Manchester Metropolitan University has opened a financial trading suite featuring Crestron DM NVX and 35 dual-display workstations.
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Business School, located in Manchester, has introduced an advanced Bloomberg Suite designed to recreate the operations and fast-paced environment of a professional financial trading floor.
The new space allows students to use Bloomberg Terminals and analyse live economic and financial data in real time, helping them develop practical skills in trading and risk assessment.
The project was developed by Roche AV Pro, which became involved during the early design stages to transform the university’s vision into a reliable, intuitive and scalable technology solution.
MMU wanted to create a learning environment capable of replicating a professional trading floor, and Crestron technology provided the flexibility and reliability required to bring that vision to life, explains Craig Pickard, Operations Director at Roche AV Pro.
AV-over-IP technology for sharing real-time data
At the heart of the installation is a Crestron AV control system and the Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP platform. This infrastructure enables content from Bloomberg Terminals, workstations and other devices to be distributed across the room’s various displays with virtually no latency.
The Bloomberg Suite features 35 dual-display student workstations. This configuration allows students to view financial data on one screen while simultaneously completing coursework on the other.
The instructor’s station also features two displays and a Crestron touch interface for managing content and controlling presentations. Each workstation can operate independently or display content shared by the instructor, supporting both individual and collaborative learning.
With Crestron DM NVX at the heart of the suite, students can view and share live market data with virtually no latency, creating an experience that closely replicates real-world trading environments, says Pickard.
A bespoke vertical stock ticker
One of the suite’s most prominent features is a vertical stock ticker developed in collaboration with OneMedia. The solution adapts the traditional horizontal format to present international financial information and create a focal point integrated into the design of the space.
The installation also includes several large-format displays and a Crestron-controlled teaching lectern. The platform was selected following its use in other MMU projects, including the School of Digital Arts and the Science and Engineering facilities.
Our new Bloomberg Suite is spectacular. Lecturers can demonstrate complex tasks on one screen while students follow along on the other in real time. Crestron technology enables a new level of engagement and interaction throughout the room, says John Valentine, IT Campus Manager at MMU.
A new model for financial education
The Bloomberg Suite supports undergraduate and postgraduate finance programmes. Its aim is to bridge the gap between academic education and professional practice by providing experiences that students can apply to their future careers.
The combination of live financial data, low-latency AV distribution and intuitive control tools has transformed the space into an immersive environment that replicates the conditions of professional financial markets.
The project has established a new benchmark for the design of financial trading suites in higher education and has already inspired similar installations at other academic institutions.
