Case Study

When tradition meets innovation: Revolutionising Graduation Ceremonies with a Custom-Built Temporary Structure

Royal Holloway, University of London set out to revolutionise their graduation ceremonies, moving beyond the traditional chapel setting to create a more inclusive, grand, and engaging experience for both students and their guests.

The Challenge

For over a decade, First Sight Media have been Royal Holloway’s trusted technical production partner, providing filming and live streaming for their graduation ceremonies. Traditionally, these events took place in the on-campus chapel inside the iconic Founders Building. However, due to space constraints, the setup separated graduates and their families into different rooms—graduates on one side and family members across the corridor.

Royal Holloway wanted to go bigger. They envisioned a venue that would accommodate more guests, increase inclusivity, and yet still reflect the grandeur and character of their historic campus. The solution was a brand-new temporary structure built on Founders Field, designed to host a series of back-to-back ceremonies in a single space.

With such an ambitious project ahead, Royal Holloway turned to First Sight Media early in the planning process to get expert advice on all things technical, and ensure their vision could become a reality. As Matthew Searle, Head of Student Engagement at Royal Holloway, put it: "When we were redesigning graduation, we knew we needed First Sight Media on board from the beginning, because their strategic value goes far beyond video and AV."

The Solution

Working closely with Royal Holloway, First Sight Media became a genuine production partner, not only handling all filming and live streaming services but also contributing to the overall design and logistics of the temporary structure.

The new venue was carefully crafted to reflect Royal Holloway’s distinctive architecture, while creating a more immersive and shared experience for all attendees. This included strategic stage management, which involved adding a LED wall to provide capturing presentations for the audience whilst keep them engaged in the ceremony! There was also event direction such as cueing the procession, organising seating arrangements and floral displays to ensure a seamless and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere was created.

To capture the magic of each ceremony, a multi-camera setup was deployed, including five cameras positioned throughout the venue. This featured a 360-degree Sony PTZ camera, giving those watching online a comprehensive view of the proceedings. A bird’s-eye camera was also placed on Founders Building, providing sweeping views of the temporary structure and the surrounding campus, adding an extra layer of visual storytelling .

To accommodate the larger crowds, an overflow room was created  where additional guests could watch the ceremonies in real-time, ensuring no one missed their loved one’s special moment. What this looked like was a sheltered eternal space placed right outside the main temporary structure. Two large screens were provided along with audio to give those watching a clear and immersive viewing experience.

The Result

Over the course of 15 back-to-back ceremonies, Royal Holloway’s graduation celebrations were broadcast live and recorded for later viewing. The seamless combination of First Sight Media’s AV expertise, live streaming capabilities, and full-scale production services elevated the event to new heights.

Sarah Tridgell, Events Officer at Royal Holloway, summed it up: "Working with First Sight Media, we saw the full breadth of their services. They were not just our AV team, but true production partners, exceeding our expectations at every turn."

Let’s Talk About Your Next Event

At First Sight Media, we pride ourselves on going above and beyond to help our clients create memorable events. Whether it’s reimagining a traditional ceremony or developing a completely new concept from the ground up, we’ve got the expertise to make your vision a reality.

Contact us today to see how we can support your next graduation event with cutting-edge technology and creative solutions.

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