Penn State University Higher Education AV

University Park, Pennsylvania

Penn State University elevated its learning environments with higher education AV design and scalable hybrid collaboration technologies. Ford AV partnered with the university to deliver comprehensive audiovisual integration across two major facilities: the College of Engineering’s new five-story Engineering Classroom Building and the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building. These projects represent a coordinated effort in school and classroom AV systems that support modern pedagogy, research, and administrative collaboration. 

Each building offers its own challenges and opportunities, allowing Ford AV to implement flexible, future-ready AV infrastructure tailored to the needs of faculty, staff, and students. 

A Unified Strategy for Educational AV Design 

Across both facilities, Penn State emphasized a shared vision for simplicity, consistency, and long-term operational reliability. The university prioritized intuitive user experiences so faculty and students could walk into any classroom and begin teaching or presenting. This requirement informed Ford AV’s approach to control interface design, device standardization, and room layout optimization. 

High-quality audio and video performance were essential to support the university’s hybrid instruction, lecture capture, and remote collaboration. Penn State required systems capable of producing broadcast-quality visuals, clear and consistent audio coverage, and stable connectivity for mixed-presence classrooms. This focus helped guide device selection, microphone and speaker placement, and camera positioning across both buildings. 

Reliable support was also a key driver of the higher education AV design strategy. Creating an easy-to-support AV ecosystem was critical for minimizing downtime and reducing the burden on IT staff. Ford AV aligned each system with the university’s long-term operational goals, ensuring documentation, consistent user experiences, and predictable room behavior. 

Higher Education AV Integration for Penn State College of Engineering 

Ford AV completed a full university AV integration across the new five-story Engineering Classroom Building, which features hybrid-ready classrooms, faculty offices, collaborative meeting rooms, and specialty instructional environments. The project included AV system design, installation, configuration, commissioning, and close collaboration with the College of Engineering and Penn State IT. The building serves as a major cornerstone for engineering education and is equipped with modern audiovisual capabilities designed specifically for higher education environments. 

Administrative and Academic AV Technology 

Conference rooms and offices were equipped with Crestron control platforms that offer an intuitive interface for users across the building. Crestron DM routing drives the core video distribution, while HP/Poly endpoints and Zoom Rooms enable professional-quality video collaboration. Many spaces incorporate Logitech collaboration devices, and Sony displays provide clear, bright visuals appropriate for academic presentation environments. 

Classrooms employ a combination of Sony projectors and Epson laser projectors, including Epson ultra-short-throw models for breakout-style learning areas. Surround-sound environments enhance engagement in larger classrooms, and audio routing is powered by Biamp Tesira DSPs. 

The ICon Lab Advanced Visualization AV System 

The most technically sophisticated space in the building, the ICon Lab, represents a significant achievement in specialty higher education AV design. This room uses a curved rear-projection surface illuminated by three Christie Digital projectors mounted on mirror assemblies, allowing for distortion-free visualization. The room supports RT Track 3D glasses technology, enabling immersive simulations and advanced research visualization. Combined with full surround audio, the ICon Lab demonstrates Ford AV’s ability to deliver complex academic AV environments that support instruction and research. 

Technical Adaptation in University AV Systems 

The ICon Lab required meticulous alignment and calibration due to its curved geometry, rear-projection design, and multi-projector configuration. Beyond this space, several large classrooms included up to ten total projectors: six for primary instruction and four for breakout collaboration. Other rooms relied on sophisticated video processing using TVOne wall processors. Working against the academic calendar, Ford AV deployed additional engineering staff onsite to expedite commissioning and ensure all rooms were fully operational before classes began. 

The Engineering Classroom Building quickly became a model for higher education AV integration. Team members expressed pride in seeing students immediately benefit from the technology. 

University AV Solutions for the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building 

The Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building spans six floors and serves a wide range of academic departments. The facility features traditional classrooms, seminar rooms, collaborative meeting spaces, digital signage zones, research laboratories, and highly specialized environments, such as an ancient DNA lab and a cadaver laboratory. With the Liberal Arts IT team managing more than eighteen buildings and seventy advanced learning and event spaces, the project required consistent, scalable higher education AV design across a diverse set of room types. 

Campus-Wide AV Technology Integration 

Ford AV integrated Crestron control systems, Sony displays, Logitech conferencing devices, JBL audio solutions, room scheduling panels, cameras, laser projectors, and multiple digital signage locations. This complete system also included full cabling infrastructure, rack fabrication, testing, programming, and documentation. The AV ecosystem provides faculty with reliable and secure tools for instruction and collaboration.

Construction Coordination and Project Adaptation 

While the Liberal Arts project did not involve the technical complexity of the ICon Lab, it demanded flexibility as construction timelines shifted. Ford AV coordinated with other trades and adjusted installation schedules to keep the project moving. These adjustments were essential for maintaining quality while respecting the building’s evolving architectural and mechanical progress. 

Faculty Adoption and Project Satisfaction 

Once the technology was fully commissioned, faculty and departments quickly began using the new classrooms and meeting rooms. The clear audio, consistent room interfaces, and simple hybrid-teaching workflows were well-received across the college.  

Penn State IT highlighted the importance of hybrid classrooms capable of supporting lecture capture, multi-camera teaching, USB-C bring-your-own-device integration, and supportable control systems. Ford AV’s academic building AV solutions align with these priorities, resulting in a facility that balances high performance with long-term maintainability. 

Advancing Higher Education AV Through Innovative Integration 

Across both the Engineering Classroom Building and the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building, Ford AV delivered a comprehensive higher education AV design that supports the vision for modern, connected learning environments. Each facility includes hybrid classrooms, professional conferencing systems, reliable AV infrastructure, and standardized room experiences that empower learning. 

Ford AV is proud to support Penn State’s mission by creating world-class academic spaces that enhance instruction, enable remote engagement, and strengthen the university’s ability to deliver meaningful educational experiences.