Bradford College

The Brief

The eco-friendly campus has been designed to be sympathetic to the large-scale mill and warehouse buildings that characterise parts of Bradford, as well as have a light, airy, modern feel. The new building was to transform the students experience using new styles of learning, which will embrace cutting edge technologies.

BAM Construction were appointed contractor to lead on the development of the new multi-million pound campus, and had worked with Universal AV on previous new builds in the Bradford area. Bradford College had also worked with Universal and asked them to attend a meeting to discuss the types of new innovative technology that could be used in this pioneering building.

140 teaching spaces would need to be equipped with audio visual technologies for teaching to take place in September when the college would open its doors.

The Solution

The team from Universal worked with Bradford College to engineer a solution that would be suitable for all its teaching spaces.  After speaking with suppliers and looking at a 5 year product life cycle, Universal AV suggested the CTouch interactive screens be installed as the technology provided Bradford with the most innovative, durable solution and fell within budget.

Planning and Installation

Universal AV Services were contracted to equip 140 teaching and learning spaces throughout the new build with the latest in interactive audio visual technologies, complementing the innovative environment in which it would sit.

The installation of the screens into the teaching spaces took place over the summer months, once keys to the new building had been handed back to the College. The rooms were already prepared, Universal project managers had worked with the contractors and the college to ensure that the AV installation would run as smoothly as possible.
Timescales were tight with a 2 week window of opportunity for all 140 screens to be installed, and training to take place in readiness for teaching to begin and the college opening in September. Many of the screens are on trolleys providing the college with flexibility in terms of location, user height and teaching space. The flexibility of the solution also allows for teaching in open spaces, the college has several areas where this can take place.

Nick Fitzpatrick, Director, Universal AV Services commented; “We are delighted to witness first hand, and play a part in, such a great investment in education in our home city of Bradford. The solution installed by Universal AV for Bradford College, provides them with innovative audio visual solutions that are environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing, finishing what is a great building and investment for future generations.”