Germany’s Premier Academic Virtual Production Stage

When Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences set out to transform a former warehouse into a world-class virtual production facility, it turned to specialist AV integrator ICT AG and a carefully chosen stack of technologies. The result is one of the most technically sophisticated academic VFX labs in Europe, built around INFiLED LED walls powered by Brompton processing and AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA platform.

Founded in 2009 and located in North Rhine-Westphalia, 75km east of Dortmund, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (HSHL) was established to address a growing shortage of skilled workers in engineering and the applied sciences. With campuses in both Hamm and Lippstadt, the university has built its identity around practice-based learning that equips students for the demands of industry.

In August 2023, HSHL set out to realise an ambitious vision of converting an existing warehouse into a fully functional Visual Effects Laboratory (VFX Lab) capable of serving simultaneously as a virtual production stage, research platform, teaching environment and media production facility. The aim was to give students direct, hands-on experience with the tools and workflows used by professionals in film, broadcast, simulation, visualisation and beyond. The system architecture would need to be flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of disciplines, sustainable enough to support decades of use, and scalable enough to absorb future technological developments.

To deliver a project of this complexity, HSHL turned to ICT AG, a specialist integrator with extensive experience in virtual production environments. Structural amendments to the warehouse, including the demolition of several internal walls, were required before any technology could be installed, and ICT AG’s scope expanded beyond the original tender to extract maximum capability from the space. The completed VFX Lab, delivered in July 2025, represents a 23-month collaboration between the university and integrator, drawing on a technology ecosystem built around AV Stumpfl, Brompton Technology, INFiLED, Vicon, Panther, and KinoFlo.

The VFX Lab is organised around three distinct LED-based zones, a control room, a motion capture area, a 360-degree audio environment and a full camera and grip infrastructure. Every component is synchronised through a bespoke hybrid network architecture developed by ICT AG, using 40km of fibre-optic cabling and a Genlock, Timecode and Dante audio integration framework designed to achieve frame-accurate alignment across all systems.

At the heart of the main virtual production stage is a 19m x 4m curved INFiLED LED wall combining DB and Xmk2 series panels. With a fine pixel pitch of 1.56mm and a refresh rate of up to 7,680Hz, the screen delivers the required high-resolution, wide colour gamut, high-frame-rate output for professional cinematography, enabling in-camera visual effects, real-time rendering and immersive simulation environments.

“Virtual production is redefining the creative possibilities of film and content creation, and access to the right technology is essential for preparing students for this rapidly evolving industry,” said Anna Ferrer, INFiLED marketing director of EMEA and US. “The high-resolution visuals, accurate color performance and ultra-high refresh rates are essential for professional workflows, allowing students to gain practical experience with the same tools and standards used in major productions worldwide.”

In such a demanding environment, where accurate colour reproduction and different light levels are challenging, accurate calibration of the LED screens was achieved with Brompton’s Dynamic Calibration technology. “This takes the raw performance of each pixel and calibrates what colour value it needs to be,” says Oliver Dier, Brompton’s technical solutions manager (EMEA). “In this way, you can combine different LED panels and still get a uniform image throughout the entire screen.”

Processing is handled by 10 Brompton Tessera SX40s, with 19 XD data distribution units streamlining cabling. “For productions where students use different types of cameras, our Tessera ShutterSync® feature gives the ability to synchronise every pixel perfectly to the camera’s refresh rate,” Dier adds. “This means there are no unwanted artifacts, scan lines or colour shifts where you don’t want them.”

KinoFlo ceiling lighting panels with processing via a Megapixel Helios processor also play a critical role in achieving consistent, broadcast-quality illumination. Unlike standard RGB panels, the ceiling panels feature RGBWW output, which enables far greater control over colour temperature and goes a long way towards resolving the colour cast issues that frequently arise in LED-based shooting environments.

Further extending the system’s versatility is a 3m x 3m mobile kinetic wall designed and built by ICT AG’s mechanical engineering division with processing via NovaStar. The motorised structure can safely lift and reposition a two-tonne LED array, move over large objects including vehicles to enable front and back lighting setups, tilt up to 60 degrees, and is capable of experimental configurations like slow-motion capture at 120fps and dual-stereo content.

“The biggest challenge was in synchronising three different LED types – the main INFiLED curved wall, mobile wall and ceiling – with three different processing types together,” observes ICT AG’s director of studios Florian Schlecht. This not only demanded careful system design, but also a bespoke hybrid network architecture capable of maintaining precise timing between camera, LED, lighting and motion tracking components.

Serving as the operational backbone of the state-of-the-art VFX Lab is AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA software. The software coordinates real-time playback and synchronisation across all LED elements while maintaining tight integration with Unreal Engine 5 for dynamic, frame-accurate virtual environments. The control room houses the media servers alongside high-performance rendering systems, providing a single, unified interface through which instructors and students can manage the full complexity of the installation.

“We’re delighted that ICT and HSHL chose PIXERA as their media server platform,” states AV Stumpfl head of marketing Rainer Brandstatter. “With support for high-resolution playback, including 120fps and 10-bit workflows, seamless integration of OCIO and ACES color pipelines, and perfect compatibility with tracking systems, the solution is built to meet even the most demanding requirements, both today and in the future.”

The VFX Lab is also equipped with a Vicon motion tracking system using 18 fixed cameras and 4 mobile cameras, synchronising full-body and facial movement to Unreal Engine 5 in real time. The system’s precision, capable of tracking up to ten points per finger, makes it suitable for both standard virtual production workflows and medical simulation or biomechanics research.

Camera systems include ARRI 35 Digital Cinema Cameras with remotely controlled prime and zoom lenses, with Sony 6K Venice cameras to follow. A 360-degree object-based audio system using Genelec monitors and subwoofers across a Dante network completes the production environment, with a Dolby Atmos 10.4.2 configuration available for audio teaching.

Sustainability was built into the design from the outset. The lab connects directly to HSHL’s photovoltaic array via an ICT AG-developed monitoring system that synchronises energy consumption with solar availability. ColdLED technology across all INFiLED panels reduces surface temperatures to around 35 degrees rather than the 75 degrees typical of conventional LED, significantly reducing demand on the building’s air conditioning.

Stefan Albertz, professor of 3D Animation and Visual Effects at HSHL concludes, “The VFX Laboratory is a state-of-the-art system in every respect. Designed as a multi-purpose studio, it encompasses not only the core aspect of virtual production with full-body motion capture, tracking and camera systems, but also all other audio-visual technologies, including climate control, room acoustics, and the optimal use of available space. We are extremely satisfied with the outcome and are delighted that the laboratory enables us to offer students high-quality teaching across a wide range of technologies and practical applications.”

ICT AG continues to provide comprehensive post-installation support, including 24/7 remote monitoring and diagnostics, preventive maintenance and on-site technical training for faculty and lab supervisors. A dedicated SLA-backed support hotline ensures rapid assistance whenever needed.