The O.P. Jindal International Academy: Where immersive experiences ignite learning and knowledge-sharing
A leading global university leverages AV to create an immersive, flexible space that brings together esteemed guest speakers and students alike. Nishita H. Kalita reports.
Located just a few kilometers from Delhi lies the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat, a reputed educational institution founded in 2009. Renowned for its academic excellence, global exposure, and international partnerships, JGU is today a vibrant educational hub bringing together students and faculty from diverse backgrounds across the globe. In 2023, JGU took a leap forward and expanded its reach by launching the JGU International Academy experience center within the premises of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road, in the heart of New Delhi. Havi Design LLP was entrusted with designing and implementing the AV experience at this center.”
Highlighting JGU’s commitment to quality education, Manikk Guptha, partner at Havi Design India LLP, says, “Often, time doesn’t permit guests to travel to Sonipat, so the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the finest and centrally located hotels in Delhi, was chosen by Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, the Vice Chancellor of JGU as the site for this center.”
The center was designed to host guests from various walks of life, including senior government dignitaries, political leaders, professors from international universities, and other individuals from different fields. “Many people travel to Delhi, and the University invites these speakers to engage with their students in this centrally located experience center. Here, they can experience JGU and address a small group of students in person; plus, the lecture is live-streamed to students at the University in Sonipat. Although a small space, the center is an immersive and engaging experience for attendees.”
The backstory
Havi Design was not new to JGU, having previously worked with them on the acoustics of the O.P. Jindal Global University auditorium in Sonipat. “Our team worked day in and day out to complete this project within a week, and the Vice-Chancellor was very happy with our work. And when this new project came up, he recommended us to the IT team, who trusted us to be the right fit.
This experience center you see today was earlier a staff training room for the hotel, and it was re-created from scratch, explains Manikk. “We designed the system based on the new drawings received from the architect, and the Vice-Chancellor liked the solution we presented; that’s how we took the lead in designing and executing this project.”
Speaking to the project’s goal, Manikk tells us the client wanted an experiential space with multiple applications that provided an immersive experience for anyone who walked in. “It had to be effortlessly seamless and intuitive, so they wanted top-of-the-line technologies.” In terms of functionalities, Manikk says, “The client was looking to create a versatile space that could host high-end dinners and a cinema-like setting, with the ability to support video conferencing and streaming, allowing everyone to connect and interact with students or professors from around the world.”
A versatile experience space
Designed to seat about 72 people, Manikk describes the space as “rectangular, approximately 70 feet by 25 feet, with an 8 feet ceiling height. An LED display screen runs along the width of the auditorium, and seating is arranged horizontally, so everyone faces the longer side.”
Premium audio
“We suggested a 7.2 audio system from Bose, although it’s not a true 7.2 setup, as the space is not ideal for cinema viewing. Since the customer wanted a cinema experience as one of the applications, we placed three single 8-inch Front-of-House Bose ArenaMatch AMU108 loudspeakers on the left, center, and right and five smaller 5-inch Bose ArenaMatch AMU105 surround speakers on the sides and at the back.” Complementing the loudspeakers are two dual 10-inch Bose MB210-WR subwoofers placed on either side of the hall to ensure uniform sound distribution. On the choice of Bose for the speakers, Manikk says, “The client wanted everything to be top-of-the-line with no compromises, and Bose, being a pioneer in the pro audio market, was our first choice.” He adds that they have used Bose for a long time and have always received excellent support, including after-sales and tech support.
To capture audio for video conferencing and lecture recordings, we used wireless Sennheiser gooseneck, handheld, and lapel microphones; additionally, three Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 Ceiling Microphone tiles strategically placed to cover the entire space uniformly, do the job of delivering clear and crisp audio to the far end. “Sennheiser has been our preferred brand for many years. We are very comfortable using their products because we have implemented them in various large projects in the past, and we’re pretty confident about the quality,” adds Manikk.
Next, he explains how the podium placement is flexible, with provisions on the left, center, and right, so it can be moved depending on the event. “The client wanted flexibility: They didn’t want to be restricted because they wanted the space to work well for multiple formats of programs.”
An expansive canvas
The centerpiece of the JGU International Academy experience center is an active asymmetric Samsung LED video wall that spans the entire width of the space, offering multiple functionalities. With a diagonal screen size of 300 inches, this P1.5 pixel pitch video wall, measuring 28 feet by 5.6 feet, can be configured and programmed to simultaneously display multiple pieces of content, thanks to the tv ONE video wall processor. The selection of the video wall was a big decision. “The client wanted to explore different options for the LED video wall, so along with the client, we visited experience centers for the three brands we proposed. Finally, they zeroed in on Samsung,” explains Manikk.
