Historic Tower House Gets a Modern AV Upgrade

The Tower House was originally built in 1876 by Peter Coutts

Tucked away in a corner of campus, the 150-year-old Tower House has long served as a hub for research and learning for the Bing Nursery School. Last year, AV Technology (AVT) services in University IT (UIT) helped bring modern collaboration solutions to the historic space while preserving its character.

A modern take on a historic space

Built in 1876 and renovated in 2009, the Tower House conference space lacked the technology needed to support today’s collaborative environments. Working closely with the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) and Bing faculty and staff, the AVT team designed an updated AV system that includes:

• A high-brightness 4K projection system
• Integrated Zoom capability for hybrid learning and collaboration
• Ceiling-mounted speakers and microphones for clear audio coverage
• An intuitive control experience that makes the technology easy for anyone to use

Since the upgrade, partners say the new system has significantly improved reliability, efficiency, and student engagement. The conference room is now used more frequently and supports a wider range of activities.

“Teaching Psychology 147 in the Tower House each week has changed 100% with the new configuration!” said Beth Wise, associate director at the Bing Nursery School. “Last year, we constantly ran into issues with the LCD projector not working, hoping the volume and sound would work, not being able to connect to our computers, and losing the presentation mid-class. Students are far more engaged, and so are we, not having to juggle the issues that we encountered.”

The new AV system includes a high-brightness 4K projection system and ceiling-mounted speakers and microphones

End-to-end AV expertise

From concept to completion, AVT provided comprehensive support through the project, including:

• System design and engineering
• Project management
• Installation and programming
• User training and ongoing support

“From leadership and engineering through project management, installation, and programming, every member of the AVT team consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellence,” shared Brian Flores, a project management specialist in the School of H&S. “Their communication is clear and proactive, their coordination is seamless, and their ability to anticipate challenges before they arise sets them apart.”

Strong partnerships and exceptional user experiences are at the heart of AVT services. By working closely with our H&S partners to design intuitive, reliable solutions, we help ensure technology supports teaching, research, and collaboration.

Learn more about AVT services

Ready to upgrade your AV system? With technical expertise, thoughtful design, and a strong commitment to partnership, UIT can help transform your space. To learn more about AV Technology services or request a consultation, visit the AV Solutions and Spaces service page.