Recognising the Team behind the Award-Winning Bloomberg Trading Suite
Last week, we joined Crestron and staff from Manchester Metropolitan University at the University’s Business School to celebrate the success of the Bloomberg Trading Suite and to recognise the people behind the project. The project won Best Content Application at the Crestron Europe Integration Awards in Barcelona this February. The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the collaboration and teamwork that made the project possible. Developed as a flagship facility for the Business School, the trading suite recreates the fast-paced environment of a professional financial trading floor. Powered by live Bloomberg data and a highly flexible AV infrastructure, the space enables students to work with the same tools and workflows used by professionals in the global financial sector. The project has been several years in the making and is a strong example of what can be achieved through true collaboration.
For the Business School, the facility represents a major step forward in preparing students for careers in the financial sector. Professor Hannah Holmes, Dean of the Business School, commented: “I am delighted to see the Bloomberg Trading Suite recognised with the Best Content Application award. This reflects the outstanding collaboration between colleagues across the University and our partners at Roche AV Pro and Crestron. The suite has transformed our finance offering, giving students access to an immersive, industry-standard environment powered by live Bloomberg data. It is equipping them with the practical skills and experience they need to succeed in the financial sector.”
The complex AV infrastructure - built around Crestron’s AV-over-IP platform - enables content to be shared seamlessly between trading positions, displays and teaching zones across the room, creating a dynamic and highly interactive learning environment. John Valentine, Campus Manager at Manchester Metropolitan University, commented: “The Bloomberg Trading Suite solution, which has been a long time in the making, is one of our proudest achievements. The work that Cara Cartwright's AV Team did is nothing short of sector and indeed, industry leading. We're aware of at least 3 other institutions (so far) attempting to copy what we have built in response and most shockingly, 2 actual city traders who have also copied our model. This is only possible with a deep understanding of the academic, student, environmental and pedagogical requirements of such a space. This led to an extremely complex solution, but one that Dan Hall from Cara's team managed to refine down into a control system that was simple for the academics to use, with very minimal training. The end result is a flagship space of unparalleled flexibility for a whole host of uses outside of the core Finance Tech use case, making this an invaluable asset to the Business School and ManMet as a whole. Many thanks to our partners Roche AV Pro, for delivering on our vision and to Crestron for the superb products to bring it to life."
A major factor in the project’s success was the close collaboration between the University’s AV team and Roche AV Pro. Within the University team, Dan Hall played a pivotal role in shaping the vision for the space, working closely alongside Paul Nicholson and Colin Glyn throughout the project as we helped turn that vision into reality. Reflecting on the project, Paul Nicholson, Senior Control System Programmer, commented: “The Bloomberg Trading Suite at Manchester Metropolitan University is a project I’m extremely proud to have contributed to. Working closely with Dan and the wider MMU team, we delivered a space that authentically reflects the fast-paced environment students will encounter in the financial sector. It was a pleasure collaborating with Crestron and the University, and seeing the facility gain international recognition is a strong testament to what can be achieved through a shared vision and effective teamwork.”
From a technology perspective, the project demonstrates how a carefully designed AV-over-IP architecture can support both specialist teaching and broader uses. Paul Martin, Higher Education Account Manager at Crestron, added: “In my role at Crestron I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with some wonderful, forward thinking and incredibly technical Audio Visual people. The team at MMU are a shining example of this. The Bloomberg suite required great ingenuity, and a deep understanding of the capabilities and performance of Crestron NVX. In partnership with Roche AV Pro, the team have utilised all the NVX can offer to create a content sharing solution of the highest order. The space itself is fabulous, and for Crestron technology to be chosen to be an integral part of its successful creation is a real honour. Congratulations to Roche AV Pro and MMU, and many thanks from Crestron for allowing us to be a part of this world class solution.”
As universities continue to seek more immersive and industry-relevant learning spaces, the Bloomberg Trading Suite at Manchester Metropolitan University stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through strong collaboration, thoughtful AV design, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for students.