Facilities

Portland State University Opens Decision Theater

• By Sri Ravipati
• 01/03/17

Portland State University (PSU) has opened up a new facility equipped with an easy-to-use touchscreen system that facilitates videoconferencing, data sharing and more in a modular collaborative environment.

PSU’s Decision Theater is designed for university researchers and regional stakeholders (i.e. government, private companies) to work on projects that “link data sets, visualization and decisions,” according to a university statement. The space is modeled after Arizona State University's Decision Theater, as well as a similar facility at the University of Chicago.

Plans to build the Decision Theater launched four years ago, when PSU sought to create a space with “large visuals, powerful computing, robust videoconferencing capabilities, and a collaborative, modular environment that enabled teams to examine data and reach decisions,” according to the university. Initially, the design team, led by Director of Instructional Technology Services Doug McCartney, considered installing a multi-panel video wall or a single video wall. Instead, the team chose to outfit the space with three 80-inch InFocus Mondopads capable of displaying multiple smaller images or one large image. Additionally, four 70-inch Mondopads were installed on the remaining three walls.

To learn more about the Decision Theater, visit the PSU site.