A Hall That Carries History: Upgrading Tech to Simplify Teaching & Learning

Shoma Hall has always been more than a classroom for the University of Miami, and it’s long been a centerpiece for the School of Communication. The 140-seat, theater-style auditorium has hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, public relations leaders, and thousands of students learning the skills needed to succeed in the communications field. It’s a place where real-world voices meet academic ambition.

Thanks to a generous $1.5 million gift from alumni Masoud and Maria Shojaee, Shoma Hall was first created as a state-of-the-art venue for the School of Communication. Now, years later, the university wanted to refresh the space with updated AV and architectural upgrades that would keep it at the forefront of higher education.

The Office of Classroom Management partnered with Midtown Video to make it happen. Learn more about Shoma Hall’s new features and our process for upgrading it below.

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The Challenge: Designing a Showcase Space

The project had several big goals: deliver a showcase space with refined design and superior audio/video while also adhering to the university’s technology standards. Faculty needed systems that looked and sounded excellent but still felt familiar and easy to use, mirroring what’s found in classrooms across campus.

The build itself wasn’t without hurdles:

  • A 16-foot projection screen had to be craned to the third floor and slid directly into the hall through an opening cut into the wall.
  • The projector lift needed to pass through floating ceiling panels with almost no seams exposed, demanding a high level of engineering precision.
  • Audio coverage had to saturate the hall evenly without overwhelming the intimate theater-style space.

The Solution: A Shoma Hall That Will Impress for Decades

Midtown Video and other project partners engineered creative answers to every challenge we came across, including:

  • Projection and Display: The new 16-foot screen, paired with a projector hidden in the ceiling on a lift, delivers large-scale visuals for lectures, panels, and events. The floating ceiling panels conceal the lift, and only clean architectural lines remain visible.
  • Audio Performance: Steerable column speakers were mounted on the main wall to evenly provide high-performance audio to all 140 seats. To maintain the room’s aesthetic, Kibler, the general contractor, fabricated fabric-covered, front-serviceable speaker boxes that integrate with the hall’s design.
  • User-Friendly Standards: The Office of Classroom Management has standards that guided every decision so the final result provides a consistent faculty experience offering intuitive AV controls.

A Partner’s Perspective

“The project [wrapped up] beautifully, and the results reflect the collective effort and commitment to delivering a timeless, flexible space that anticipates future needs. The classroom was thoughtfully designed to perform acoustically, integrate systems with care, and accommodate evolving uses over time—hallmarks of environments built to endure.” — Architect’s Statement

The Impact

Shoma Hall is once again a showcase space for the School of Communication. Students and faculty now gather in a venue where sound reaches every seat, visuals hold attention, and technology blends into the design.

Classes are already in full swing this fall semester, and guest speakers and daily lectures all benefit from the upgrades. For the University of Miami’s School of Communication, Shoma Hall continues to be a place where industry professionals and aspiring communicators meet. Luckily, the AV environment now matches the weight of those conversations.

At Midtown Video, our tagline is “Totally Awesome Systems,” and Shoma Hall is a perfect example. If you’re ready to upgrade your classroom or meeting space with expert AV integration, contact Midtown Video to discuss your project.