Students at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus will soon be producing and viewing high definition video presentations thanks to a new digital theatre.

The theatre, to be unveiled later today by SFU President Michael Stevenson, is a complete retrofit of SFU Surrey’s largest lecture theatre, the 200-seat Westminster Savings Credit Union Theatre. It was built in 2005 with a $300,000 donation from the credit union.

More than $400,000 worth of equipment, software and installation have been donated for theatre by Surrey-based Lightyear Digital Theatre.

“SFU students will benefit from being able to create exciting new content, whether movies or digital effects, pushing them and their works to new limits as they learn to overcome the challenges of working in high-definition and 3D,” says Stevenson. “SFU faculty will also use this platform for their research.”

The theatre’s features include an active 3D display, surround sound and digital broadcast capabilities.

When not in use by the university, Lightyear will use the theatre as a proof of concept high-definition and 3D demonstration venue for potential exhibitors from all corners of North America.

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3D digital theatre installed at Surrey campus