Princeton University
Peter B. Lewis Library - Broadcast Center Studio
Princeton, NJ 08544
| Awarded: |
January 2008 |
| Completed |
September 2008 |
| Project Value: |
$1.2 Million |
Challenge: Construct a TV studio for production of University events in a confined space, with limited ventilation, in time for the Fall 2008 semester.
Solution: Construct a full HD Broadcast Center with automated camera controls, “green energy” LED lighting, audio recording facilities, audio mixing facilities, and video editing systems.
Results: A state-of-the-art facility for video production which can broadcast throughout the campus and across the nation.
Organization
Founded in 1746, Princeton University is one of the 8 Ivy League schools and one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the United States. Princeton University educates over 7,500 students in graduate and post-graduate studies.
Challenge
VCA was chosen to build a full state-of-the-art HD production studio within the Peter B. Lewis Library and complete the fabrication and installation of the systems in time for the Fall 2008 semester. The area set aside for the studio posed several challenges for VCA due to its confined spaces and limited ventilation. With the studio’s proximity to other areas, sound contamination was also a concern. Taking designs from project consultant Acentech, VCA created engineering diagrams and plans to install the studio under these conditions.
Princeton University’s Broadcast Center Studio incorporates HD equipment throughout its design and boasts facilities for live studio production, video editing, DVD authoring, audio recording, and sound mixing. The main studio space hosts 3 cameras — 2 of which are outfitted with complete Telemetrics automation/control systems which enable them to be manned from the adjacent master control room. Due to the limited space available for the studio and concerns about ventilation, the facility was outfitted with a LED lighting system, reducing the heating effects and power consumption of traditional studio lights. The heart of the studio is an Echolab Overture1 multi-definition switcher allowing simultaneous HD and SD production workflows allowing the distribution of content to reach the widest range of display devices. The Princeton studio also contains a full-featured post-production environment including video editing on Final Cut Pro, DVD authoring, a sound-proof audio recording area, a Pro Tools audio mixing console, and the ability to stream content over the Internet and broadcast to all major TV and Radio networks.
Since it’s opening in September 2008, the Broadcast Center Studio has already turned out numerous projects for the University. Early projects include: interviews with the Provost and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, interviews for the Human Resources Service Recognition Luncheon, a film about OIT Expressions, a film on the Princeton Laptop Orchestra and the Freshmen Opening Exercises. The facility has become a central distribution point for University media and broadcasts content across the country and around the world. Due to exceptional performance on this installation, Princeton University has awarded VCA additional projects at the school including work for the Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory and the new Chemistry Department building currently under construction.