What if the sky were the limit?

22/09/2025

Auditorium Leon De Meyer (Campus UFO) is one of Ghent University’s largest and busiest lecture halls. But what if the sky were the limit? What’s technically possible in a space like this? A lot, it turns out.

With room for around 1,000 students, the auditorium hosts lectures, exams, graduation ceremonies, performances and more. In the past, though, sitting in the back often meant missing out. Especially the sound was substandard.

Today, every seat feels like the best seat in the house. Students are drawn in by the visuals and sound, and lecturers enjoy far more intuitive controls. Auditorium De Meyer’s AV and IT systems are now firmly future-proof.

Curious to see it in action? Watch the video below (interviews in Dutch)… or keep on reading.

AV in higher education

The AVx team at Ghent University and Whitemilk have been working closely together for years – a huge advantage in a space where time is always tight. During the academic year, the auditorium is in near-constant use. Only a short window in July is free, so any full integration project requires meticulous preparation.

It started with inspiration sessions and exploring the options together. This led to a detailed technical design, leaving nothing to chance. Finally, all partners managed to align schedules so the project could be completed successfully within those few precious weeks.

Intuitive control

Starting a lecture is now as easy as pressing a button. Need to tweak the volume or adjust the lighting? It’s just as simple, almost like using your TV remote.

If you need more flexibility, the built-in ‘expert mode’ is right there on the same touch panel. Still simple, still intuitive.

For full control, operators can switch to the mixing desk at the back – no manual needed, just the right amount of AV know-how.

Key audiovisual integrations in the auditorium?

Sound came first. In the old setup, anyone sitting in the last ten to fifteen rows could barely follow along. The new system is designed specifically for the scale of this auditorium – clear and balanced in every seat.

Professional projectors, multiple PTZ cameras and confidence monitors now give lecturers and students a crisp, reliable view. The lighting adjusts smoothly to the type of presentation, making the space as flexible as the events it hosts.

Safety at height

The ceiling structure of Auditorium De Meyer posed a challenge: not your typical suspended ceiling where technicians can easily run cables above. With the right know-how in-house, our team made sure everything was done safely and solidly high above the seats.

We’ve taken this auditorium to the next level.

Simon Willems, Project Coordinator Whitemilk

All in all, the real strength of this project lay in the close collaboration with Ghent University. Simon Willems, Project Coordinator at Whitemilk, explains:

“The sound is fantastic, the visuals are stunning, and both have been thoroughly tested by us and UGent. This space is now not only more engaging for students, but also more comfortable for lecturers. I’d call it a complete and successful project."