Making an Impact with Advanced Solutions – Blackpool CLC wows the community

As the UK's largest City Learning Centre, Blackpool CLC wanted to reflect its distinguished status and ensure the centre would prove a real asset to the community. Recognising the need for new technology, they chose Promethean to provide state-of-the-art conference facilities whose teaching and presentation systems were flexible enough to adapt to a wide range of users.

What was needed?

Blackpool CLC’s ‘wish-list’ included video conferencing, professional training and presentation facilities, multiple projection screens, interactive whiteboards, an integrated document camera, DVD, VCR and audio technology. Teaching and presentation facilities would need to be flexible enough to adapt to all users, ranging from schools and libraries to businesses and local area forums. It was important that any new equipment would be easy enough for community groups to get to grips with. Finally, they needed the ‘wow’ factor - as a pioneering facility in the community, Blackpool CLC needed displays that signalled its advanced technology and create an impact.

The solution

Blackpool CLC chose Promethean’s Advanced Solutions to supply sophisticated but simply-controlled AV and video conferencing facilities according to their wish-list.

In the main presentation room, the touch of a single button controls all AV source equipment including DVD, VCR, video conferencing facilities, and document camera technology. This was achieved by use of the touch screen control panel, which was custom designed to control the equipment required. It also allows other features to be integrated as necessary in the future, such as control of the lighting and air-conditioning.

The main presentation room was also designed to link schools via video conferencing, with a ceiling-mounted microphone system and high quality audio mixing and processing. This facility could also be networked for inter-school video conferencing. And to welcome visitors in the entrance area, giving them that ‘wow’ factor,  the Promethean Advanced Solutions team installed fixed displays around a circular wall.

The verdict

Users of the facility include teacher trainers, local authorities, local area forums, the council, schools, libraries, community groups, and local businesses. Blackpool CLC Centre Manager Su Crashley summarises their response: “All users have been impressed by how easy the system is to use. It’s helped deliver real accessibility to the facilities we have here at the CLC. From the moment people walk into the building, the entrance creates a positive impression, especially when the screen is lit at night. It has been used to display children’s work and is a popular feature of the centre.”

Now the installation is complete, Blackpool CLC is a resource centre to which managers aspire. The full range of equipment is already being used extensively to enhance teaching and learning for schools and in the wider community. Committed to building on its capabilities and creating new opportunities for the area, Blackpool CLC’s next goal is to develop digital broadcasting capability.