• Case Studies

Kristiania University College, a name synonymous with educational accessibility, has a history that dates back to 1914. Founded by Ernst G. Mortensen, the institution was built on the motto, “knowledge is power.” Mortensen’s vision was to make education accessible to all, regardless of geographical location, through a pioneering programme of correspondence courses. Since its inception, Kristiania has educated over three million people and has grown into a multifaceted educational institution, offering a broad range of academic programs from vocational training to PhD studies.

Today, Kristiania University College encompasses a university college, a vocational school, and an online learning platform. With campuses in Oslo and Bergen, as well as a robust online presence, the college serves 18,000 students and employs 900 staff members. The college offers over 200 study programs in diverse fields, including management, marketing, communication, computer science, health sciences, innovation, and the arts.

Since its early days in Kvadraturen, Kristiania has continuously evolved. In 2016, the institution rebranded to Kristiania University College, reflecting its growth and modern educational mission. The latest chapter in its physical expansion is the opening of a stunning new building in Kirkegata, Oslo.

The Kirkegata Building: Innovation in Design and Technology

The new building at Kirkegata, covering 11,400 square meters across nine floors, is a remarkable feat of architectural and technological integration. Designed to accommodate 3,000 students, this state-of-the-art facility is dedicated entirely to teaching and learning. The building boasts a wide range of teaching spaces, including high-tech classrooms, auditoriums, and collaborative student areas.

Among the standout features of the building are its two Harvard Rooms and two Fugleberg spaces, alongside active learning rooms designed to engage students in dynamic, interactive ways. The largest auditorium in the building can seat 560 students, offering an immersive educational experience. This building represents the very essence of Kristiania's commitment to future-focused education.

A Seamless AV Integration by Bravo

The heart of this new learning environment is its advanced audiovisual (AV) systems, installed by Bravo, a trusted partner of Kristiania. Bravo’s strategic account executive, Stian Andersson, recounts the long-standing partnership between the two organizations: “Kristiania was one of our first customers back in 2013, and it’s been a very successful collaboration ever since. They were very pleased with the work we did on their Urtegata campus in 2021, which led to us being selected for this new building project.”

Bravo's early involvement in the project allowed the team to collaborate closely with Kristiania from the design phase. Andersson notes, “Being engaged in the project from the start meant we could tailor our solutions precisely to Kristiania’s needs. Working in a 3D model for a year before implementation was an invaluable experience.” This early-stage involvement helped Bravo deliver customized AV solutions that met the college's exact requirements.

Prioritizing Reliability and Future-Proof Technology

Kristiania’s primary goal for the new building was to equip students and faculty with cutting-edge, reliable technology. “They wanted technology that was easy to use and, most importantly, reliable. The systems needed to work without fail and provide a seamless experience for both students and lecturers,” explains Andersson.

Bravo handled the entire AV system integration—except for IT—using robust solutions such as Dante for audio and Crestron NVX for AVoIP infrastructure. “The focus was on system stability and ease of management. Kristiania wanted a solution where they could monitor and manage everything from one centralized location,” says Andersson.

Additionally, the college was keen on future-proofing the building’s technology. “The goal was to invest in technology that would be just as effective five years from now as it is today. Kristiania wanted equipment that would last for the next decade,” Andersson adds.

LED Technology: A Sustainable Choice

An interesting aspect of the project was the decision to use LED technology in place of traditional projection systems. After conducting several workshops and testing LED solutions in real-world lecture scenarios, Kristiania made the decision to equip the entire building with LED screens. The longevity of LED technology was a major factor in this decision, with screens expected to last at least 100,000 hours, compared to 20,000–50,000 hours for laser projectors.

Sustainability played a key role in this decision. Andersson points out, “Once we connected the environmental and cost-saving benefits of LED technology to Kristiania’s sustainability goals, the choice became clear.”

