Background
The HB Allen Centre, part of Keble College at the University of Oxford, is a prestigious hub dedicated to graduate students and serves as a centre for conferences, social gatherings, and postgraduate student living. Unveiled by HRH Prince of Wales in October 2019, this newly constructed facility embodies a blend of Oxford’s rich heritage with cutting-edge modern technology, making it one of the University’s most iconic developments in recent years. The centre recently hosted the renowned Conference of Colleges, underscoring its significance as a premier venue for academic and corporate events. In line with its vision of a forward-thinking and welcoming environment, the HB Allen Centre integrated the Vieunite Pro digital canvas to enhance its space with modern digital artistry and support internal communication.
Challenges
Keble College sought to create an engaging and vibrant atmosphere at the HB Allen Centre, particularly for its community of DPhil and other postgraduate students, as well as visiting fellows. They aimed to establish an environment that reflects the historic journey of Keble College and the HB Allen Centre while fostering a sense of belonging among members of the Keble Middle Common Room (MCR). The college required a digital solution capable of displaying a wide range of content, from Keble’s own history and internal messages to world-renowned artwork, in a way that would engage students and visitors alike. The Vieunite Pro digital canvas was selected as a potential tool to meet these needs.
Solutions
The Vieunite Pro Textura digital canvas was installed in the HB Allen Centre café, where it introduces viewers to the college’s heritage and modern achievements. With its high-resolution display and versatile functionality, the Textura Pro serves as a platform for internal messaging, event information, and a curated collection of artwork, ranging from classic Old Masters to contemporary travel and fashion photography. This blend of art and information aligns with Keble College’s mission of integrating modernity with tradition, helping to create a welcoming atmosphere for the graduate community.
Implementation
The installation of the Vieunite Pro digital canvas at the HB Allen Centre was supported by the Vieunite team at every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and efficient setup. The canvas was installed in a fixed position within the centre’s café, where it now serves as a vibrant and functional addition to the space. From initial delivery to final installation, the process demonstrated how easily the Vieunite Pro Textura digital canvas can be integrated into an academic environment with minimal disruption.
Results
The Vieunite Pro digital canvas has brought a fresh and innovative touch to the HB Allen Centre café, enriching the space with dynamic visuals and curated artistic content. Its presence enhances the modern aesthetic of the café while complementing the historic character of Keble College. The installation reflects the college’s commitment to embracing technology in a thoughtful and engaging way, creating an inspiring atmosphere for students, staff, and visitors alike.
As Boriana Boneva, Communications Manager at Keble College, explained:
“We have been impressed by the display quality of the Textura, and are using it to share our ‘Portraits of Keble’ photographic exhibition with staff and students in the HB Allen Centre café (the original exhibition is hung in the College dining hall). We found the mounting system straightforward, and the Vieunite technical support team were very responsive and quick to help with setup.”
Vieunite’s mission is to provide a new online art community that combines an alternative platform for artists to sell their work digitally with an innovate digital canvas that has texture accurate display technology. We want to bring art into everyone’s lives in a unique way to give people the chance to creatively express themselves.