New Storage Infrastructure From NetApp and IBM Will Provide EMPAC With the IT Flexibility Required To Address Media Applications at the Intersection of Media, Arts, and Science

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute today announced that NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) has donated advanced storage and data management equipment to be used in the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). NetApp, which worked with IBM on fulfillment and integration of the project, provided EMPAC with a highly available and scalable IBM System Storage N series storage infrastructure that is built on NetApp® technology.

The new infrastructure will support many data-intensive applications such as the production and post-production of high-definition and 3-D video along with video data for immersive environments and scientific visualizations. Furthermore, the 168 terabytes of additional storage realized through the donation more than doubles EMPAC storage capacity for video and other forms of data, providing EMPAC with the flexibility to meet the growing needs of artists and researchers in residence as well as faculty.

“The donation is a long-term investment and will allow EMPAC to stay at the forefront of media applications that are at the intersection of media, arts, and science,” said Johannes Goebel, director of EMPAC. “NetApp and IBM’s engagement validates the new model of interaction between arts, science, and engineering that Rensselaer has created with EMPAC.”

“We are very thankful for this gift as it provides us with some of the best storage technology available in the 21st century to expand our data storage capability at EMPAC,” said John Kolb, Rensselaer vice president for information services and technology and Chief Information Officer. “This gift helps advance the ongoing and leading-edge work at EMPAC, which is truly one of the world’s unique media and performing arts centers.”

“NetApp is committed to helping the higher education market address today’s IT challenges,” said Tom Georgens, president and CEO of NetApp and a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center is a unique facility that leverages technology to deliver production and presentation capabilities that are unmatched. We are excited to be working with RPI to enable EMPAC to push the boundaries of what is possible and deliver an experience to students, artists, researchers, faculty, and audiences that is second to none.”

In addition to IBM, NetApp worked with Sirius Computer Solutions to provide support configuring, installing, and integrating the equipment into Rensselaer's IT infrastructure along with long-term support for maintenance and expansion in the future.

About EMPAC – http://empac.rpi.edu/

The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), founded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is an international hub for art, performance, science, and technology — offering adventurous interdisciplinary public events, support for artists and scholars engaged in creative research, and the resources of a state-of-the art facility for digital media production, research, and performance situated on a college campus.

EMPAC’s building is a showcase work of architecture that spans the physical and digital worlds. With a 1,200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, two flexible black box studios, audio and video production rooms, and residency studios, EMPAC is a unique environment where digital technology and human experience can meet.

The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC)
http://www.empac.rpi.edu
Box Office: 518.276.3921

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Contact: Mark Marchand
Phone: (518) 276-6098
E-mail: marchm3@rpi.edu