Behind the scenes of the KIX Lab construction, scheduled to open in the fall
With the first phase of construction now complete, the vision for an immersive, cross-disciplinary media lab is beginning to take shape. The IU Kinetic Immersion and Extended Reality Lab, scheduled to officially open in the 2026-27 academic year, brings together eight Indiana University Bloomington campus units in a collaboration spanning technology, art, health, and film.
The KIX Lab is made up of a network of hub-spoke spaces, according to Ico Bukvic, the lab’s inaugural director and professor in media arts and production. He said smaller spoke spaces are designed as staging areas for the main hub, which is located in Studio 6 of the Radio-Television Building.
The lab offers a Virtual Production Wall and a Wall-centric motion tracking system, Talentrack. It is complemented by the first spoke space, the KIX Audio Studio, located in RTV100.
“At its core, the KIX Lab is a cutting-edge immersive infrastructure,” Bukvic said. “Yet, this mighty infrastructure is merely a catalyst for a community and a creative mindset that transcends the walls and boundaries of RTV.”
Originally announced in March 2024, the KIX Lab was created in order to explore new ways to tell immersive stories. The lab may be used in a number of ways, including performances, scientific studies, and folklore preservation efforts.
Bukvic said the construction of the KIX Lab has been an exhilarating journey; the first phase of construction took just under a year, and the second phase is currently in the works.
Associate professor Katina Bitsicas joined The Media School in fall of 2025, applying to the position because of the “innovative vision” of the KIX Lab. Bitsicas said she is a visual new media artist, and she is excited to bring art installations, performances, and immersive experiences to the lab.
Bitsicas said having the KIX Lab is not an opportunity that most institutions are able to provide to students, and it will put IU students at the forefront of innovative immersive technologies.
“The skills that they will be able to transfer to real-world internships and careers will be unmatched by other students seeking these positions, due to the experiential learning opportunities the KIX Lab will provide to students during their time at IU,” Bitsicas said.
Bukvic echoed this sentiment, and explained that although the lab presents clear opportunities for media students, particularly those studying film or production, the lab offers a learning environment for all students and faculty.
“KIX Lab is already proving invaluable in so many ways. Students trained on the infrastructure will be better positioned to pursue a career in this rapidly growing area of the entertainment industry,” Bukvic said.
“Students’ ability to partake in research and creative activities taking place within the KIX Lab will accelerate and enrich their experiential learning, while community and external partner engagement will present novel professional pathways.”
The interdisciplinary initiative includes The Media School; the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design; the School of Optometry; the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering; the School of Public Health-Bloomington; the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Jacobs School of Music, and University Information Technology Services.
In the coming weeks, the lab will be posting a tour sign-up sheet and a Request for Proposals for the inaugural KIX Lab seed grant for students and faculty.
For more information about the KIX Lab, reach out to Bukvic at ibukvic@iu.edu.