Queen Mary University of London

Screen and laser projectors – Aura installs sector’s largest rear projection screen

The Great Hall, the flagship space within Queen Mary University’s Grade II Listed Art Deco building The People’s Palace, now boasts an enormous 12m by 6m screen and laser projectors – to improve the experience of students as well as boost commercial revenues.

Queen Mary University of London case study

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12m by 6m (39ft x 19.5ft) screen

Laser projectors for improved quality

Reduced running costs and maintenance requirements

Business Challenge

This upgrade of the screen in The Great Hall, an 800-seat space within a striking Art Deco building, was not just undertaken to improve the student experience, but also for commercial reasons. The Hall may be primarily used for campus activities, but the University also rents the space out to external partners, including large companies. It is therefore an important source of revenue, and having world-class audio-visual technologies is imperative for maximising the space’s earning potential.

Aura Solution

As the previous 3DLP Christie projectors had proved reliable well past the warranty period – and the client was both happy and familiar with them – Christie remained the brand of choice. The upgrade from two 10K projectors with four lamps, to triple the brightness with Christie Crimson HD31 laser projectors, also meant that running costs were reduced, maintenance requirements taken down to virtually nothing.

Other key features that led to the specification included enhanced colour performance and saturation, blend and warp software for optimal image quality, and a comprehensive suite of lenses for fully omnidirectional operation. The latter was a critical functionality, as the projectors needed to be mounted vertically in the new rigs to beam light on the mirrors at a 45-degree angle, otherwise there would be a risk of over-heating and damage.