Hey there, AV pros! Day Two of LAVNCH WEEK 11 is officially in the books, and it was all about education, big visuals, certification, and smart spaces. From reimagining classrooms to designing immersive digital canvases, today’s sessions covered the full spectrum of what’s possible when AV meets innovation. We had a packed lineup — and if you missed it, well … good news: you can watch day two on demand. Right here.

We kicked things off with a keynote on the future of learning, led by Steph Beckett and a panel of AV pros working directly in higher ed. Kameesha Jones (FIU), Kelvin Bentley (UT System) and Britt Yenser (Northampton CC) unpacked how AV is shaping hybrid classrooms, flexible learning spaces and virtual collaboration. “Hopefully schools don’t ban AI tools, but rather think of creative ways for learners to use them — and try to find some structure,” Bentley said, “so they know what tools to use and in what capacity.” The takeaway? Education is changing fast, and AV is the foundation.

Next up, Gary Kayye moderated a conversation on smart buildings and the evolving role of AV in IoT ecosystems. David Danto (TalkingPointz) and Craig Park (Clark & Enersen) explained why AV integrators are uniquely positioned to lead the charge — if facilities managers are ready to evolve.

“We can create a technically connected model that works the way the room is supposed to work. Now, the fact that we can do it doesn’t mean that clients are asking for it … facilities managers are still used to standardized building management systems the way they were installed 10–20 years ago, and they’re not interested in learning or applying new technology like an IoT sensor-based smart building, because they don’t have any experience with it.”

Craig Park

Then came a CTS Crash Course with AVIXA’s Paul Streffon. The session covered how to prepare for the CTS exam — and why certification matters. “There are very few AV schools out there,” Streffon said. “CTS is what ties us together as an AV organization.” Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned pro, this session offered serious motivation to get certified. He also reminded viewers that certification is just as much about personal growth.

Later, Steph was joined by Mark Coxon (AVI-SPL) and Bryan Meszaros (OpenEye Global) to talk projection mapping and dvLED. From pixel pitch to color contrast, the session focused on how to blend art and tech. “There’s more to immersion than just the big visual,” Coxon said. “Content, and things like color accuracy, depth, contrast. Our eyes see color and contrast before they see resolution.” Meszaros added that another key part of immersion is visual connection to the space itself — the aesthetics, the architecture and the moment of interaction.

We wrapped with a demo from Vectorworks’ Matt Artigues, who walked through how ConnectCAD streamlines AV design. From hybrid 2D/3D workflows to built-in error checking and reporting tools, ConnectCAD makes it easier to collaborate and deliver precision at every step. “ConnectCAD is an add-on module for Vectorworks Spotlight which allows systems integrators to create schematic diagrams, rack layouts … still working in 2D and 3D if necessary,” Artigues said. “We give you tools for checking your errors and creating detailed reports generated by us so you can get to work faster.”

Want to learn more? You can stream day two of LAVNCH WEEK 11 on demand — and while you won’t earn CTS RUs this way, the insights are well worth your time.