“We have used a tv ONE video wall processor, which allows us to create multiple screens within a single display. This also means we can work with various aspect ratios rather than being limited to the standard 16:9. So, we use this video processor for various applications and can also design custom graphics the client wanted. For example, we use a specific custom aspect ratio for cinema viewing that enhances the viewing experience and prevents the screen from looking stretched,” he adds.
The space also has three auto-tracking Lumens PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras. “The one positioned in the center, facing the LED screen, follows the speaker as they move around the hall. The other two cameras placed on top of the screen capture the audience sitting on the left and the right because it’s such a wide space. So, when someone asks a question from the left side of the hall during a video conference, the ceiling microphone tile integrated with the camera detects the speaker’s location, activates the left camera, and the video feed from the left of the hall is projected to the remote end.”
Manikk elaborates on the technology for video conferencing: “Three Lumens cameras with zoom capabilities of up to 12x and 20x can capture both the presenter and the participants, with auto-tracking available on the center camera. The system also supports lecture recording and streaming through the Lumens LC200 CaptureVision system, and annotation through a touch tablet PC.”
Effortless control
Manikk explains the entire AV system is designed to enable users to effortlessly control and manage all functions, including lighting, through an iPad via an SL−280 Kramer Controller. “This controller integrates all the AV equipment in the backend, like screen switching, the audio processor, and integration with the lighting control panel. The backend switching and AV wall plate transmitters are from Liberty AV, and the system also includes a mini PC for programming and maintenance,” he says.
The client was particular about having a user-friendly touch panel that would allow even non-technical persons to operate the system, highlights Manikk. “Everything is on the touch panel. We’ve set up specific presets for all the cameras so that users can select which camera to project. Both recording and streaming can be controlled wirelessly from the touch panel.” He adds that the complete AV system was integrated with the existing Lutron lighting control panel, which had its own presets for lighting specifically designed for different applications. For example, when the preset for movie viewing is selected, the lights will switch off, the screen’s aspect ratio will adjust, and the input source will switch to the Blu-ray DVD player.”
The JGU’s internal team manages content development for the various programs at the center. “Since we created different presets, the team selects the appropriate one based on whether they want three different screens or a single screen and create the content accordingly.”
Tackling the limitations
Manikk recalls that the hall’s height was the biggest challenge because it was just 8 feet. “The ceiling height was a major challenge in achieving uniform video and audio coverage because if a screen is projected in the center, attendees seated on the extreme left and right will struggle to view the content clearly. Since this experience center was located within the Taj Mahal Hotel, Manikk says, “We could not make too many structural changes, so we had to work within certain limitations and at the same time ensure the proposed solution met the client’s needs. I don’t think there were many additional challenges beyond that.”
But all’s well that ends well. He adds that Vice Chancellor Dr. C. Raj Kumar was impressed by how easily the touch panel controlled and managed everything from audio and video to lighting. “He was happy with the quality of the audio and the asymmetrical LED video screen installed. Mr. Sridhar Ghanti, the IT head of JGU, appreciated our team’s organized approach and the high quality of work done quickly.”
Experiential spaces are the future
Discussing how this space is being used extensively today, he says, “This space is very close to the Vice Chancellor’s heart, and JGU uses this space regularly to host various kinds of programs. They have two full-time staff managing the center, and we have an annual maintenance contract with them. Overall, I can say we were able to implement the ideas and solutions we presented to the client, and they are pleased with the outcome, considering the nature of the space.”
In conclusion, Manikk says, “It’s all about the experience, and experiential spaces are the future. If you walk into an Apple store, a Zara store, any commercial space, or even the lobbies of corporate offices, they are all designed to offer visitors unique and memorable experiences. It’s not just about the content anymore but also about how it is presented. If something is shown differently, people ‘get it’ better than standard displays, so I believe the future is all about AV-led experiential spaces.” Noting a shift in perception, Manikk says, “People have become more aware of the benefits of experiential environments, and what was once considered a luxury is now seen as a necessity.”
“If something is shown differently, people ‘get it’ better than standard displays, so I believe the future is all about AV-led experiential spaces.”
Manikk Guptha
Partner, Havi Design India LLP
