Concert Hall Outfitted with New Equipment

Many students saw the improved screen, projector and lens in the Kent Concert Hall for the first time Wednesday during a showing of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

"It went great," said Jarrod Larsen, Chase Fine Arts Center manager. "We had a turn-away crowd, and everyone seemed to really like it."

The concert hall doubles as a classroom. Hundreds of students attend such classes as creative arts there.

Mike Brazfield, Classroom Technical Services supervisor, said the new equipment, which was installed Jan. 8, provides for a large-scale teaching and learning environment. Laptops, computers, DVDs and VHS presentations can all be displayed.

"It's a seamless screen, which is really nice. Most screens that size have a seam in it," said Jim Wellings, video network engineer and operations supervisor.

The screen came in two big crates that were about 24 feet long. The frame was assembled, then the screen was unrolled and put on it.

Larsen said in order to make everything work, they ran about 1,000 feet of coaxial cable.

Wellings said the new screen is 32 feet wide and 18 feet high. The old one was 16 feet square.

"[The old screen] was too small for the room," he said. "The specifications for a room that size state the screen should be at least 25 feet wide."

In addition, the projector "is about seven times as bright as the ones they usually check out and take to the concert hall," Wellings said. The new projector was installed in November and was used for the Warren Miller ski/snowboard movie that was shown last semester, he said.

Another advantage of the new projector is its lens, which allowed Utah State University to put the projector at the back of the hall. In the past, a projector had to be brought in and put in the middle of the seats, he said.

"You can [now] show letter-box DVDs and fill the screen ... and show a standard image at least 24 feet wide," Wellings said.

Larsen said the screen and projector will be easier than those used before; they will be big enough and bright enough to be seen. The Chase Fine Arts Center crew will all be trained to operate it.

By Danielle Hegsted; dhegsted@cc.usu.edu
Photo courtesy Technical Support Services