IT / AV Design Considerations

Download the IT/AV Design Considerations  Document

The following considerations reflect “lessons learned” from previous projects and/or new design preferences

A. General Considerations

  • Information Technology System, refer to attachment, dated January 13, 2015.
  • Tel/Data rooms shall be at least 20 feet from the electrical rooms to avoid magnetic interference from the transformers; backboards to be ¾” thick, minimum 4’x8’, A/B fire resistant plywood. Minimum depth of telecom closets to be 30” clear; light switches are to be located inside the room
  • Document VOIP Phones, previous phone jacks are to be replaced with LAN jacks (RJ45), black in color and terminated for LAN use; neither Fire Alarm nor Security System need a copper wire connection
  • Note that the telephone in an elevator, where a phone is required by code, must be connected to a “real” phone line, i.e. copper and not VOIP; copper feed cable is needed with voice terminations and associated hardware

B. IT Technology – Classrooms/Conference Rooms

The Technical Services (IT) department is responsible for the seamless running of all technical services on campus including desktop operations, audio/visual support for classrooms, digital signage, lecture capture, video conferencing, and the design, support, maintenance, and training for campus wide systems.

Base Design concepts

  • On all projects involving teaching, lab and academic areas, IT personnel shall be included in the in design reviews, on a minimum, at the 30% and 95% submissions; and, shall be involved in the installation/operation and training of the technology equipment
  • As audio-visual systems and equipment play a fundamental role in the use and design of our instructional spaces, the Design Professional must be aware of the technological requirements of the educational spaces they are working in, and must consider legacy and future technology needs as well. Coordination with the West Chester University Informational Services is crucial. Areas of concentration A/V inclusion include: classrooms and lecture areas, meeting and conference rooms, public spaces (lobbies and lounges) and seminar rooms.
    • Presentation classrooms: Where required by the project program, and for all new capital projects, the Design Professional shall incorporate presentation classrooms (the number of which to be determined by the using department) which shall include a projector, a supporting audio system and a wall plate with appropriate connections for a Laptop/PC, and, in some locations, a connection for a DVD player.
    • Multimedia Classrooms: Where required by the project program, and for all new capital construction projects, the Design Professional shall incorporate a series of multimedia classrooms (the number of which to be determined by the required program), which shall provide a projector, a workstation/lectern, a personal computer and/or an Apple Macintosh computer, a DVD player, and a supporting audio system.
    • Section 11 xx xx Audio Visual Systems/equipment (Refer to Classroom Design Section for more specifics on A/V equipment in classrooms
  • The Design Professional shall engage the services of IT professionals on each project to properly design and integrate tele/data systems into the room configurations. The IT professional should work with the Design Professional to properly coordinate the selected IT Systems with area acoustics, lighting, shading, floor, wall, ceiling, structural and architectural elements, seating configurations and sight lines, instructor and student interactivity, and ADA and local code requirements.

All design work shall be coordinated with WCU IT Services and shall receive final approval from WCU IT Services and Facilities before proceeding.

For specific information regarding the scope of services provided by IS&T (Technical Services) at WCU.