The new Brookes Lawley Building is designed to implement several exciting new scientific initiatives, particularly relating to the Cancer Genome Project. It was in the new 197-seat tiered lecture theatre on the facility's first floor that Immedia installed a projection system - as part of a complete AV fit-out - based around Christie's digital Vista X3, front-projected onto a roll-down screen.
Immedia project manager, Dave Pritchard, says: "The origins of this project go back four years. We urged the Institute to find the additional money to upgrade from the middle-of-the-road LCD projector which was originally proposed - and they are delighted with the result."
According to Bob MacCormick, chief of operational services at the Institute of Cancer Research, the X3 will also be integrated with the theatre's video conferencing facilities. Christie's multimedia projector has more than 1 billion displayable colours projecting vivid and striking visuals via 3-chip DLP technology. A 13-bit user-selectable gamma table combines with 3000 ANSI lumens to deliver a high level of colour accuracy from a Cermax Xenon illumination system. It is supported by a complete range of both fixed and zoom lenses.
The Vista X3 is ceiling-mounted in the projection room, focusing through optical pure glass. System control is via Crestron touch screen system, using a 14" panel with video pop-up, which can either be enabled locally via the dedicated networked PC in the lectern, or from the projection room. Also built into the acoustically-optimized environment - complete with soundproofing - are a lectern mic and there are Sennheiser radio mics and a Tannoy i12 system for audio playback and ceiling speakers. The theatre is equipped with an inductive loop system for the hard of hearing, and slide projection facilities, as well as video conferencing.
(Lee Baldock)
