The BEEM Lab, designed by WorldViz, is a groundbreaking interactive visualization lab where Yale University students and researchers engage in immersive experiential research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The Built Environment Ecosystem Measurements Lab (BEEM Lab) is an immersive visualization facility co-designed with Yale CEA architects and research scientists. This state-of-the-art lab enables the simultaneous analysis of multiple data types while immersing participants in dynamic and interactive presentations. As described by Yale’s Center for Ecosystems + Architecture (CEA):
“The BEEM Lab is a future technology-driven audiovisual workspace that enables agile team collaboration for intuitive interaction across a wide range of digital content and data. The 360° immersive visualization lab allows key stakeholders and decision-makers to juxtapose and inhabit multi-scalar data and aggregated statistics with critical in-situ information and 3D environments.” – Yale CEA Website
The BEEM Lab’s mission focuses on researching the dynamic interactions between the built environment and natural ecosystems, particularly in urban settings. The lab’s innovative research includes developing and testing methods to measure how buildings and infrastructure impact ecosystem services while exploring how ecological principles can inform sustainable design and operations. This work aims to influence urban policy, inform sustainable development practices, and advance academic discourse on the relationship between built and natural environments.
WorldViz was selected by Yale’s Center for Ecosystems + Architecture to deliver a cutting-edge immersive installation that would anchor this transformative new laboratory. The Center is a multidisciplinary collaboration that unites experts from Yale’s schools of Architecture, Environment, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Peter Schlueer, President of WorldViz, says about contributing to this unique project:
"The BEEM Lab exemplifies how VR labs can transform academic research and education at leading universities. Our team at WorldViz is thrilled to have partnered with Yale to create a unique immersive space that enables groundbreaking insights and collaboration."
WorldViz’s expertise was crucial in transforming two sixth-floor classrooms in the School of Architecture into a seamless, wrap-around projection environment, measuring approximately 20 by 40 feet. Despite challenges posed by the pre-existing architectural structures, WorldViz engineers delivered a custom-designed system that met Yale’s ambitious vision.
The resulting installation features a 16-projector blended system that employs Christie ultra-short throw projectors powered by a dual-computer cluster. Central to the system’s functionality is automatic warp and blend technology provided by Scalable Display Technologies, a long-time partner of WorldViz. This solution creates a single, continuous display capable of presenting both 2D and 3D content, as well as browser-based and custom-built scenarios.
In addition to the hardware setup, WorldViz developed a user-friendly content creation pipeline for the BEEM Lab, utilizing its Vizard VR software toolkit. This empowers Yale’s CEA team to easily create and display custom presentations and immersive experiences. Remarkably, the entire solution was conceived, built, and installed in under two months.
The BEEM Lab represents a new frontier in immersive research and education. By leveraging advanced visualization technologies, the lab enables researchers and students to explore complex data in ways that were previously unimaginable. The innovative environment fosters collaboration across disciplines, supporting Yale’s mission to lead in sustainable urban development and ecosystem research.
To learn more about WorldViz immersive research solutions, please contact us at sales@worldviz.com.
Photo Credits: Yale CEA BEEM Lab
