IET's Savoy Place Swaps Projectors for Leyard 4K LED Wall
2026-08-10 · via invidis
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has replaced the dual-projector setup in the Kelvin Lecture Theatre at its Savoy Place venue in London with a large-format LED wall from Leyard Europe. The installation, carried out by integrator Snelling Business Systems, is aimed at venues that mix live in-person events with broadcast and video-conferencing workloads, a segment where projection has struggled to keep up with brightness and reliability demands.
The new display measures 7.26 by 4.08 meters with a 1.8mm pixel pitch, built on Leyard's DirectLight Pro platform using Chip-on-Board (CoB) technology. The project also brought in new Colorlight processing and upgrades to the venue's Analog Way, Lightware and Q-SYS gear, while keeping parts of the existing AV infrastructure intact rather than a full rip-and-replace.
Built for cameras, not just audiences
The Kelvin Lecture Theatre runs conferences, lectures and productions that stream through IET.tv, so the brief was not just about a bigger, brighter screen. According to Snelling Business Systems, the venue needed native 4K workflows, broadcast-grade output, and compatibility with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. The Colorlight processor supports Genlock synchronization, which lets the LED wall lock to broadcast camera timing and reduces the banding and flicker artifacts that can show up when LED walls are filmed. That is a specific, technical requirement that separates broadcast-adjacent LED installs from typical corporate or retail signage, and it explains some of the processing investment on top of the panels themselves.
Snelling says the DirectLight Pro was chosen after evaluating several competing LED products, citing the CoB technology, native 4K resolution and 10-bit color processing as deciding factors, along with fit with the venue's existing kit.
Power draw as a selling point
Leyard says the installed wall averages 2.88 kW of power draw, which the company claims is about 31% lower than the next-closest shortlisted alternative and more than 40% below the average of competing products it evaluated. Those are Leyard's own figures from its internal shortlist comparison, not independent test results, so operators weighing similar upgrades should treat them as a starting point for their own evaluations rather than a universal benchmark. The system can be fully powered down when not in use, which matters for a lecture theatre that is not running content around the clock.
IET reports that bookings for the space have risen 56% since the upgrade, though the organization notes that marketing for the refreshed theatre began before the December installation was finished, which likely helped drive early bookings independent of the display itself. The announcement does not break out how much of that increase is attributable to the LED wall versus the broader renovation or marketing push.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from invidis for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
Savoy Place replaces projection with a 4K LED wall designed for hybrid events, live production, and long-term operation.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has upgraded the Kelvin Lecture Theatre at its flagship Savoy Place venue in London with a large-format LED display from Leyard Europe, replacing a dual-projector system to support hybrid events, live broadcasting and in-person presentations.
The installation, completed by Snelling Business Systems, centers on a 7.26 x 4.08-meter (23.8 x 13.4-foot) LED wall with a 1.8-mm pixel pitch. The project also included new Colorlight processing alongside upgrades to the venue’s Analog Way, Lightware and Q-SYS infrastructure while retaining compatible elements of the existing AV system.
Designed for broadcast and hybrid events
The Kelvin Lecture Theatre hosts conferences, lectures, corporate events and productions streamed through IET.tv. According to Snelling Business Systems, the brief called for a display capable of supporting native 4K workflows, broadcast production and platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, while improving brightness, reliability and viewing angles over the previous projection system.
The LED wall also supports Genlock synchronization through the Colorlight processor, allowing it to integrate with broadcast camera workflows while minimizing artifacts during filming.
The DirectLight Pro display was selected following a technical and commercial evaluation of several LED products. According to Snelling, its Chip-on-Board (CoB) technology, native 4K resolution and 10-bit color processing were key factors, along with compatibility with the venue’s existing AV infrastructure.
Energy efficiency also influenced the decision. Leyard says the installed wall consumes an average of 2.88 kW, around 31% less power than the next closest shortlisted alternative and more than 40% below the average of competing products. The system can also be fully powered down when the theatre is not in use.
Since the installation, IET says bookings for the Kelvin Lecture Theatre have increased by 56%, although the venue notes that marketing for the upgraded space began before the December installation, helping secure bookings ahead of completion.