XR Studios Practical Competion

SDC has successfully achieved practical completion on the Open University’s innovative XR Studios project, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the UK’s largest academic institution.

The project involved the comprehensive refurbishment of three underutilised spaces on the ground floor of the Jenny Lee building, transforming them into state-of-the-art studios that aim to integrate cutting-edge augmented reality technologies into the university’s teaching and research framework.

The newly transformed spaces house two specilaised studios the: “Motion Capture”, “Virtual Production”, and “Volumetric Capture” studios – all designed to enhance the University’s teaching and learning capabilities. These spaces will serve as dedicated research platforms, allowing the university to explore virtual reality learning scenarios and push the boundaries of interactive education.

The extensive works undertaken by SDC involved the strip out of the existing spaces, installation of new partitions ceilings and flooring as well as the integration of complex mechanical and electrical systems to support the advanced technologies.

The Motion Capture studio is equipped with a range of specialised features, including an internal running track, weightlifting zone, golf simulator, and treadmill. These facilities are specifically designed for capturing body movement, offering great potential for sport science applications and providing a dynamic learning environment for students.

The Virtual Production studio, meanwhile, boasts advanced green screen and LED wall technologies, enabling immersive VR and AR experiences. This space will provide students and research with the tools to create virtual environments, simulations, and interactive media, offering new methods of learning and engagement.

In addition to the studios, the refurbishment includes essential supporting facilities such as changing rooms, a green room, a kitchenette, an open plan office, a reception lobby and, a recording studio.

With XR Studios now fully operational, SDC has played a key role in positioning the Open University at the forefront of applying virtual and augmented reality to higher education.