to know that the system will be the same no matter what room they are in, eliminating confusion and learning curves for the equipment.

Download a PDF of this case study

 

For more on AV and education, visit Legrand | AV's Education Solutions page, your one-stop-shop for resources from across the brands of Legrand | AV to help guide design and suggest solutions to enhance learning environments.