Unicol has delivered a bespoke ceiling suspension system for a permanent dvLED videowall installation at Loughborough University’s sports hall in the UK.
The project, completed in partnership with AV systems integrator GVAV, replaces a long-standing temporary screen system olution with a robust, permanent fixture above the venue’s main entranceway.
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 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 an 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.