Over the winter break, a new video wall was installed in the lobby of Frey Hall. The installation measures 6’6″ x 12′ and offers dynamic content and real-time updates for students attending classes at the hall.
The project involved collaboration from various university teams. Dennis Murray, campus videographer, contributed engaging content for the screen. The Campus Planning, Design & Construction (CPDC) team handled the physical installation with help from electricians, carpenters, and painters. The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) team, comprising staff and students, assembled and fine-tuned the system.
Greg Davis, senior MSE engineer in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), led the technical execution of the project. “For the longest time, video walls were seen as unreliable or too expensive,” he said. “But I knew we could make it happen, at a fraction of the expected cost, without sacrificing quality.”
Davis's team completed the project under $40,000 during a few weeks over winter break to avoid disrupting classes.
The video wall features multimedia content like global live-streamed camera feeds and student projects. It allows real-time content updates, making it useful for current students and prospective visitors.
John Berwick, instructional support associate and manager of technology for Frey Hall, noted its simplicity: “This system is simple yet powerful. With just a few clicks, we can switch between different content sources, keeping the experience fresh and relevant.”
Custom-built piano hinges were added by CPDC for maintenance access while painters finished surrounding areas with black paint to enhance visual impact.
“When I saw this wall in the lobby of Frey Hall, I knew that it would be perfect for a video wall,” Davis concluded. “We found a way to use reliable technology and to finish the project at a reasonable cost, and it’s just an amazing upgrade for the building.”
Future updates may include integrations into campus tours to engage both current students and visitors.
— Beth Squire