Designing AV Systems for Multi-Use School Meeting Spaces
How Brownfield ISD Created a Flexible Boardroom and Auditorium
Brownfield ISD multi-use meeting space featuring audience seating, round tables, presentation stage, and integrated audio visual system.
Many school districts rely on a single room to serve several important functions. One moment it may host a school board meeting. The next it might be used for a presentation, training session, or community event.
These spaces play an important role in communication and leadership, but they also present a challenge. The technology must support different types of events while remaining simple for staff to operate.
Brownfield ISD faced this exact situation when planning a new multi-use meeting space. The district needed a room that could function as a professional boardroom while also supporting presentations and small auditorium-style events. Reliability and ease of use were critical, especially for high-visibility meetings.
A Space That Serves the Community
School board meetings require clear communication for everyone involved. Voices must be heard throughout the room, presentations need to be visible, and meetings often must be broadcast publicly to meet state regulations.
At the same time, the space also needed to support presentations, training sessions, and community gatherings.
To support these different needs, the system was designed as one integrated environment. Audio, video, lighting, and control systems work together so the room can support both formal meetings and presentation events without requiring complicated setup.
During board meetings, microphones capture discussion clearly while cameras and projection support presentations and public broadcasting. For presentations or events, the room shifts into an auditorium-style setup with stage lighting, projection, and sound reinforcement.
Simplicity Matters
For school staff, the technology running the room should never be the focus. Meetings and presentations need to start quickly and run smoothly without requiring technical expertise.
The room operates through a Q-SYS control system that manages audio, video, lighting, and presentation sources from a single interface. Staff can control the room through simple touch controls, including the option to operate the system remotely from an iPad. This allows users to manage the entire room without needing to interact with multiple pieces of equipment.
The Technology That Powers the Room
Behind the scenes, the system is organized through a centralized equipment rack that houses the processing, networking, and control components responsible for managing the room’s technology.
Mounted directly within the rack is the theatrical lighting control console, installed on a slide-out shelf. This allows operators to access the lighting controls when needed while keeping the console stored neatly when the room is being used for meetings. Integrating the console into the rack helps conserve backstage space and keeps the system organized and serviceable.
The stage area is supported by a theatrical lighting system designed to highlight presenters and speakers during events. Lighting fixtures mounted above the stage provide focused illumination while maintaining a clean visual appearance within the room.
A curtain system behind the stage provides masking and visual framing for presentations. These elements help define the stage environment and allow the room to adapt easily for different types of events.
Together, these systems create a flexible space that supports both leadership meetings and presentations while maintaining an organized technical infrastructure behind the scenes.
Download the Full Case Study
Want to see how this system was designed and the technology used to make it work?
Download the Brownfield ISD Multi-Use Boardroom & Auditorium Case Study to explore the project goals, design approach, and key technologies used to build a reliable and flexible meeting space.
