BACKGROUND
Situated near the centre of Norwich in a beautiful wooded site including 10 acres of conservation woodland, Town Close House was founded in 1932 and is based around two large town houses and their extensive gardens.
During 2009, Town Close House Preparatory School (TCHPS) approached Snelling Business Systems (SBS) to deliver their audio visual requirements for their new build performing arts hall.
TCHPS outlined the need for a flexible and simple to operate audio system that could be used independently for assemblies, concert performances and drama and musical theatre. In addition, the building required widescreen HD format projection suitable for both presentations and film screening, with multiple inputs for teacher led assemblies from front of house, drama productions and presentations from rear of house. It would also need to be DVD / Blu-Ray compatible and have options for camera feeds, including a streaming solution for camera feeds to be sent from the hall to the 'green room' and the ability to provide live streaming of TCHPS events to the Internet. A simple to operate control system providing push button integration of the sound and vision systems was also required.
SBS were formally invited to tender for the works by the client's architects, LSI, with whom they had recently worked on an award-winning audio visual project in Norwich's Forum building.
Successful in their tender, SBS began the work at TCHPS in December 2009, completing the project on time and to budget, ready for the launch of the new building in February 2010.
AUDIO SYSTEMS
A technical specification of the building's sound systems encompassing the client's requirements had already been produced by Adrian James Acoustics, a fully independent consultancy who specialise in buildings for the arts and for education. SBS compiled and presented a first fix audio system proposal to meet the design specification using components as identified in the Adrian James Acoustics technical report. See appendix 1.
In addition to the specifications outlined by Adrian James Acoustics, SBS installed an enhanced system using antenna distribution, digital infrastructure and narrow angle speakers system for improved critical distance performance and greater system flexibility.
VISUAL SYSTEMS
Although initially only asked to tender for the audio installation, SBS were keen for the client to consider the visual systems at the planning stage of the build as well; it was essential that the infrastructure for both audio and visual was incorporated at the construction phase, to avoid messy and costly corrections at a later date. Therefore, in addition to their audio specification, SBS provided a high quality flexible visual display solution. See appendix 2.
SBS felt that a system which provided the facility with an electric screen for presentations, lectures or film shows, which can then be retracted so the projection equipment fills the back wall with high resolution high quality images providing an exciting and dynamic backdrop for dramatic purposes would fulfil the client's requirements.
As such, SBS installed an electrically operated truss mounted projection screen in 16:10 widescreen format with a diagonal dimension of 3810mm, a truss mounted Panasonic twin lamp native widescreen projector, wall mounted illuminated push button controls installed at front of house and gallery positions, computer input points installed at front of house and gallery position, professional DVD player co located with audio equipment, multiple digital and analogue input formats via switching / scaling equipment and a lockable equipment cabinet.
The delivered result is a system built upon high quality professional components, designed to offer years of trouble free performance.
All design work, engineering, planning, installation and programming was conducted in house by Snelling Business Systems and the project was delivered within budget and on time.
Appendix 1
Radio Microphone - Sennheiser - EW122 G3 Lapel Wireless System
Radio Microphone - Sennheiser - EW135 G3 Handheld Wireless System
Radio Microphone - Sennheiser - GA3 Rackmount Kit
Radio Microphone - Sennheiser - SKP2000 Plug On Transmitter
Wired Microphone - Shure - SM57-LC Dynamic Microphone
Wired Microphone - Beyer - GST500 Microphone Stand & Boom
Wired Microphone Equipment - Rode - NT4 Stereo Microphone
Line Level / Stereo Inputs - Samson - S Direct Plus Dual Ch. DI Box
Control System - Allen & Heath - iDR8 DSP Processor
Control System - Allen & Heath - iDR-in Input Expander
Control System - Allen & Heath - PL-7 Panel Controller
Control System - Allen & Heath - PL-5 Remote Controller
Loudspeakers Tannoy - i9 Column Loudspeaker
Loudspeakers - Tannoy - K&Mi9V Wall Mounting Bracket
Loudspeakers - Tannoy - VS10BP Subwoofer
Amplifiers - Lab Gruppen - C20:8X Multi Channel Power Amplifier
Equipment - Gemini - CDX1250 CD Player
Cable - Van Damme - Black Series Tour Grade 2 x 2.50mm twin-axial
Cable - Van Damme - Pro Grade Classic XKE 1 pair install cable, black
Cable - Van Damme - Cat 5E UTP solid 305m box
Appendix 2
Harkness Hall Major Electric Roller Screen 150" Diagonal 16:10 Format
RS232 Screen Automation Relay
Panasonic PTDW6300 Projector 6K Lumen WXGA
Panasonic ET-DLE150 Zoom Lens 1.4-2.0: 1
Unicol Mounting Hardware
Kramer VP725DS Digital Switcher / Scaler
Denon DNV Professional Rack Mount DVD Player
AMX 8 Button Control with AxLink
AMX VGA Wall Plate Input
AMX NetLinx Integrated Controller
AMX VGA + CV Wall Input Plate
Middle Atlantic Lockable Rack inc power distribution