Project File: Taking advances to the next level

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, has constructed the Jon M. Huntsman Hall. The building serves 4,600 undergraduate and MBA students.

The custom-designed Wharton lectern gives instructors control over the technology and room environment. It includes audiovisual controls, a microphone and computer ports.

“Room profiles” allow faculty to recreate teaching conditions in each classroom. A technician elsewhere on campus also can control these conditions. One-touch digital video and audio recording in each of the 48 classrooms and in public areas allows instructors to archive classroom proceedings and viewing materials directly to Wharton's Intranet website. Students can watch and participate in discussions with international business leaders through multimedia and broadband audio-video conferencing.

Architect is Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (New York).

For more information on these projects and others, visit www.schooldesigns.com.