A comprehensive renovation of a university library in the US gave Extron AV the opportunity to show off its solutions.

The D. H. Hill Jr. Library on the campus of North Carolina State University has constantly reinvented itself over the years and completed its latest major renovation in 2021.

Extron AV switching, distribution, and control were successfully deployed in the renovation to add cutting-edge audio and video capabilities. New AV-enabled spaces include the Innovation Studio, a venue to display virtual reality and other emerging technologies; the Visualisation Studio, with immersive 360˚ projection; and the Data Experience Lab, a collaborative space for data science and analytics.

Also included in the renovation are more group study rooms, more learning labs, and more presentation spaces. Extron AV switching, distribution and control are crucial to the operation of all these spaces.

Ryan Hunter, CTS, EAVA, ECP, AV Lead AV Professional for Advanced Technology Spaces at NCSU says: “Our 15 years of experience with Extron gave us confidence that their products were right for the Hill Library applications. No matter the circumstance, we know we can depend on Extron’s support.”

The Visualisation Studio relies on a 16×16 XTP II CrossPoint 1600 matrix switcher to select and distribute program content to eight projectors. XPA U 1002-70V and NetPA 1001-70V AT amplifiers deliver Atmos audio from analogue and Dante sources to seven SM 28T surface mount speakers surrounding the audience and four SF 26PT pendant speakers suspended from the ceiling.

The Innovation studio features a novel interactive projection experience in which 4K laser projectors in the ceiling project images onto display tables and depth cameras sense people’s’ hand motions in 3D space above the tabletops as they interact with the projected images.

The effect is a touchscreen, but without the “touch”. Again, an XTP II CrossPoint 1600 matrix switcher handles AV switching to the projectors and to MPA 601 amplifiers driving speakers above the tables. Controlling all AV functions are IPCP Pro control processors and a variety of wall-mounted and tabletop TouchLink Pro touch panels.