A Cutting-Edge AV Experience

The main auditorium in the Kirkegata building features two massive 146-inch The Wall LED displays from Samsung, providing an immersive visual experience for audiences of up to 560 people. The audio system, a K-Array Pinnacle KR802 system, delivers high-quality, stage-like sound, with two column speakers and dual 18-inch subwoofers suspended from the ceiling. To ensure lecturers can move freely during their presentations, the system includes three Panasonic PTZ cameras, along with the TrackingMaster camera tracking system, which uses Lidar technology to keep the lecturer in frame at all times.

Additionally, the WolfVision Cynap Pro wireless presentation system allows for seamless lecture capture and recording, streamlining the process of content delivery. As Andersson notes, “WolfVision’s integration with Crestron was a key factor. Their package system simplified the setup, and their experience in large-scale installations made them the perfect fit for the project.”

The new building at Kristiania University College is more than just a physical space; it represents a forward-thinking, tech-enabled educational environment. From cutting-edge AV systems to sustainable design choices, every aspect of the building has been meticulously crafted to support Kristiania’s mission of delivering high-quality, accessible education.

As technology continues to evolve, Kristiania University College is leading the charge in creating a learning environment that prepares students for the future—an environment where knowledge is not just power, but a fully immersive, collaborative experience.

A Welcoming First Floor

As you move up to the first floor, you're welcomed by a restaurant, canteen, and the main reception area. “We’re now in the process of utilising that space on the ground floor, just inside the entrance,” explains Andersson. “They have a lot of art throughout the building and in this area, they’ve built a small amphitheatre.”

Look up from the ground floor and you'll see a stunning series of sculptural staircases made from knot-free pine — their intertwined design inspired by Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life. This area is seeing increased usage for small presentations, and Bravo is currently installing audio to support this.

Second Floor: Auditorium and Social Zones

The second floor features a spacious auditorium with a 280–300 student capacity. A 5.7m-wide Samsung UHD LED wall delivers visuals, supported by a K-Array Pinnacle KR802 audio system. While both auditoriums use K-Array, all other teaching spaces are equipped with Audac Kyra24 column speakers.

This floor also includes video conferencing-equipped meeting rooms and social areas designed to encourage collaboration.

Third Floor: Student-Centric Classrooms

On the third floor, you'll find what Bravo calls “student active classrooms.” These are divided into group tables of 8–12, each with its own 75-inch Samsung screen. A central LED wall allows lecturers to present content to the entire class. Designed specifically for group work, the spaces support PC and Mac connectivity.

Also located on this floor is one of the building’s most innovative concepts: Fugleberg classrooms. “It’s a large classroom with 20 tables, each with a 32-inch touchscreen and a touch-activated microphone,” says Andersson. Students complete assignments locally, then present them on the main 130-inch LED wall. Lecturers can spotlight one or multiple group screens and manage microphone access for structured discussion.

Interestingly, Fugleberg rooms do not support streaming. “The intended collaboration is supposed to stay within the room,” says Andersson, emphasizing the complexity and intimacy of in-person interaction.

Fourth Floor: Multipurpose Social and Study Space

This floor contains a standard classroom with dual LED screens to accommodate structural columns and ensure visibility. It also houses three group meeting rooms and multifunctional social areas. These spaces are used for small parties, book clubs, debates, and more — adding a vibrant, community-focused element to the building.

Fifth Floor: Active Learning and Harvard-Style Rooms

The fifth floor continues the trend of student-centered design with more student active classrooms and two Harvard-style rooms. These horseshoe-shaped spaces feature a 130-inch Samsung LED wall behind the lecturer, blending traditional layout with high-tech tools.

Audio throughout the building is handled by Sennheiser systems, including TeamConnect ceiling panels in executive areas, soundbars in seminar rooms, and EW-DX wireless mics. K-Array loudspeakers are also used, and all audio is distributed over a Dante network. This allows for flexible routing, including system-wide messaging or even piping audio from the cellar to the rooftop.

