Universal AV Delivers Digital AV Solutions for Teesside University’s Digital Life Building

As part of its ambitious 2027 campus transformation and regeneration strategy, Teesside University committed to delivering modern, future-focused facilities designed to enhance the experience of students, staff, and industry partners.

Central to this plan was the creation of the Digital Life Building—a flagship development and home to the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies. The building was designed to reflect the university’s vision of a responsible and sustainable digital future, featuring:

• Smart labs
• Digital art studios
• A multi-functional lecture theatre and events space

This new facility would serve as a hub for digital innovation and collaboration, providing an immersive, industry-grade environment for learning, research, and external engagement.

What was Needed?

To support the vision for the Digital Life Building, the university tendered for the following:

• Cyber Classrooms
• Standard Teaching Classrooms
• Digital Display Solutions for Open Spaces

Each space needed to reflect the university’s commitment to sustainability, usability, and consistency across its AV estate, while also enabling flexibility for teaching and real-world application.

Universal AV tendered for all three AV-focused lots and was awarded each contract. Drawing from the university’s specification and our extensive experience in digital learning environments, we delivered tailored AV integrations that:

• Enhance collaboration and interactivity in Cyber Classrooms
• Provide simple, intuitive solutions in standard teaching spaces
• Showcase content and branding through high-impact digital signage in open areas

All solutions were installed with a focus on sustainability, ease of use, and future scalability, helping bring the university’s digital ambitions to life.

Integrated AV Solution for a Digital Campus

To support digital arts and interactive learning, Universal AV delivered a fully integrated, multi-screen AV solution for the Cyber Classroom.

We installed three Sony BRAVIA 98” displays and one ViewSonic 75” interactive display, each securely mounted using Dalen Top-Tec Jupiter Shuttle Mounts for durability and future-proof flexibility.

To maintain system-wide consistency with the university’s existing infrastructure, we integrated an Extron DTP Crosspoint 884 matrix, including DTP3 transmitters/receivers into the lectern. All equipment was pre-configured and built off-site to streamline installation and reduce disruption.

For audio, four ceiling-mounted Cloud pendant speakers were installed and linked to the lectern amplifier. To ensure high-quality voice capture, we fitted five Yealink CM20 ceiling microphones, positioned in line with the room layout and acoustic needs.

Control of the entire system was designed with user simplicity in mind—allowing academic staff to route content to any screen and manage the environment with ease. As part of our programming, we also supported the university’s sustainability goals, ensuring systems could power down intelligently when not in use.