UNLV
Preparing the future workforce to support the evolution in digital media and mass communications requires providing state-of-the art facilities and systems that include current technologies and platforms to address the needs of today and tomorrow. Such a center was completed by AZCAR this past October in Las Vegas.
The Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS), located on the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, is home to KUNV, the university’s on-campus FM radio station, and UNLV-TV, its self-supporting TV production unit. In addition to providing a solid teaching environment, UNLV-TV and KUNV also serve the larger community by producing and delivering educational content for and about the university to the community.
In 2008, the school moved into Greenspun Hall, a new $92 million, 117,000sq-ft building that is one of the most innovative journalism buildings in the country, emphasizing a converged media curriculum for the dissemination of messages via a multitude of platforms. This all-digital network-based HD broadcast facility includes TV studios, radio production and performance studios, writing labs, advanced editing labs, a converged media lab and a 200-seat auditorium built to accommodate video and audio production.
AZCAR and UNLV staff created a sophisticated media production, broadcast and educational environment aimed at preparing students for the future of journalism and mass communications industries. The environment was created to allow for different workflows other than those found in typical broadcast or production facilities. Through the use of HD field and studio production systems, the TV facilities use network-centric systems coupled with traditional linear (live) studio production equipment as the foundation for the teaching processes.
Beginning in mid-2009, the radio and TV studios commenced operations from the new hall. Live TV production is supported by two production control rooms (one built out, the second is planned) servicing the two studios. Four Sony studio cameras and associated handhelds are sharable between studios. Built to address the future, the signal infrastructure uses extensive GigE, HD-SDI and fiber transports (Sumitomo FutureFLEX tubes installed throughout) that enable distribution of HD content campuswide. UNLV chose 720p and XDCAM 422 encoding as its native formats.
Editorial and news production systems are by Avid, consisting of iNEWS, Interplay and ISIS storage. A 16-seat nonlinear editing lab is used for instructional and production purposes, in addition to six NewsCutter stations employed to produce news content for UNLV-TV broadcasts. A field production flypack, consisting of Sony Anycast and four XDCAM EX3 HD camera systems, allows students to produce live programs throughout the campus or beyond.
The building is built to LEED certification standards complete with a 150kW photovoltaic array that provides sustainable energy for the building. The facility offers tremendous hands-on opportunities for students to experiment, create and produce media content.
- New studio technology – HD
Submitted by AZCARDesign teamUNLV: James Fernane, proj. mgr.; Dr. Lee Bernick, dean, Greenspun College of Urban; David Reese, general mgr., KUNV; Laurel Fruth, general mgr., UNLV-TV; Michael Piper, media network eng.; Dan Grimes, mgr. of instructional production and eng.
AZCAR: Joe Persico, proj. mgr.; Steve Weiner, business development; Michael “Spike” Jones, solutions dir.; Hakim Kharbut, lead eng.; Neil Sutton, installation supervisor; Knell Fullem, IT eng.; Sean Kennedy, IT eng.; Guy McCombs, eng.
Russ Berger Design Group: Russ Berger, president, acoustical design; Richard Schrag, acoustics and architectural eng.
Technology at workAvid: iNEWS, ISIS, Newscutter
Cisco: Catalyst 6500, 2960, 3960
Clear-Com: Eclipse-Median/64
Fujinon: XA22x7BES-SS-XA22 lenses
Harris: Platinum router, distribution, Predator multiviewer, VTM-4100
Image Video: TSI-1000 tally
Omnirax: Consoles
Panasonic: AJ-HD1400 DVCProHD
Rorke Data: Galaxy LX4 NAS
Sony: HDRUX20, HDC1400, PDW700 CineAlta cameras, MVS6000-HD switcher
© 2009 Penton Media, Inc.
