Leiden University’s new Campus Spui, located in the heart of The Hague, the diplomatic and administrative centre of the Netherlands, opened in February 2026 following the transformation of a former department store into a modernac ademic hub. The campus brings together around 4,000 students from partner institutions such as TU Delft, the Open Universiteit, LUMC and Universiteiten van Nederland. To support teaching, collaboration and flexible room use across the new site, Leiden University required a standardized AV infrastructure that would be simple for staff and students to use in every space.
The university’s primary goal was to create a consistent AV experience across campus, supporting spaces ranging from large lecture halls and classrooms to self-study areas, offices, and meeting hubs. Thijs van Veen, AV Project Leader at Leiden University, led the design, specifying a range of Taurus UCX devices from Lightware to facilitate smooth teaching and collaboration experiences. The Dante-enabled Taurus UCX-4x2-HC30D universal matrix switchers feature in larger lecture halls and hybrid classrooms, while Taurus UCX-4x2-HC30 units are installed in standard classrooms, offices and smaller spaces. Installation was carried out by systems integrator Adaptable.
The UCX allows lecturers and students to connect laptops instantly to the AV equipment in each space. With 4K video, audio, control signals and power delivered over a single cable, users can begin teaching or sharing content quickly, with minimal setup time required. The system also supports smooth switching between devices, allowing multiple teaching resources to be used at the same time.
As a redevelopment project, the installation presented expected challenges, including speaker placement, cable lengths, and coordination around ongoing construction work. “Early coordination with Adaptable and construction teams ensured all requirements were met,” confirms van Veen. Despite these potential obstacles, the Lightware system was deployed on time with no delays, delivering the robustness and reliability required for a large-scale university environment.
The UCX forms the core of every educational room across the campus. Large lecture halls and hybrid classrooms, which require additional hardware to meet their specific audio and AV needs, use Taurus UCX-4x2-HC30D switchers with Dante/AES67 support, while standard classrooms, offices, and smaller study spaces use the UCX-4x2-HC30. Lightware’s Taurus TPX-4x3-TX20-RX107-bundles are used selectively where cabling constraints exist, while UCX remains the primary platform. This integration ensures a consistent user experience despite variations in room technology such as LED screens and ceiling microphones.
The UCX units integrate seamlessly with the university’s Q-SYS audio system, managing DSP, sound distribution, and reinforcement. This ensures clear, consistent audio and video across different room types, while allowing hybrid participants to see and hear content just as effectively as those in the room. BYOD integration also allows students and lecturers to collaborate easily and share content in real time.
This structured deployment supports scalable operation across the campus, while allowing each room to meet the needs of different teaching and learning formats. According to van Veen, “The system works exactly as expected, making it easy to use, consistent across the campus, and future-ready for expansion.”
The installation of Lightware’s UCX system at Leiden University’s Campus Spui has created an AV infrastructure that supports flexible teaching, simplified operation and long-term scalability. For lecturers and students, the result is intuitive plug and-play connectivity, consistent room control and fewer technical barriers in day-to-day learning. For the university, the deployment provides a reliable model that can continue to scale, with Lightware’s UCX platform set to become a central part of Leiden University’s long-term AV strategy as the system expands.
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.
