CREATING EXPERIENCES IN SIGHT & SOUND
NEWS
Written by Hurrairah Bin Sohail from Inavate (Oct 2026 Issue)
FULL HONOURS
Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) and PAVE System have transformed Nanyang Auditorium with a major upgrade to its visual display infrastructure, creating a more flexible and immersive environment.
As NTU Singapore’s principal convocation venue, Nanyang Auditorium hosts one of the University’s most significant academic occasions, alongside a diverse programme of events throughout the year. Its visual systems therefore need to support a wide range of production requirements, from large-scale ceremonies and live video to presentations and broadcast applications.
The auditorium had operated with an LED system and projection for more than a decade. As event formats and production requirements evolved, NTU Singapore took the opportunity to review the venue’s display infrastructure and develop a more integrated, flexible solution.
Benjamin Lim, divisional head, NTU Shared Services (NSS), explains: “The previous setup had an older LED wall and whilst the resolution was decent, it was starting to show its limitations. We didn’t have side panels, and the LED was split into two and required significant setup time. Whenever we wanted to host an event using the LED wall, we needed advance notice. The NTU Open House 2025 event revealed these constraints. We realised we needed LED, but it required a three-day turnaround to bring in, set up, and load graphics.”
The upgrade was an opportunity to rethink how the auditorium’s visual systems could support both current and future event requirements. NTU Singapore evaluated the technical, operational, and production needs of the venue before selecting the final solution.
Choosing quality
Rather than simply replacing the existing LED centre display, NTU Singapore expanded the LED footprint across the stage, adding two side panels to create a larger and more immersive visual canvas.
Pixel pitch was an important consideration during the procurement process. NTU Singapore evaluated 2.9mm and 3.9mm options, with image quality and camera capture performance among the factors considered. Eliminating moiré effects during live broadcasts and recordings was also a key consideration.
Lim notes: “During the tender process, we received several bids. The 2.9mm option was on the higher end commercially. Lowerpriced bids met the minimum baseline specifications, but when evaluating functional demos alongside key stakeholders, including the Events Office, we saw a distinct difference in visual quality.”
The final solution uses Infiled 2.9mm LED tiles. The centre display has a total resolution exceeding 7,000 by 2,688 pixels, with the centre screen configured at approximately 16:9 aspect ratio, and the two flanking panels adopted portrait orientation at 9:16. This configuration provides flexibility in how content is presented. The side panels can function independently during certain events, enabling flexible content deployment across distinct zones.
Lim from NSS commented: “We weighted our decision toward quality heavily during evaluation. The solution we selected delivered a superior visual outcome whilst staying within budget.”
Ease of use
Lim from NSS explains a key consideration for the university when executing any project: “At NTU Singapore, operational efficiency is paramount. For Nanyang Auditorium, we have dedicated managers handling logistics (for events). The banquet manager walks clients through their specific needs — whether lighting, AV support, or preconfigured display packages. And the technology team makes sure that the systems are ready and operational. All these teams have a lot on their plate, and any edge that can help us streamline processes and save time is very valuable.”
With the upgrade project, special consideration was taken to improve the quality of life for the operations side.
The centre LED wall weighs approximately 2.5 tonnes, and a motor-driven hoisting system rated to 12 tonnes has been deployed. This hoist-based approach was essential given the absence of a solid back wall behind the stage curtain and the venue’s multi-use requirements, allowing the NTU Singapore team to quickly and easily configure the LED videowall as needed. Similarly, the Digital Projection projectors are housed in lifts that allow them to be used with ease and flexibility.
Work has also been done on the side of content deployment. With the new processing capabilities, materials can be driven as a continuous backdrop spanning all three display sections or segmented into distinct zones. During convocation ceremonies, the system operates with a continuous background image whilst simultaneously windowing three live video feeds from the control room.
The upgraded system’s first major test came with the Teachers’ Investiture Ceremony 2026 which it passed with flying colours. Lim from NSS details: “We used the new LED videowall and the impact was evident. Now that the LED videowall is mounted on motor hoists, it can be raised or lowered effortlessly. When an event needs the LED videowall, it no longer a three-day turnaround — it takes just 30 minutes. We have standard templates for content pre-loaded, so any event can easily deploy a custom background according to the screen configuration they want.”
He continues: “There is also a noticeable impact on how the audience receives the presentation. With the LED videowall and the new projectors, we made a deliberate decision to go with higher brightness options. Modern audiences have become accustomed to higher brightness displays. The high-resolution LED instantly modernises Nanyang Auditorium, while the highbrightness projectors give us the flexibility and the capability to cater to a wide variety of event types.”
Future development
The upgrade provides a platform for further development of the auditorium’s production capabilities.
The media team is currently preparing the technical pipeline for full 4K live camera integration to complement the increased resolution of the upgraded display capabilities of Nanyang Auditorium. This is to ensure that the venue’s visual capabilities remain at the forefront of contemporary event production standards.
Audio remains another area of ongoing development. Previous enhancements include the installation of line array audio systems in 2014, the integration of Yamaha AFC architecture in 2018, and the relocation of sound control consoles into the main hall for optimised mix monitoring.
Together, these upgrades reflect NTU Singapore’s ongoing investment in Nanyang Auditorium, strengthening its flexibility and technical capabilities to meet evolving event requirements