IT Specialists, Graduating Class of 2025: Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has unveiled its latest development on campus – the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED). Covering over 120,000 square feet, the SHED is a hub of innovation, designed to empower students and faculty to think creatively and apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
At the heart of the SHED's technology is the Crestron DM NVX AV-over-IP technology. This cutting-edge solution, which was first introduced in a previous RIT project, has now been adopted as the standard for the SHED, ensuring future-proofing and flexibility across the campus AV environments.
The Crestron DM NVX system offers multicast streaming capabilities, enabling expansive and flexible media distribution throughout the campus. This versatile platform allows for quick additions or modifications, such as adding extra displays to rooms when needed, without major system overhauls.
In the SHED, this technology is evident in the atrium's impressive 23-foot-tall and 20-foot-wide video wall. Connected to the Crestron DM NVX system, the video wall is used for advertisements, messaging, and live event streaming. Meanwhile, most large classrooms and lecture halls have multiple presentation systems with seven laser projectors recessed from the ceiling, all integrated into the DM NVX AV-over-IP infrastructure.
The SHED's dance studio also makes use of DM NVX technology, transforming the background of the dancers to fit each routine's theme. Crestron touch screens control the environment in large spaces and classrooms, providing users with easy access to various functionalities.
John Schrenker, the manager of Learning Space and Classroom Technology at RIT, oversees the implementation of these technologies. Kinly, a previous collaborator with RIT, was chosen for the design and integration of the SHED project.
The SHED also houses maker spaces, team spaces, dance studios, rehearsal rooms, 27 new classrooms, an ASL and Deaf Studies Community Center, and a performing arts theater. The facility synergizes technology, art, and design under one roof, fostering and stimulating creativity, collaboration, and discovery.
The SHED was designed with inclusivity in mind, catering to students with accessibility requirements. It uniquely serves every student and supports their ambitions, with Crestron Flex for Zoom software and Crestron XiO Cloud technology operations management platform being used for device management and remote monitoring.
The primary challenge in creating the SHED was to accommodate the diverse needs of all students. However, with the implementation of Crestron DM NVX technology, the SHED offers versatile, scalable, and accessible AV experiences that cater to diverse student interests and activities while enabling adaptability as AV demands evolve.
Founded in 1829, RIT continues to innovate and push boundaries in education and technology, and the SHED is a testament to this commitment. The SHED empowers students and faculty to explore, create, and collaborate in a state-of-the-art facility that encourages lateral thinking and creativity.
The SHED's innovation is not limited to technology; it also houses various spaces for business, events, education-and-self-development. For instance, the performing arts theater and the atrium's video wall can host various events, while the maker spaces and team spaces foster collaboration and self-development.
In the SHED, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the learning experience. The Crestron DM NVX system, featured prominently in classrooms, dance studios, and the atrium, is a prime example of technology integration supporting education and business activities.
