University Of Illinois Unveils On-Campus Tech Haven

Picture-Perfect Plasma Network Highlights New Alice Campbell Alumni Center

A Symbolic Kickoff
On Sept. 2, 2006, thousands of University of Illinois fans cheered on the orange and blue's football season-opener victory at historic Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Several more fans rallied the win in Urbana from some of the best seats in the house inside the University's new Alice Campbell Alumni Center.

Donned with the comfort of home and a high-tech gallery of large-screen plasma displays, the University of Illinois Alumni Association welcomed students, alumni, family and friends as a symbolic kickoff of the new facility.

The three-year, $16 million project was designed as a warm and welcoming haven for UI alumni whenever they return to campus, but now also houses the alumni offices, a library, lounge and great room, reception gallery, ballroom, and functional balconies and conference rooms.

However, the behind-the-scenes backbone of the new facility is the high-tech network infrastructure that was intricately designed into the building from the bottom up, including state-of-the-art data, video, phone, wireless and plasma technology. UI alumni Archie Clemins and Roger Johnson spearheaded the development and installation of the advanced network, in conjunction with architect BLDD & Associates and the strong endorsement of the UIAA Board of Directors.

The plasma network is especially symbolic of UI's tech legacy, as the campus is home to the original flat-panel plasma monitor invention in the 1960's, stated Loren R. Taylor, Alumni Association President and CEO.

"The University of Illinois is home to some of the most talented and highly respected faculty and researchers in the nation", added Taylor. "As an award-winning campus for our research and engineering excellence, we felt the center could best represent this heritage by showcasing modern technology in a special way, and the results are amazing", he noted.

Picture Perfect Partnership
The University took great measures to research and collaborate with the best technology partners available. "Pioneer stood out as a vital technology partner to provide the versatile, high-quality plasma displays that are now the visual focal points throughout the Center", said Taylor. "We were able to install nearly 30 displays in a unique network that will operate 24 hours a day, performing everything from entertainment and general display, to business and conference applications". He added that the crisp picture quality and robust functionality of the displays have operated non-stop without a single hitch since their installation.

The innovative network currently employs 12 Pioneer PDP-614MX (61-inch VGA), nine PDP-505CMX (50-inch), and eight PDP-425CMX (42-inch) displays. It is managed as a collaborative effort among the communications, marketing and technology groups at the University, with the center managing and publishing its own content 24/7. They develop multiple play lists several days or weeks in advance, which can be programmed on or off site. The displays can function individually or collaboratively, including television, cable or network content. For examples, varying content and daily applications may include:

• Syncing plasma screens to play live or past football games
• Implementing individual IP addresses for multiple purposes, such as conference room presentations from multiple sources
• Business development meetings (such as highlighting a visiting business partner's company information as a welcome board or part of room-to-room messaging)
• University department use or alumni social center events
• Static pictures on the wall (i.e. wall decor as a sleep mode)

Taylor noted the best quality of the plasma network is that it can be easily managed, individually or collectively, and customized minute-by-minute if necessary. "We can have static photos running one minute, but then program certain displays to switch in order to welcome a major pharmaceutical company for a meeting, room-by-room if necessary. This gives us the ultimate flexibility to cater to any visitors of the Center at any time".

In addition, he added that since the entire building is wirelessly connected, presentations can be immediately displayed on the plasma screens using individual IP addresses, without all the fuss of connecting projectors or computers. "Our ultimate goal is to keep the building refreshed with high-quality, cutting-edge and tech-savvy tools that best represent the University's heritage, possibly including up to 50 Pioneer plasma displays", said Taylor. "We look forward to a long-term partnership with Pioneer in making that happen".