University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio
The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year. The upgraded facilities accompany the university’s recent move into the Big Ten Conference.
Amenities include four control rooms; a 1,000-square-foot video and photography studio; a 2,300-square-foot multipurpose space; and dedicated spaces for technical, equipment, storage, and administrative areas.
“This was an opportunity to build the production environment around where collegiate broadcasting is going, rather than simply where it is today,” said Mike Martin, Anthony James Partners’ Chief Technology Officer. “Washington needed the ability to support multiple independent productions, share resources across the facility and adapt as production workflows continue to evolve. The infrastructure was designed around that long-term flexibility.”
The video and photography studio will play home to original programming, interviews, photography setups, and more, according to the news release. Technology capabilities include seven moveable LED columns that can operate independently or come together to create a single, 10x27-foot screen. The multipurpose event space, meanwhile, is dedicated to live programming, meetings, academic and educational activities, partner meetings, and other large events; the room is also equipped with a 6.6-by-11.5-foot LED display.
“Sundodger Studios is a fully IP-based production environment built around SMPTE ST 2110, allowing video, audio and data resources to be shared across the facility while providing the flexibility to support multiple independent productions,” the news release reports. “The technical infrastructure incorporates Evertz NATX distribution with Magnum-OS orchestration, centralized replay and playback resources, Grass Valley production systems and professional broadcast communications, monitoring, audio and storage infrastructure.”
The university also partnered with Anthony James Partners on broadcast infrastructure capabilities to other athletic venues around campus, including baseball and softball facilities, Husky Soccer Stadium, and Alaska Airlines Arena.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].