The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center's Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology occupied three separate locations while planning a new permanent facility on campus. They needed a temporary home that could support their full range of teaching, clinical, and research activities without compromising educational outcomes or patient care. The core problem was straightforward: build an integrated clinical and teaching environment within an existing conference center that supports both in-person and remote learning, serves diverse patient populations, and meets rigorous HIPAA compliance standards.

The design started with a clear principle: treat the temporary facility as a teaching and research asset, not a stopgap solution. ASP faculty needed to teach clinical skills to students both in-person and remotely, allowing observers to follow diagnoses and treatment in real time. Patients required clear communication and dignified, private clinical experiences. Infrastructure had to be robust enough to evolve alongside the program's needs over a four-year renovation period.

We developed an integrated AV system addressing three primary environments within the renovated conference center.

Clinical Observation Spaces

The system centers on renovated classrooms equipped for simultaneous in-person and virtual clinical teaching. Large format displays positioned for optimal sightlines allow both student observers and remote participants to view diagnostic procedures, patient interactions, and treatment demonstrations.

General Teaching Spaces

Larger gathering spaces, including lecture halls and seminar rooms, required integrated design. We specified large format displays, ceiling loudspeakers, and in-room microphone arrays to ensure clear audio and visual delivery.

Technical Integration

All systems integrate seamlessly with the university's existing technology standards and infrastructure. HIPAA compliance is embedded into every specification: secure video streaming protocols, encrypted data transmission, and access controls. The system architecture supports both clinical confidentiality and educational documentation.