Custom ceiling suspension system replaces years of temporary screen installations
UNICOL Engineering, a leader in audio-visual mounting solutions, has successfully delivered a bespoke ceiling suspension system for a permanent dvLED video wall installation at Loughborough University’s Sports Hall. The project, completed in partnership with AV integration specialist GVAV, replaces a long-standing temporary screen solution with a robust, permanent fixture above the venue’s main entranceway.
"It was very well received for graduation; it’s a better resolution than what they had before and it gives that wow factor."
Project Details
For many years, Loughborough University had erected a temporary screen in the position for graduations and major events at the Sports Hall complex. The recurring cost and effort of installing and removing a temporary display each time prompted the university to commission a permanent replacement, timed to coincide with a wider refit of the main reception area and external redecoration of the building.
The resulting installation features a 6,800 by 1,480mm ceiling-suspended Spirit dvLED mount and frame, built around a 12 by 2 array of Absen AW2.5F-750 tiles. To meet the specific demands of the site, UNICOL engineered a new, unique suspension clamp designed to securely hold the extrusion frame. This connects to a column length to achieve the correct suspension height, and then to a box/girder clamp overhead. Infill panels at either end provide a clean, integrated finish while also contributing additional structural support. Rear support brackets were incorporated to brace the installation against the high winds that regularly affect the exposed location.
The project presented a number of engineering considerations. The installation site is subject to significant wind loading, requiring a rigid and thoroughly braced structure. Measurements at height also carried an inherent degree of uncertainty, so UNICOL designed all bracketry to be adjustable and clamping, accommodating tolerances of up to 15–20mm. The system was further designed to be built modularly, allowing individual components to be taken up and assembled at height, rather than requiring the complete structure to be assembled at ground level and hoisted into position. The entire project, from initial design through to completed installation, was turned around in approximately six weeks.
Project Review
Scott Meikle, Project Manager at GVAV, says: “We were tasked with finding a solution, and UNICOL came through as the most feasible option both in terms of cost and because we trusted the product. Something robust, something we knew, and somewhere we could work directly with the manufacturer. Being able to pick up the phone and speak to somebody was key for me.”
“UNICOL was very good at getting the drawings to us and re-doing any drawings we needed,” he adds. “The speed of it was great: a six-week turnaround from design to installation. The mount product itself is all modular, it all clips together, and it’s very straightforward to install. The feedback meanwhile has been excellent. For graduation it was very well received; it’s a better resolution than what they had before and it gives that wow factor. As you walk up to the building, it looks very impressive.”
Conclusion
The completed installation demonstrates how close collaboration between manufacturer and installer, underpinned by responsive engineering support and a flexible, modular product design, can deliver a permanent, high-performance display solution that meets the practical demands of a challenging real-world environment.
Custom ceiling suspension system replaces years of temporary screen installations
UNICOL Engineering, a leader in audio-visual mounting solutions, has successfully delivered a bespoke ceiling suspension system for a permanent dvLED video wall installation at Loughborough University’s Sports Hall. The project, completed in partnership with AV integration specialist GVAV, replaces a long-standing temporary screen solution with a robust, permanent fixture above the venue’s main entranceway.
"It was very well received for graduation; it’s a better resolution than what they had before and it gives that wow factor."
Project Details
For many years, Loughborough University had erected a temporary screen in the position for graduations and major events at the Sports Hall complex. The recurring cost and effort of installing and removing a temporary display each time prompted the university to commission a permanent replacement, timed to coincide with a wider refit of the main reception area and external redecoration of the building.
The resulting installation features a 6,800 by 1,480mm ceiling-suspended Spirit dvLED mount and frame, built around a 12 by 2 array of Absen AW2.5F-750 tiles. To meet the specific demands of the site, UNICOL engineered a new, unique suspension clamp designed to securely hold the extrusion frame. This connects to a column length to achieve the correct suspension height, and then to a box/girder clamp overhead. Infill panels at either end provide a clean, integrated finish while also contributing additional structural support. Rear support brackets were incorporated to brace the installation against the high winds that regularly affect the exposed location.
The project presented a number of engineering considerations. The installation site is subject to significant wind loading, requiring a rigid and thoroughly braced structure. Measurements at height also carried an inherent degree of uncertainty, so UNICOL designed all bracketry to be adjustable and clamping, accommodating tolerances of up to 15–20mm. The system was further designed to be built modularly, allowing individual components to be taken up and assembled at height, rather than requiring the complete structure to be assembled at ground level and hoisted into position. The entire project, from initial design through to completed installation, was turned around in approximately six weeks.
Project Review
Scott Meikle, Project Manager at GVAV, says: “We were tasked with finding a solution, and UNICOL came through as the most feasible option both in terms of cost and because we trusted the product. Something robust, something we knew, and somewhere we could work directly with the manufacturer. Being able to pick up the phone and speak to somebody was key for me.”
“UNICOL was very good at getting the drawings to us and re-doing any drawings we needed,” he adds. “The speed of it was great: a six-week turnaround from design to installation. The mount product itself is all modular, it all clips together, and it’s very straightforward to install. The feedback meanwhile has been excellent. For graduation it was very well received; it’s a better resolution than what they had before and it gives that wow factor. As you walk up to the building, it looks very impressive.”
Conclusion
The completed installation demonstrates how close collaboration between manufacturer and installer, underpinned by responsive engineering support and a flexible, modular product design, can deliver a permanent, high-performance display solution that meets the practical demands of a challenging real-world environment.
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