Cutting-edge AV-over-IP infrastructure with Lightware VINX at the Royal Academy of Engineering

Led by consultants, Recursive, the project benefited from close collaboration with key partners, including Andy Pymm, Director at Whitwam AVI, and technical experts at Lightware and Sennheiser. Following thorough research, Lightware’s signal management solutions emerged as the leading choice for this project thanks to their advanced AV-over-IP capabilities, low latency and ease of integration.

“Whitwam AVI has a very capable and close-knit team that mirrors Recursive’s own ethos,” says Richard Smith of Recursive. “Their personal touch and focus on the end user, rather than just the technology, set them apart.”

The existing AV setup at the RAE was a fragmented mix of technologies that limited unified control and reduced overall functionality – which was affecting the venue’s appeal to potential clients for meeting space and event hire. To resolve these issues, Whitwam AVI worked closely with both Lightware and Sennheiser to design a future-proofed, unified AV system. At the heart of the project was the integration of a 10-gigabit fibre backbone, which gave Whitwam AVI the foundation to build a highly adaptable AV system capable of supporting future AV demands and expansion. At the same time, this infrastructure allows the RAE to run high-quality video across the entire building, bringing a new level of room versatility.

“In a listed building, we need to be very aware of the technology we choose and how we install it,” explains Ray Clarke, Operations and Engineering Manager at Whitwam AVI. “Not only does the technology need to be discreet, but of course, it needs to be able to perform as expected.”

The ground-floor meeting rooms at Prince Philip House are designed to support interactive and collaborative meetings over an AV-over-IP network. Four of the meeting rooms are fitted with Taurus UCX units, whilst three larger conference rooms feature VINX systems paired with Panasonic PTZ cameras and Sennheiser Team Connect ceiling mics. Content sharing is managed via Taurus UCX’s integration with Barco Clickshare, facilitating a high-quality hybrid meeting experience and seamless content sharing. All systems are installed discreetly, mounted behind walls and monitors to preserve the aesthetic of the Grade 1 Listed building. User control is via familiar Crestron control panels. LED RGBW perimeter lighting and CLS Jade track lighting add visual appeal and atmosphere for both formal meetings and special events.

“Taurus UCX gives us exceptional ease of use,” confirms Clarke. “This product is our go-to. We know when we install it, it’s just going to work. Lightware’s integration partnerships with Sennheiser and Barco ensure the technologies work together seamlessly.”

Upstairs, the first-floor multi-purpose event space required a reliable full-featured solution for larger meetings and events. Utilising the new 10-gigabit fibre network and Lightware VINX decoders and encoders, this area can receive or transmit video across the facility, with inputs at both the floor box and wall panels for adaptable content sharing. Taurus UCX-4×2-HC30 switchers, along with a Blackmagic vision mixing system, provide high-level manual control over visual content for on-screen or live-streamed events. Two Sennheiser Team Connect beam-steering ceiling microphones connected to a Q-SYS NC12x80 camera support voice-tracking, increasing engagement for remote meeting participants.

Lightware’s technology outperforms previous setups, delivering virtually zero latency, a critical requirement for smooth hybrid events. The simplicity and performance of the Taurus UCX’s plug-and-play functionality enabled easy integration, reducing downtime and simplifying use for RAE staff and everyday users. On the other hand, Lightware’s VINX encoders and decoders offer scalable AV distribution, with centralised control over inputs and outputs and the added ability to broadcast events online.

“By implementing a robust, future-proofed AV infrastructure, Whitwam has empowered the RAE to reach audiences in ways they hadn’t previously explored,” says Paul Marshall of Recursive. “Their diligent approach to every detail set them apart on this project.”

“We all faced challenges on this project, especially regarding access and timelines,” adds Marshall from Recursive. Limited room access and delays due to room bookings were addressed by installing dedicated VLANs, thereby separating the AV system from the main network for consistent reliability. “Whitwam’s diligent approach to getting down to the finer detail has truly set them apart.”

RAE’s upgraded workspaces now offer high-quality hybrid event and meeting spaces built upon a unified infrastructure and supported by the low-latency and ease-of-use features of Lightware’s Taurus UCX and VINX technologies. In-house technicians benefit from comprehensive system control and remote system monitoring, whilst users can enjoy all the benefits of this state-of-the-art integration through a familiar Crestron user interface, helping the RAE to offer superior experiences to their clients, leading to potential increases in revenue.

“The AV integration has brought us on par, if not beyond comparable venues,” says Nima Chaprese, Audio Visual Technician at the Royal Academy of Engineering. It’s not just the integration work from Whitwam; it’s the maintenance, the transparent communications and personable contact throughout which has been fantastic.”