Extron Quantum Ultra Videowall Processor Transforms Library Space at Santa Catalina School

Santa Catalina School is a Catholic boarding and day school for girls grades 9-12 in Monterey, California. The school strives to develop in each student a thirst for excellence that includes a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. Technology plays a role in these endeavors.

CHALLENGES

Santa Catalina School’s new Sister Mary Kieran Memorial Library was designed to be more than simply a repository for books. It houses an extensive collection of nonfiction and fiction, an impressive array of reference materials, spaces of varying sizes for individual study, group study, tutoring, meetings, and open periods, as well as one room with videoconferencing capabilities. As a space where students can share ideas with each other, as well as with instructors and staff, the facility needed the right tools and technology to support this interaction.

The AV system in the videoconferencing room was slated for a 3x3 videowall that accepted content from a variety of rack-mounted and connected HDMI and USB source devices. Control needed to be intuitive. Videoconferencing was part of the original design goals, allowing participants to see one another and share content simultaneously. The school selected integration firm EKC Enterprises to design and install a videowall system that would meet all of their requirements.

Santa Catalina School’s newly renovated library is designed to be cozy and inviting, but with high-performance technology such as Extron’s Quantum Ultra videowall processor that supports communication and collaboration.

DESIGN SOLUTION

One of the larger rooms within the Sister Mary Kieran Memorial Library includes a videowall system to support high-end meeting presentation and videoconferencing with local and remote participants. Sources range from computers and Apple TV^® to personal devices connected within the room, including an HDMI input wallplate located on the pillar by the door. Content is shared from multiple locations.

The AV system centers on a Primeview FusionMAX^™ 138" FHD Pro LED display driven by the Extron Quantum Ultra 305 Ultra-High Bandwidth 4K Videowall Processor. AV and control signals are sent over shielded CATx cable using DTP transmitters and receivers. The AV system components and various sources are rack-mounted within the adjoining conference room's equipment closet.

Extron Quantum Ultra Transforms Content into Collaborative Learning

The Quantum Ultra processor’s five-slot frame is configured with HDMI input and DTP^® twisted pair output cards. It accepts AV signals directly from HDMI sources, and an Extron USB switcher converts USB signals, such as from a computer, to HDMI. EDID and output resolution are set to match the FusionMAX videowall and its native resolution of 1080p. The processor’s HyperLane^® video bus provides real-time performance with a total throughput of 400 Gbps, accommodating the high-bandwidth requirements of the LED videowall. Simultaneous video scaling and presentation from multiple sources is instantaneous.

Quantum Ultra was chosen because of its extensive feature set and maximum up‑time. Along with flexible windowing capabilities, it delivers a seamless image scaled across the entire canvas, such as during a student club meeting. Extron’s Vector^™ 4K scaling technology controls image upscaling and downscaling. The integration team at EKC programmed multiple videowall presets into the system, making it easy for users to select the optimal window layout for their application.

To extend video signals between the rack-mounted processor and the videowall, an Extron DTP^® receiver is mounted behind the display. The system designer chose this model because it receives DTP signals, converts them to HDMI, and supports control and analog audio while maintaining signal integrity over distances of up to 330 feet (100 meters).

For AV system control, an Extron 7" TouchLink^® Pro touchpanel is mounted on the wall next to the LED display. It is paired with the Extron IP Link^® Pro control processor in the room's equipment rack. The touch interface is customized, being equally suitable for novice and experienced users alike.

When the school decided to switch from a 3x3 videowall to an LED direct view display for the new library, the modularity of the Extron Quantum Ultra processor allowed the design to be updated with a simple reconfiguration to deliver the required windowed content with signal integrity at top speed.

RESULTS

From concept to commissioning, the project was completed in seven months. The Library LED display, driven by the Extron Quantum Ultra 305 videowall processor, is recognized as a valuable tool on campus. Students and staff appreciate the image quality, windowing flexibility, and stability of the room’s varied capabilities. Overall, the videowall system is helping Santa Catalina School achieve its goals of empowering the students to ask deeper questions, make braver choices, become bolder leaders, and embrace their most spiritual and authentic selves.

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