Planar Video Walls Enhance University's New Innovation Center
The University of Charleston (UC) is a private university located in Charleston, West Virginia that is nationally recognized for its academic programs in citizenship, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and ethical practice and inquiry. Recently, UC advanced its entrepreneurial tradition by opening a new Innovation Center on its main campus. The newly renovated building will serve as the intercollegiate athletic facility for both volleyball and basketball. The $16.5 million upgrade to the university's existing gym created a space that will bring students together not only for live sporting events, but will also serve as a recreational gathering space.
Inside the Innovation Center the university created a heightened audio-visual environment for students with the integration of video wall displays from Planar. Two Clarity® Matrix® LCD video walls were installed in the new facility—a six-wide-by-one-high (6x1) array located at the entrance and a three-by-three (3x3) video wall that serves as a central display fixture in an "entertainment hub" located in the building's atrium. The immersive and flexible Clarity Matrix video wall system combines the industry's thinnest profile ultra-narrow bezel with superior visual performance and outstanding image quality.
Simple and efficient integration
Greg Priest, a senior account manager at audio-visual solutions provider Advanced, which designed and installed the video walls, said Planar's LCD video wall solution was the ideal choice for the application due to the ability to source power remotely.
"With these monitors, the power modules are offloaded into quad controllers, which allows us to install the displays directly against the wall," Priest said. "This makes them significantly lighter because they have no immediate backing components. They don't need to be directly plugged in, thus eliminating the need for onsite outlets. We were able to hook up both displays to an equipment rack in a control room that's located about 100 feet away."
The Planar video walls have served to elevate the sports viewing experience at the Innovation Center with the addition of rich, high-quality visual content. Since the opening, UC has used the video walls to relay school-related information and to broadcast live sporting events.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
