Is Your Campus Connected—or Just Complicated?
Universities run like cities—but most systems still work in silos. PlaceOS unifies your entire campus on one platform, automating AV setups, optimizing energy use, and enhancing the experience for students, staff, and visitors alike. Connect what you already have. Automate what you never thought possible.
Ready to Transform Your Campus?
Not sure how to get started?
We’ve developed a twenty-five-page guide to scoping your user experience with an automation and AI-first approach. It provides a framework for internal workshops, defining AI capabilities, required access levels, government and privacy considerations, and more.
About Me: Hi, I’m Jon.
I started my career in campus AV and IT at the University of Sydney, where I quickly saw how fragmented systems made life harder for everyone, from staff and students to facilities and IT teams. That experience sparked a long-term mission: to make the built environment more intelligent, responsive, and user-friendly.
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked with universities around the world to scope and deliver smart campus solutions. Through PlaceOS—the integration and automation platform I co-founded—we’ve helped higher education institutions connect everything from access control and room bookings to HVAC, AV, and digital signage. Our focus is on creating real-time, AI-powered workflows that improve operations and the on-campus experience for everyone. We’ve also deployed PlaceOS across workplaces, government offices, and hospitals—bringing the best ideas from other industry verticals back into your university solution.
Recently, I moved our PlaceOS office back on campus at the University of Sydney. This isn’t just symbolic—it’s a strategic move to collaborate more closely with researchers, engage directly with stakeholders, and better understand the day-to-day realities universities face. Whether it’s automating lecture hall setups or slashing energy costs with occupancy-driven controls, I’m here to help universities turn their existing infrastructure into an intelligent ecosystem.
The PlaceOS Platform: The Central Nervous System for Your Smart Campus
PlaceOS is not just an AV control system; it's an Operating System for your physical spaces. Designed for large-scale environments like universities, our platform integrates disparate technologies – from AV and lighting to HVAC and IoT sensors – into a single, intelligent ecosystem.
Unified Control
Manage all your campus technology from one intuitive interface. No more siloed systems or complex workflows.
Enhanced User Experience
Empower students, faculty, and staff with simple, consistent control over their environments, whether in lecture halls, meeting rooms, or common areas.
Data-Driven Insights
Collect valuable data on space utilization, energy consumption, and system performance to optimize operations and make informed decisions.
Future-Proof Scalability
Built on a flexible, open-standards architecture, PlaceOS grows with your university, easily accommodating new technologies and evolving needs.
"Classrooms should no longer be viewed as four walls and a projector. They are integrated spaces, aimed at fostering engagement and creating unified opportunities. We have a responsibility to look at the campus as a holistic entity, tying in all systems to create human-centered experiences from the dorm, to the classroom, to study spaces, entertainment venues, residential life, and communications."— Dr. Joe Way, Executive Director, Digital Spaces
Accelerate Your Smart Campus Journey with Turn-Key Interfaces
Jumpstart your transformation with our ready-to-deploy interfaces, designed for common campus scenarios. These pre-configured solutions provide immediate value, reducing deployment time and complexity.
Smart Lecture Theatres & Teaching Spaces
Simplify setup with automated control of AV, lighting, and room conditions—driven by the class timetable. No more last-minute tech issues or manual resets.
Meeting Rooms & Collaboration Spaces
Streamline bookings and enable hybrid collaboration with one-touch video calls, environment presets, and usage analytics—perfect for staff, research groups, and student teams.
Digital Signage & Interactive Wayfinding
Keep your campus dynamic and easy to navigate with real-time signage for events, announcements, and directions—automatically updated via existing systems.
Occupancy & Environmental Monitoring
Gain real-time insight into how your campus is used—with dashboards showing room utilization, air quality, and energy use to support planning and sustainability goals.
Tailor-Made Solutions: Because No Two Universities Are Alike
While our turn-key interfaces offer a fantastic starting point, PlaceOS truly shines in its adaptability. We understand your university has unique workflows, existing infrastructure, and specific departmental needs.
Integrate Existing Systems
Seamlessly connect to your current building management systems, timetabling software, security platforms, and legacy AV equipment.
Design Bespoke User Experiences
Customize the look, feel, and functionality of every interface to match your brand and specific user requirements.
Develop Custom Logic & Automations
Create complex automation sequences – for example, a classroom automatically powering on and setting the correct AV mode when a booking starts.
Build Custom Modules
Extend the platform's capabilities with unique features specific to your campus operations, such as specialized lab controls or research facility integrations.
Your Path to a Smart Campus: Flexibility in Implementation
PlaceOS offers unparalleled flexibility in how you approach your smart campus transformation:
"From Scratch" (Leveraging the Core Platform)
For universities with in-house development capabilities or specific, highly unique requirements, you can build entirely custom solutions leveraging the PlaceOS API and SDK. This provides ultimate control and extensibility.
"Meet Halfway" (Customize Turn-Key Solutions)
Start with our robust turn-key interfaces and then customize them to perfectly fit your campus. This offers a balance of speed to deployment and bespoke functionality.
"Full Service" (PlaceOS & Partner Network)
Our team and certified integration partners can provide end-to-end service, from initial consultation and design to deployment, training, and ongoing support.
No matter your starting point or resource availability, PlaceOS provides the tools and support to achieve your smart campus vision.
De-risk your project and start with one of our fixed-cost consulting packages. We flip the project and delivery outcomes- not just user stories and wireframes.
Discover our scoping packages
Choose Your Path: PlaceOS Deployment Models
| Model Type | Description | Best Suited For | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn-Key Solutions | Pre-configured software and hardware bundles for common campus spaces (e.g., Smart Classrooms, Huddle Rooms) with minimal customization. | Universities seeking rapid deployment, standardized experiences across many rooms, and proven, ready-to-use functionality. | Fast deployment, lower initial cost, immediate value, consistent UX. |
| Customized Solutions | Start with Turn-Key solutions, then tailor interfaces, add specific integrations, and create custom automations to meet unique needs. | Universities with existing infrastructure, specific branding guidelines, or unique operational workflows that require a degree of personalization beyond standard offerings. | Personalized experience, leverages existing assets, optimized workflows. |
| Platform Integration | Develop bespoke applications and integrations using the PlaceOS API/SDK, leveraging your in-house IT/development teams or system integrators. | Universities with strong internal IT capabilities, highly specialized functional requirements, or a desire for complete control over their smart campus ecosystem's development and future evolution. | Ultimate flexibility, deep integration, future-proof custom development, no vendor lock-in. |
| Proof of Concept (PoC) | A small-scale pilot project (e.g., 1-2 rooms) to demonstrate the PlaceOS capabilities and validate the solution for your specific campus. | Universities unsure about a full-scale deployment, looking to test the waters, secure internal buy-in, or validate technical feasibility and user adoption before a larger investment. | Low risk, measurable results, builds confidence, informs larger rollout. |