UH Information Technology Center receives national honors

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Steve Smith, (808) 956-2808
Interim VP for Information Technology & CIO , Office of VP for Information Technology & CIO
Posted: Jul 2, 2014

HONOLULU — The exceptional construction processes and technology systems integrated into the University of Hawai’i Information Technology Center (ITC) on the Mānoa campus continue to receive recognition; most recently when the center was chosen as a finalist in several innovation award categories among entrants from seven countries in the University Business Tech 2014 (UBTech) conference June 16-18 in Las Vegas. The ITC received the first ever Automated Memory eXtra (AMX) People’s Choice Innovation award as the “best example of the most relevant automation and control solution”; in this ITC instance creating a solution for integrated control of multiple devices into a single automated touch screen interface. UBTech is an annual national summit focusing on advancements of technology and leadership in higher education.

The UH Information Technology Services (ITS) audio-visual team, led by Video Operations Manager Royd Liu, worked in conjunction with the locally owned Audio Visual Company to design and install state-of-the-art AMX hardware and software equipment into the center allowing ITS to maximize sustainability and effectively expand IT support statewide throughout the 10-campus University of Hawai’i system. It was this work that led attendees at UBTech 2014 to single out the ITC with their votes to win the People’s Choice award for the university. The design of the AV system in the ITC building helps to improve campus experience by enhancing the way faculty teach and create digital content for students to learn, reducing services and support costs, facilitating collaboration and increasing energy efficiency.

The new six-story energy-efficient 74,000-square-foot ITC provides essential services and protection of critical information and communication resources for the entire UH system. Among the features of the building are 22 workrooms each containing a 70” monitor with touch screen capabilities ideal for teleconferencing; an Emergency Situation Room with backup power and communications suitable for UH administrators to manage disasters and other crisis situations; an Information Technology Operations Center that provides continuous proactive 24/7/365 monitoring of the university’s enterprise data servers and networks; and a 54 seat capacity Videoconference Room with high definition video projection and ultra-high definition (4K) panels, all controlable from a single touch screen.

“It's important and appropriate for a state of the art IT building to have state of the art AV,” said Steve Smith, Interim Vice-President for Information Technology and Chief Information Office for UH. “Not just high tech for high tech's sake but appropriate technology to help us work together better. That is what we have and we are honored and happy to have this recognition.”

Previously the ITC general contractor, dck pacific construction, was awarded the highest recognition in the state by the General Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi (GCA) for its work on the building, winning first place in the category of Excellence in Building Construction more than $40 million, and also the Grand Award for being the “best of the best” of entries in the 2014 GCA showcase.

Services offered statewide by ITS to the UH community from the ITC can be reviewed at the ITS webpage, www.hawaii.edu/its

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