Kenyon College, a 200-year-old liberal arts school in Gambier, Ohio, recently expanded its campus with the addition of three multi-story buildings as part of its new West Quad. The facilities include over 100 AV-equipped classrooms, learning areas and meeting spaces, all supported by Extron switching, control and AV over IP technologies.
Designed by NV5 and deployed by Radiant Technology, the West Quad features integrated presentation systems that include one or more computers, video projection systems or large displays, and AV connectivity options on walls and furniture. Many rooms offer additional tools such as optical media players, document cameras, webcams, Smart Pen displays, and Apple TV with screencasting. Several rooms also include lecture capture and streaming capabilities.
“We evaluated various technologies and brands with Kenyon’s representatives for their new West Quad buildings. We determined that AV over IP using Extron’s NAV system was the right solution for this particular project and client,”  Jesse Fishman CTS-D, DSCE, Senior Systems Designer, Technology & Acoustics at NV5. “Implementing NAV systems throughout the academic, administrative, and library buildings for classrooms, meeting rooms, and general-purpose spaces made the most sense.”
Extron’s  NAV Pro AV over IP system was chosen for its flexibility, video scalability, and signal integrity. Within each room, NAV encoders and scaling decoders operate through local switches to distribute video to each display at native resolution. Learning space configurations change regularly; thus, the NAV endpoints are installed throughout the rooms. Connection points are provided on walls and floors and within furniture. Large venues like auditoriums and seminar rooms use the same AV architecture and support overflow routing between spaces.
In some spaces, Extron DTP CrossPoint matrix switchers provide in-room switching while connecting to the NAV system. DMP Plus Series DSP processors are paired with XPA Series power amplifiers for enhanced audio reproduction. TouchLink Pro touchpanels offer intuitive control in various sizes and form factors, mounted on lecterns, walls and/or furniture, the touchpanels work in conjunction with an Extron IP Link Pro control processor that monitors and controls each AV system. Outside reservable rooms, TouchLink Room Scheduling Panels display real-time room availability and provide on-screen prompts for reservations.
Kenyon College is using the West Quad’s new technology to support its mission of preparing students for a rapidly evolving world. The AV systems enable a more flexible, interdisciplinary learning experience that aligns with the college’s academic goals.
