The University of Toledo Athletic Department in collaboration with Vu Technologies on Tuesday unveiled a virtual production studio that puts Toledo Athletics at the forefront of cutting-edge content creation.
The studio is equipped with Vu One LED display technology and powered by the Virtual Studio suite of generative creative tools. This innovative all-in-one space redefines the Rockets’ storytelling possibilities, offering a dynamic platform for content creation and filmmaking, a tool for recruiting and retaining student-athletes, an accessible location for NIL sponsorship activations, an interactive display for special events and a captivating visual centerpiece in the Savage Arena lobby offering an immersive experience for student-athletes, fans and sponsors alike.
The University of Toledo is the first athletic department in the country to leverage Vu One technology to deliver state-of-the-art virtual production capabilities. Joining the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday in the brand-new Nancy & James Lapp Creative Studio are Vu President Jon Davilla, University of Toledo President Gregory Postel, James and Nancy Lapp, and University of Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair.
The creative enhancement is a part of a renovated creative studio, made possible by the generous support of Nancy and James Lapp. The Nancy and James Lapp Creative Studio will house the Vu One LED display and serve as the new home for the Toledo Athletics creative team. It also will be used for post-game basketball press conferences, with the audio being played throughout the Sullivan Athletic Complex lobby for fans to enjoy.
“We are thrilled to introduce this state-of-the-art studio in partnership with Vu,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “Virtual production is the wave of the future, as evidenced by Vu’s long list of partners ranging from Apple and Disney to the NFL and WWE. Today marks a new era in our approach to creativity and innovation, and furthers our commitment to providing our student-athletes with an unparalleled experience.
“In our strategic plan, Rise Together, we spent considerable time focusing on ways to elevate our brand, while bolstering exposure for the entire University. This new studio increases our creative staff’s efficiency, while providing a tool that takes ideas to execution instantly. From video shoots to post-game press conferences, the only limit to this technology is our creativity, which unleashes boundless potential.
“Lastly, but most importantly, I want to thank Nancy and James for their support of this project and their belief in our vision for this space. They helped us make the ‘impossible’ possible, and for that we are incredibly grateful.”
“When we launched Vu One last September, The University of Toledo was one of the first schools to reach out and express interest,” said Jon Davila, President of Vu. “It’s very exciting to see the creative vision for this new space come to life, and we can’t wait to see how the University and the region will benefit from its limitless possibilities.”
The University of Toledo is the first athletic department in the country to leverage Vu One technology to deliver state-of-the-art virtual production capabilities. The collaboration between Toledo Athletics and Vu represents a significant leap forward in utilizing virtual production technology to elevate the department’s overall creative capabilities.
Virtual production, which uses technology to seamlessly join the digital and physical worlds in real time, has reshaped how content is created and consumed; however, the complex technology and the significant investment required for owning and operating such studios have confined their access to a select few. Vu One solves this problem with a turn-key solution that combines the best hardware technologies with the latest creative software and tools.
To date, Vu has designed, engineered and installed more than 10 virtual production studios on the campuses of colleges, universities and trade schools, including the University of Florida, UNLV, and Florida State University. These immersive production environments benefit athletic departments, film schools, communication schools and broadcast departments and embody Vu’s commitment to enable the next generation of creatives, storytellers and filmmakers to ‘create content at the speed of thought.’ Other entities to work with Vu include Disney, Apple, WWE, Amazon, ESPN, NFL and many more.
