BACKGROUND
On Tuesday 4th May 2010, the Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, made her first official visit to Norwich in almost eight years, when she opened the Hostry Visitor Centre and Refectory Restaurant and Coffee Shop at Norwich Cathedral.
The construction of this new development at Norwich Cathedral was the culmination of eleven years' work and was the largest building project at the Cathedral for 900 years. The ten million pound cost was funded by generous donations from both local and national trusts, businesses and individuals, and a grant from the National Lottery Fund.
In August 2009, Snelling Business Systems were appointed to this momentous construction project in the cathedral's history, working with architects, engineers, and electricians on drawings and plans for the audio visual requirements of the new facilities. Their brief was to give the building flexibility in its functionality, by installing state-of-the-art audio visual technology which blended seamlessly into the fabric of the building.
AIMS OF THE PROJECT
Designed by Hopkins Architects, the Hostry is a fusion of old and new, with cutting-edge design techniques and materials blending effortlessly with the tradition and history in which the 900 year old building is steeped. It offers stunning pieces of modern architecture and has been short-listed for a number of prestigious awards.
The modern Hostry matches exactly the footprint of the old monastic hostry and the principles behind its purpose echo the original use: to welcome visitors to the cathedral, whilst providing the cathedral with its own state-of-the-art AV facilities and creating a multipurpose space that can host conferences, lectures, presentations and events.
It was important to support the cathedral in its goal to meet the existing, changing and growing needs of visitors, whilst broadening access and increasing the quality and value of educational visits.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
The requirements in the brief were delivered through the installation of hi-tech interactive screens, projectors, voice reinforcement technology and directional speakers. By incorporating the equipment into the structure of the new development designers were able to retain the integrity of the original building, whilst improving facilities and addressing Health and Safety issues, by removing any future need for exposed cables.
The Hostry itself was fitted with a bespoke 3m wide electric projection screen, widescreen high brightness projection equipment and an AMX touch panel. The sound requirements were delivered via an Audio DSP with line array audio system, enhanced by custom lecterns with wireless microphones and a custom millwork rack enclosure housing all active switching and processing equipment.
In the Education Centre Snelling Business Systems installed Edge blended high brightness projection equipment, commercial 40" full HD touch screen LCDs, 19" touch screen kiosks and AMX touch panel control. In addition, ONELAN digital signage servers and a digital video server were fitted, along with a sound shower audio system.
The installation was conducted entirely in-house by Snelling Business Systems and the project was delivered within budget and on time.
Toby Wise, Managing Director of Snelling Business Systems, was given the honour of demonstrating the audio visual facilities to Her Majesty during the Royal visit.