IET Swaps Dual Projection for Leyard LED Wall in Flagship Lecture Theatre
2026-08-07 · via AV Magazine
The Institution of Engineering and Technology has replaced the dual-projection system in its Kelvin Lecture Theatre at Savoy Place, London, with a Leyard Europe DirectLight Pro LED wall. The install, carried out by integrator Snelling Business Systems, points to a broader shift among venue operators away from projection toward LED for spaces that need to handle both live audiences and broadcast-quality output.
The venue is used for in-person, hybrid and broadcast events, including production through IET.tv. According to Snelling, the brief called for a screen that could support 4K in-and-out video workflows, work with Teams and Zoom, integrate with existing broadcast production, and last five to seven years.
The installed wall measures 7.26m by 4.08m, using Leyard's DirectLight Pro 1.8 M05 panel at a 1.8mm pixel pitch with native 4K resolution in 16:9 format. Snelling says the panel uses Chip-on-Board LED technology, which it describes as improving robustness and image uniformity, along with 10-bit colour processing aimed at meeting broadcast requirements. Genlock support via Colorlight processing was cited as key to syncing the display with camera-based production, a feature that matters more for venues doing live filming than for typical corporate or retail signage.
The system was engineered to sit alongside existing infrastructure rather than replace it wholesale. It runs on Colorlight processing, updated Analog Way and Lightware video routing, and Q-SYS control, all of which Snelling says were retained or upgraded from the prior setup to protect the IET's earlier investment.
Power and warranty claims
Snelling says power consumption was a deciding factor in the product selection. The company reports an average whole-wall power draw of 2.88kW, which it says was the lowest figure among the shortlisted products, about 31% below the nearest alternative and 40% below the average of competing options. The announcement does not name the other products evaluated or provide independent verification of these figures. Leyard's EverCare Lifetime Warranty and the ability to power the wall down fully outside booked hours were cited as additional factors in the decision.
The order was confirmed in September 2025, with production at Leyard's Slovakia facility and delivery timed for IET's winter installation window in December. Sean Spencer, head of IET Venues, says feedback since the upgrade has been positive, citing brightness, scale and reduced setup time, since clients no longer need to bring in external LED builds for filming.
The release also notes a 56% increase in theatre bookings since the upgrade, though it acknowledges the screen was marketed from autumn 2025 ahead of the December install, meaning some of that uptick reflects pre-installation marketing rather than the display alone.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from AV Magazine for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
By AV Magazine in Displays , UK&I , Venues August 6, 2026 0
Snelling Business Systems replaced dual projection with a broadcast‑ready Leyard display integrated with prior infrastructure while cutting power use and setup time.
A recent upgrade of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) flagship Kelvin Lecture Theatre has seen the installation of a DirectLight Pro LED screen from Leyard Europe.
The theatre in London’s historic Savoy Place is used for in‑person, hybrid and broadcast-quality events, with the DirectLight Pro screen replacing a dual-projection system.
Tristan Boler, global account manager at Snelling Business Systems, which designed and installed the new system, says: “The brief focused on replacing projection with a future-proof, broadcast-capable LED solution, while retaining and integrating much of the existing AV infrastructure.
Range of objectives “The system needed to meet key objectives, including suitability for events and filming, support 4K in and out video workflows, and compatibility with Teams, Zoom and broadcast production via IET.tv.
“There was also a requirement for improved reliability, brightness and viewing angles, and it had to be capable of supporting the venue for the next five to seven years.”
The final design was developed in conjunction with the IET team to ensure operational simplicity and technical capability, with DirectLight Pro’s production at Leyard’s facility in Slovakia helping to achieve the tight timeline from order confirmation in September 2025 to delivery for IET’s winter installation window
The carefully engineered solution combines the DirectLight Pro LED wall with Colorlight processing, an updated Analog Way and Lightware video infrastructure, and Q‑SYS control.
The DirectLight Pro’s wide viewing angles improve sightlines for audience members seated at the sides of the theatre. Broadcast compatibility, including Genlock support via the Colorlight processor, allows for seamless integration with IET.tv’s filming and live production workflows.
“A 7.26m by 4.08m DirectLight Pro 1.8 M05 LED wall was chosen as the best solution for the project following a detailed technical and commercial product comparison,” says Boler.
‘Dramatic visual upgrade’ “The overall aim was to match the original project format while delivering a dramatic visual upgrade. DirectLight Pro also integrates seamlessly with the Analog Way, Lightware and Q-SYS systems, protecting the IET’s previous investment.”
Boler notes that key differentiators of Leyard’s DirectLight Pro include Chip-on-Board (CoB) LED technology, offering improved robustness and image uniformity, native 4K (3840 × 2160) resolution at a 1.8mm pixel pitch in a 16:9 format, and 10-bit colour processing to meet IET.tv broadcast requirements.
Sustainability was an important part of the selection process. At an average whole-wall power draw of 2.88kW, the Leyard solution recorded the lowest figure among the shortlisted products, about 31% below the nearest alternative and 40% below the average of the competing options. The ability to power the wall down fully outside booked use, Leyard’s EverCare Lifetime Warranty, and access to long-term UK and European support provided further confidence in the choice.
Snelling worked closely with the Leyard Europe team throughout the project. “Leyard Europe provided technical design and application engineering support during specification, and helped with installation, commissioning and on-site training,” Boler says.
“The team also worked with us on the display’s scanning characteristics and calibration so that it could perform cleanly on camera when used with the genlock-enabled Colorlight processor. This collaborative effort ensured the LED wall met both AV and broadcast performance expectations and was delivered in time for IET’s installation window.”
The project retained viable elements of the existing AV infrastructure, reducing unnecessary replacement while adding operational resilience. Since the upgrade, bookings for the Kelvin Lecture Theatre have increased by 56% (it should be noted that the screen was marketed from autumn 2025 ahead of the December installation, and a number of bookings were secured in the lead-up to the install).
Sean Spencer, head of IET Venues, says: “The installation of the new LED wall at the IET Kelvin Lecture Theatre has been transformative.
“Feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in comparison with the previous screen, with noticeable improvements in brightness, scale and overall presence.
“It also significantly reduces set-up time and removes the need for clients to bring in external LED builds, saving both time and cost.”