ViewSonic takes centre stage at Askham Bryan
ViewSonic takes centre stage at Askham Bryan
Client:
Manchester Metropolitan University
Project
A cutting-edge Bloomberg Trading Suite, featuring dual workstations for live market data, trading simulations & Bloomberg certifications. Equipped with industry-leading technology, this dynamic space bridges the gap between theory and real-world financial practice at Manchester Met. University. This project won Best Content Application at the Crestron Integration Awards 2026 and was an 2026 inAVation Awards & AV News Awards 2026 Finalist!
The Client
Askham Bryan College in York, is a specialist land-based and agricultural college with a strong focus on delivering practical, industry-relevant learning experiences. Their purpose is to deliver future-focused immersive education that inspires students and apprentices to achieve the best possible outcomes and supports both the economic and environmental ambitions of their region and beyond. As part of their continued investment in modern teaching environments, the College sought to transform a key space into a flexible, multi-purpose conference and lecture facility capable of supporting both in-person and hybrid delivery.
The Project
The College initially approached a range of suppliers and invited them to undertake a detailed site visit and propose a suitable solution aligned to their brief. Early requirements focused on creating a high-impact presentation space, and the initial design concepts explored both projection and LED display options. As discussions progressed and the scope of use evolved, the solution naturally developed towards an LED solution, enabling greater flexibility, impact, and long-term reliability. As the project developed, additional functionality was introduced, including full Teams capability, recording workflows, and expanded integration between display zones.
The Solution
The focal point of the installation is the impressive 5-metre-wide direct-view LED wall, the ViewSonic LDC031G-251, delivering a seamless, high-impact visual surface that transforms the space into a true presentation and conferencing environment. With a fine 2.5mm pixel pitch, the display achieves an excellent balance between resolution and viewing comfort, making it ideal for both close-range teaching and larger auditorium-style viewing. Its All-in-One architecture simplifies installation by integrating control, power, and image processing into a streamlined system, while still allowing for highly flexible configurations to suit the room layout. The LED wall also benefits from a slim, modern profile and robust surface protection, ensuring durability in a busy educational setting. Combined with high brightness, wide viewing angles, and excellent contrast performance, the display delivers sharp, vibrant imagery that remains consistent across all content types—from detailed data and presentations to video conferencing and live feeds - making it a powerful centrepiece for hybrid learning and events.
The LED solution is complemented by dual 75” iiyama repeater displays, which were later fully integrated into the system to function either as independent sources or synchronized repeaters depending on room configuration and use case. Audio performance and hybrid capability were key drivers in the design. An Extron DSP platform with echo cancellation from Extron was incorporated alongside a full Microsoft Teams-enabled workflow, enabling seamless hybrid delivery. The system is supported by a Biamp loudspeaker system, powered amplification from Crown Audio, and a flexible microphone suite including handheld, lapel, and gooseneck options from Audio-Technica. A BirdDog PTZ camera was also integrated to enable lecture capture, recording, and live Teams conferencing. Control and user experience were central to the brief. An Extron control processor and TouchLink Pro interface provide intuitive, one-touch operation of the entire space, ensuring staff can switch between presentation, hybrid meetings, and recording modes with minimal training. Wireless presentation is enabled via Barco ClickShare, while signal distribution and system integration were achieved using a combination of Kramer switching and AV-over-CAT infrastructure, ensuring reliability and scalability throughout the system.
A key design consideration was acoustic performance at the lectern position. The College were keen to minimise visible and audible equipment within the lectern itself, which led to a refined approach where much of the core system hardware was relocated to a discreet rack position behind the LED wall. This maintained a clean lectern aesthetic while improving serviceability and reducing user distraction.
The Challenge
A defining moment of the project came late in the installation phase when delivery of the LED system was significantly delayed due to external supply chain pressures. The screen arrived at 1pm on the Thursday - just one working day before scheduled completion. In response, the Roche engineering team rapidly allocated additional onsite resource, and extended working hours to ensure completion without compromising quality. Despite the compressed timeline, the LED system was successfully installed, commissioned, and fully tested by 9pm that evening. Full system sign-off, including integration, calibration, and user testing, was completed by lunchtime the following day. This exceptional turnaround ensured the College experienced no delay to handover and could begin using the space immediately as planned
The Outcome
The completed space now provides Askham Bryan College with a highly flexible, future-proof teaching and conferencing environment capable of supporting lectures, hybrid meetings, and recorded content creation. The combination of high-impact visual technology, intuitive control, and integrated audio-visual systems has significantly enhanced both teaching delivery and user experience.
Partners
