High performance projection for a historic events space: De Montfort University transforms The Venue with Da-Lite Myriad Reveal

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Introduction

De Montfort University (DMU), based in Leicester, United Kingdom was founded in 1870 and has built a strong reputation for high-quality, distinctive teaching. Across its four campuses, the university supports 26,000 students and 2,600 staff.

TheDigital Content and Media team supports a wide range of internal and external events, from academic conferences and lectures to commercial performances and live productions. Their primary home, The Venue, is a flexible and high demand performance and conference space that must deliver reliable, highquality visuals for a diverse client base.

The Challenge

The Venue sits in a building with a distinctive and historically significant past. Originally designed during the Second World War as an aircraft production facility, it later became the John Sandford Sports Centre before being redeveloped into a modern events space in 2015. During this transformation, the building’s Belfast truss roof, an architecturally and historically important feature, was preserved and protected. Any new AV installation needed to respect these constraints while improving performance.

After a decade of service, the existing projection system was no longer meeting modern expectations for brightness, clarity, and flexibility. With visual content playing a central role in most events, the team sought a futureproof upgrade that would enhance the viewing experience while integrating seamlessly into the unique architecture of the space.

The previous system consisted of six ageing projectors and screens. Over time, several issues emerged:

  • Insufficient brightness and image quality for today’s event standards.
  • White screen casings that were visually distracting and interfered with stage lighting, creating unwanted shadows.
  • Crinkled screen surfaces reduced image uniformity.
  • Limited height adjustment, forcing the casings to hang lower into the room to achieve the required image position.

The Digital Content and Media team required a solution that delivered high brightness and clarity under varied lighting conditions, a largely hidden installation to maintain clean sightlines and avoid lighting interference, flexible height positioning for different staging layouts, a flatter, more reliable projection surface and had longterm reliability suitable for a busy, multiuse venue.

GVAV, DMU’s dedicated AV integrator, was tasked with delivering a system that met these technical, aesthetic, and architectural requirements.

The Solution

After evaluating the needs of the space and the constraints of the building, GVAV selected the Myriad Reveal projection screen from Legrand | AV. The product addressed every major challenge:

  • Screen casing that could be positioned higher and concealed within the ceiling void.<
  • Multiple height settings to accommodate varied event formats and stage configurations
  • Tabtensioned screen surface ensuring a consistently flat and professional image.
  • A discreet, modern aesthetic that eliminated the visual clutter of the previous white casings.

The Myriad Reveal offered the performance, flexibility, and architectural sensitivity required to modernize The Venue without compromising its historic character.

Matthew Price, Technical Projects Director at GVAV says: “Myriad Reveal ticked all the boxes:performance, aesthetics, and flexibility. It allowed us to deliver a solution that meets the technical demands of the space while respecting its architectural heritage.”

Installation

Working at height using MEWPs, the GVAV team installed the Myriad Reveal screens by bolting and clamping them to the existing joists within the ceiling void. This approach ensured not only a secure installation, but also optimal positioning as well as minimal visual impact when the screens are retracted.

The installation process was smooth, and the screens integrated cleanly into the existing infrastructure without disturbing the preserved Belfast truss roof.

Result

The upgraded projection system has significantly enhanced the visual performance and flexibility of The Venue. Key outcomes include:

  • Brighter, sharper images that perform reliably under full stage lighting or dimmed presentation conditions
  • A cleaner visual environment, with screen casings fully concealed.
  • Improved operational flexibility, thanks to multiple height positions.
  • A flatter, more uniform projection surface, improving the professional appearance of all content.
  • Positive feedback from both internal teams and external clients, confirming the upgrade’s impact.

The Digital Content and Media team at DMU report: “The system is brighter, more flexible, and much easier to use, and we’ve already received excellent feedback from visiting clients, showing it greatly enhances our events.”