Sixth Floor: Expanding the Fugleberg Model

The top floor includes another Fugleberg room and a regular classroom. Why duplicate the concept? “Because of capacity — they use them a lot,” Andersson explains. “It’s part of futureproofing. The University wants to stay at the forefront of teaching.”

Creating an advanced, intuitive learning environment isn’t without its challenges. “The baseline between having groundbreaking technology and making it hassle-free for the students is a very fine line,” says Andersson. It’s a balance that Bravo has worked hard to strike throughout the campus.

Seventh Floor: Rooftop Learning & Nature Integration

The seventh floor of the building offers a unique blend of technology and tranquility. It features two rooftop terraces with bird boxes, beehives, fields of strawberries, and grass-covered sections — a literal green roof that doubles as a peaceful environment for learning and relaxing.

These spaces also serve as venues for small seminars and presentations. Bravo has equipped the terraces with two Samsung 98-inch screens on mobile trolleys for easy setup, alongside a built-in audio system with Sennheiser microphones to support clear communication during events.

To run teaching sessions here, lecturers use an in-room client PC connected to the Kristiania intranet, with added HDMI and USB-C connectivity options. Students can join via wired connections managed by Crestron NVX. In student active classrooms equipped with 75-inch displays, students can plug in and have their screen content pulled to the main display by the lecturer for group collaboration.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

The most complex part of the entire installation? Implementing the AVoIP system in collaboration with the IT provider. Andersson explains, “With every AVoIP installation, there’s always an issue over where AV meets IT. The IT team says, ‘We don’t know AV, you have to run that.’ The AV team says, ‘We are finished; it’s now in IT’s hands.’ So you have to solve that problem.”

At Kristiania, AV systems run on a converged network, with the Dante audio network operating on separate Netgear switches to ensure smooth communication and low latency.

One common challenge in higher education is resistance to new technology among faculty. So how did Bravo address it here? “The technical team has been with us the whole way,” says Andersson. “Not only did they support the implementation, they also supported the training.”

Bravo made sure the lecturers were well-trained, and even went as far as to double and triple check every aspect of the technology before rolling it out. “The last thing we wanted was to build a new classroom with new tech that no one would use. That was essential in the design of the project.”

A Deep Commitment to Sustainability

From day one, sustainability was a top priority. For example, K-Array speakers were chosen partly because they’re manufactured in Europe, reducing shipping emissions. Similarly, architects sourced granite from Grorud and Røyken in Norway, despite the significantly higher cost compared to importing similar materials from China.

Smart sensors placed throughout the building monitor air quality, movement, temperature, and ventilation, adjusting systems automatically based on real-time occupancy. These efforts helped the building achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating.

The push for sustainability isn’t just for show. Andersson explains, “There’s a growing group of clients concerned with sustainability. They want to ensure they’re buying environmentally friendly products and using as little energy as possible. These buildings are BREEAM certified, and the entire structure is energy positive — it generates more energy than it consumes.”

all images: Oda Hveem

KIT LIST

Audac Kyra24 loudspeakers, Dante module, Alt16/B pendant speakers
Audinate Dante AVIO output adaptors
Biamp Tesira DSP, 64x64 Dante modules
Crestron 7-in and 10-in touchscreens, DM NVX encoders and decoders, CP4 control engine,
KNX interface
Epiphan Pearl Nexus streaming/recording units
K-array Pinnacle KR802PSY portable PA system, KP52W loudspeakers
Multibrackets mounts
Panasonic AW-UE50KE PTZ cameras
Samsung The Wall 130-in and 146-in all-in-one LED display, 1.5mm LED tiles, 55-in, 75-in, 85-in displays, QM32R-T 32-in tabletop touchscreen
Sennheiser EW-DX microphones
TrackingMaster camera tracking system, 2D laser scanner
WolfVision VZ-2 visualiser, Cynap Pro presentation system