The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) recently appointed Snelling to conduct a comprehensive upgrade of its flagship Kelvin Theatre. Snelling was responsible for the complete AV upgrade for the IET just over 10 years ago. The aim of this latest work for the IET was to future proof and upgrade the projection function in the Kelvin Theatre with a broadcast-capable LED solution.
The Kelvin Theatre is the centrepiece of Savoy Place, a listed building right in the centre of London. For the IET, the Kelvin Theatre is an important revenue generating venue and the IET wanted a resilient, future – ready platform capable of supporting premium live events, hybrid experiences and broadcast quality production, without the worry of complexity for venue staff or visiting clients.
Involved Parties
Integrator, project management and delivery.
Snelling
Client
IET Venues, IET.TV
End User
The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Savoy Place, London, UK
THE CLIENT BRIEF
Tristan Boler, Global Account Manager for Snelling explains the client brief and the thinking behind the solutions Snelling provided.
“The IET brief focused on replacing projection with a future-proof, broadcast-capable LED solution while retaining and integrating much of the existing AV infrastructure within the Kelvin Lecture Theatre, which is the IET’s most high profile space.”
“The system needed to meet key objectives, including suitability for events and filming, support 4K in and out video workflows, complete compatibility with Teams, Zoom and broadcast production via IET.tv. There was also a requirement for improved reliability, increased brightness and better viewing angles, and it had to be capable of supporting the venue for the next five to seven years.”
THE DESIGN
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.
DirectLight Pro’s wide viewing angles improve sightlines for audience members seated at the sides of the theatre, whilst 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 x 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,” explained Tristan Boler “The overall aim was to match the original project format while delivering a dramatic visual upgrade. DirectLight Pro also integrates seamlessly with the Analogway, Lightware and Q-SYS systems, protecting the IET’s previous investment.”
KEY DIFFERENTIATORS
The key differentiators of Leyard’s DirectLight Pro which includes 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 were important to meet IET.tv broadcast requirements.
Sustainability was also 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, approximately 30.9% below the nearest alternative and 40.4% 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. The team also worked with Snelling 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 also retained viable elements of the existing AV infrastructure, reducing unnecessary replacement while adding operational resilience.
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
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), while the permanent LED wall has reduced the need for clients to bring in temporary displays, avoiding additional build and derig time. Its support for hybrid, broadcast, and live productions reinforces Savoy Place as a premier technical events venue.
THE LAST WORDS ARE FROM THE CLIENT
“The installation of the new LED wall at the IET Kelvin Lecture Theatre has been transformative,” says Sean Spencer, Head of IET Venues. “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 setup time and removes the need for clients to bring in external LED builds, saving both time and cost. We are extremely grateful to Leyard Europe, Snelling Business Systems and our internal teams who worked tirelessly to deliver this project.”
