- Audio visual experts Universal AV were appointed to collaborate on the newly built Institute of Medicine at The University of Greater Manchester.
- Innovative audio visual installations in the medical school include six new clinical bed training suites with SMOT integration, an LED wall in the lecture theatre and classrooms with BYOD capability to enable the university’s high-flex learning solutions.
A sleek new building with impressive teaching facilities and the latest in audio visual innovation is what students can expect at the newly built Institute of Medicine at The University of Greater Manchester.
The University of Greater Manchester initially began work on the project in 2018, before it was paused due to the pandemic. Following this, and after the university benefitted from the government’s Levelling Up funding to address staff shortages in the NHS, the opportunity to collaborate with the university on the restarted project went up for tender and was awarded to Universal AV. The audio visual specialists brought with them a wealth of experience in healthcare AV solutions, having already worked on several innovative spaces throughout the university’s medical programs.
Ian Moth, University IT Operations Manager at The University of Greater Manchester comments, “Universal AV’s deep understanding of the university’s infrastructure and teaching methods was invaluable.
They helped redesign and integrate technology based on the needs of our academics, ensuring seamless compatibility across campus. Their experience with our existing systems allowed us to standardize equipment, making the technology user-friendly for staff across departments.”
To complete the project to a high standard, Universal AV implemented a variety of AV solutions tailored to each teaching space and its requirements.
In the lecture theatre, LED video walls were installed as an alternative to projectors, offering an aesthetically pleasing and more cost-effective solution to provide a better experience for the students. An anatamage table was also connected back to the LED video walls through the educator lectern, enabling students to view digital cadavers on the LED video screens.
Pictured: LED video wall installed in the lecture theatre.
Ian continues, “Universal AV’s attention to detail, including the aesthetics and cable management, was exceptional. Their work on the LED wall, which replaced the original projection plan due to rising costs, delivered a superior experience for students.”
Within the six clinical bed training suites, SMOT integration was implemented. SMOT technology was chosen for its simplicity and because it is widely used in hospitals for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training – providing important continuity for students transitioning from academic to professional environments.
Finally, across the boardroom and general teaching classrooms, BYOD (bring your own device) capability was utilised, creating functional and easy-to-use environments complete with screens, microphones, cameras, speakers and amplifiers.
Pictured: The boardroom.
The building, with a capacity for 1,100 students, was completed three months ahead of schedule, thanks to the strong relationship and collaborative efforts between the university, contractors, and Universal AV.
In September 2025, the university will welcome its first cohort of medical students, with the first graduates expected in 2028.
