The University of Huddersfield recently installed a state-of-the-art VR CAVE system at its new Barbara Hepworth Building, named after the famous sculptor. Home of the School of Art, Design and Architecture, the building boasts a 7,500sqm space and is designed to support multi-disciplinary learning. The VR CAVE, housed in the School’s Phidias Lab, was installed by VR integration specialist Antycip Simulation on behalf of its client Roche AV.
Designed to function as an experimental AR and head-mounted display (HMD) facility, the Phidias Lab promotes the development of the school’s digital strategy through encouraging the creation of digital content and immersive VR. It is home to an eight-screen video wall with several modes for exhibiting and presenting, a motion capture area, a feature sound and lighting system and now, a highly advanced immersive CAVE system.
Surrounded by a 16-camera Vicon motion capture system, the CAVE supports a wide range of virtual environment needs. It provides students from a variety of academic subjects the opportunity to develop their design concepts, without the need for potentially expensive physical models or printed material.
Roche AV, an audio-visual specialist and incumbent supplier to the university, was appointed to populate this prestigious new building with modern technologies. They got involved with the immense Phidias Lab project after successfully integrating AV systems within the Oastler building. When assigned the CAVE project, Roche AV called upon VR specialist Antycip Simulation to design and deliver the immersive projected display environment.
Antycip Simulation designed a three-face CAVE, comprising of three solid state Barco F90 laser projectors. Boasting 4K resolution and 3D capability, the projectors are equipped with ultra-short throw lens optics to address the primary front projection face of the CAVE and the wing face positioned on the right side. Both projectors are inverted and enable huge savings on the real estate required for the rear projection throw distance behind the solid specialist rigid acrylic substrate screens.
