Christie projection technology for Magdalen College and other educational facilities

The University of Oxford and its historic Magdalen College, located on the same campus of this English city, have entrusted the choice of their projection systems for the Grove Auditorium to the local integrator Isis AV, who has chosen Christie 3LCD systems.

Ease of use of the control system and good quality of the projected image, to use it both in master classes and conferences and in the film club, have been some of the arguments for Magdalen College, at Oxford University, choose after selection and testing of the integrator Isis AV, with which this institution has been working for a long time, projection technology Christie for your audience, with capacity for 160 seats.

Magdalen College needed to replace the projector and control system in the auditorium of this educational institution, whose existence dates back to the 15th century, which also had to have input from PC, laptops and DVDs, also taking into account the future addition of a BluRay player.

The work carried out by Isis AV in this regard is based on a Christie L2K1000 3LCD projector, of 10.000 Ansi lumens, equipped with a lens 2.6 – 3.5:1. with which it is possible to project images on a screen 5 meters wide at a distance of approximately 15,5 metros.

The choice of projector was completely clear after carrying out a series of demonstrations with various systems on the market and consultations with Audio Visual Material (AVM), exclusive UK distributor of projection products, display and processing for the enterprise and business sector.

As Richard Hopper explains, CEO of Isis AV, “The main challenge was to integrate the new system into legacy equipment, and the absence of documentation about it”. When evaluating the installation carried out, Catherine Hughes, Director of Conferences and Accommodation at Magdalen College, it's forceful: “We are delighted with the very high image quality, that more than meets the expectations of our regular customers, ranging from biomedical engineers or orthopedic surgeons to plastic artists.

Listed buildings and conference auditoriums

Almost coinciding with the Magdalen College project, Isis AV was also commissioned to equip the Examination Hall, a building located in the center of Oxford that is classified with Grade II protection for its historical-artistic value. Although the main function of the two rooms is to carry out exams, They also host conferences and exhibitions.

For both spaces the integrators recommended the use of a Christie LX1200 projector, of 12.000 Ansi lumens -equipped in a case with a lens 1.5-2.0:1, and in the other with one of 2.0-2.6:1- considering them the option with the best quality/price ratio when projecting high-quality PC images.

To secure the projectors to the high ceilings of the building, a tower-shaped scaffolding had to be set up and lifting equipment had to be used., which posed a number of challenges for the Isis AV team, especially due to the difficulties involved in working in protected buildings. “We decided on the projector after a demonstration by Chris Brittan, at shopping mall, which convinced us of the wisdom of opting for a double lamp device due to its greater efficiency, and because it adapts perfectly to the client's needs”, remember Hopper.

In more recent dates, Isis AV has worked at the St. Antony’s College with the deployment of audiovisual infrastructure in a room completely renovated to adapt it to holding seminars, with the installation of a Christie LW401 widescreen WXGA projector.

As Hopper explains, “We thought it was the one that offered the best quality and performance within the assigned price. If we had been able to work without budget limits we would have suggested an HD or WUXGA projector, but given the needs and the money we had, con 4.000 ANSI and WXGA lumens we perfectly adapted to the application. The warranty offered by AVM is unbeatable and the excellent zoom lens makes a great contribution to the installation”.

During the last eighteen months this company has continued to carry out projects for various university departments, like chemistry, with the supply of a pair of Christie LX700 projectors (of 7.000 lumens), reusing the lenses from previous Christie models. In zoology, The Isis AV option has been a Christie LW555 (of 5.500 lumens) ceiling mounted in two of the auditoriums, while for biochemistry it was based on a DHD550-G projector (of 5.500 lumens) and modifications to existing equipment.