De Montfort University (DMU), in collaboration with GVAV, approached TeamMate to design and scope several classrooms in Gateway House, home to the University’s Faculty of Technology. The building was undergoing extensive renovations across multiple floors during the summer, while remaining operational. Mark Simmonds, AV Services Team Leader, requested a similar desk design for several PC-based spaces to match the Trading Room setup that TeamMate had successfully installed the previous year. One of these spaces, however, required accommodations for large tower PCs, necessitating a custom-built enclosure.
The desks needed to support dual screens: the lower screen as the primary user display and the upper screen for content from the main lectern or visualizer. Additionally, one teaching room was designated for collaborative learning and required tables with screens at one end to support a range of pedagogical approaches. Both the collaborative room and the computer labs featured bookable meeting rooms that could also function as drop-in spaces. These areas needed tables with built-in connectivity to support BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) functionality.
To maintain consistency in aesthetics and functionality, the opportunity was also taken to upgrade the teaching lecterns in many of the spaces, aligning them with the overall design and purpose of the rooms.
The primary challenge for this project was timing: coordinating the delivery and installation of a large-scale project within a tight schedule, all while the building remained in operation.
TeamMate successfully outfitted three computer labs with Obelisk Cluster Desks, designed to accommodate dual-stacked displays for six users per desk. Each lab included several VariHite desks to ensure compliance with the Equality Act. In two of the labs, all-in-one PCs served as the lower displays, while the third lab utilized HP Z2 G9 Tower Workstations. To address potential legroom issues in this setup, TeamMate designed custom enclosures integrated into the desk legs, optimizing both space and functionality.
Each Obelisk desk featured removable upper panels, providing access to a 4U vertical rack mount. These mounts were adjustable, enabling easier integration and cable management. TeamMate collaborated closely with DMU and primary contractor Charles Henry to ensure precise placement of floor boxes for optimal functionality.
In the collaborative teaching space, TeamMate installed Kobi Meeting Tables, each equipped with a large format display mount at one end. At the center of each table, a power bar module offered UK power outlets, twin fast USB charge ports (A+C), and a cable feedthrough for flexible connectivity. The space also included various bookable and drop-in side meeting rooms, furnished with modular Kobi tables in 4-, 6-, and 8-seat configurations. Each table was equipped with a Jabra Panacast 50, mounted beneath the screen, to support hybrid meetings.
Additionally, DMU refurbished several lecture theatres and seminar rooms as part of the upgrade schedule. The Educator Single VariHite lectern was selected for these spaces, featuring a 1200mm worktop, a security riser plate for the WolfVision Vcam visualizer, and secure housings for a Crestron touch panel and Beyerdynamic microphone.
Throughout the design process, there were several changes to improve the accessibility and practicality for both integrator and user point of views. TeamMate, together with GVAV ensured that the installation and integration went as seamlessly as possible, with weekly co-ordination between all parties involved.
Mark Simmonds, AV Services Manager at DMU commented, ‘Both Obelisk and Kobi bring a high quality sleek modern design which we think give these new spaces a great feel. The way they allow us to integrate our AV systems is great, providing cable routes and space to mount/ fit our AV hardware’.
Ensuring that TeamMate offers product which are both contemporary in design but does not compromise functionality is one of the key design principles we take into consideration.
Mark continues, ‘We’ve found TeamMate very approachable and accommodating, helping us with design changes that were needed as well as last-minute amendments to the install schedule. They were always available when we needed help and came back to use very quickly with answers if he couldn’t answer immediately.’
We’ve found TeamMate very approachable and accommodating, helping us with design changes that were needed as well as last-minute amendments to the install schedule. They were always available when we needed help and came back to use very quickly with answers if he couldn’t answer immediately.
Mark Simmonds, AV Services Team Leader
De Montfort University
