And in 2018, MSU became the first university in the United States to install an Igloo immersive cylinder.
MSU wanted to offer a hub for its students that would provide workstations and high-tech solutions such as virtual reality in one space, rather than having facilities scattered across the campus. It set out on building a brand-new Digital Scholarship Lab that would be a dynamic, innovative space, at the heart of the University. And as its centrepiece, MSU chose an Igloo immersive space to offer a flexible, collaborative facility for all students and staff.
This was a significant project for Igloo, not just because it was our first US-based university assignment, but also because it features an array of the latest generation laser projectors, equipped with specialised ultra-short throw lenses. This means MSU gets all the benefits of laser projectors (image quality, blendability, reliability, etc) in a relatively confined space, with no shadowing and no loss of image quality.
It’s also kitted out with acoustic dampening panels to avoid disruption to other users of the MSU libraries, and benefits from an Igloo gaming system, so that any Windows or Steam game can be played inside.
Since its installation, MSU’s staff and students have used the Igloo in many ways. English students have created immersive presentations on graphic novels using Google Slides. Interior design students can review 360° visualisations of classroom layouts and analyse them for safety in an active shooter incident.
And for even more examples, we strongly encourage you to check out our super-detailed case study.
“Located at the heart of the campus, our students and faculty now have access to a state-of-the-art facility that elevates our widely recognised strengths in the digital arts and humanities."
Christopher P. Long
Dean of College of Arts & Letters, Michigan State University
"Igloo Web is fantastic, because it opens up the entire web to the immersive environment. Anything that’s out there that is 360° or panoramic, I can pull it in, and stretch it, skew it, and make it fit within the environment, so that I can basically present any material, any content."
Paul Cooper
Transformative Technologies Coordinator, Michigan State University
"From shooting to getting the content up in the 360°, it really is quite straightforward. It works with a number of file types and software packages that are already the bread-and-butter of these different fields."
Terence O'Neill
Head of Digital Scholarship and Makerspace Services, Michigan State University
