Westfield Stratford City installs EM systems

13 February 2012

UK - The new Westfield Stratford City retail and leisure destination in East London, which opened its doors to the public last September, is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe. Boasting over 250 shops, 70 places to eat and drink, three hotels, a 14-lane bowling alley, and a 17-screen all-digital Vue cinema, not to mention the UK's largest casino. Westfield Stratford City is also the prestigious gateway to London's Olympic Park for the forthcoming 2012 Games.

Systems integration and project management company, Media Powerhouse were the elected contractors for the supply and installation of all the audio systems throughout Westfield Stratford City's Events Spaces, which included two systems from UK loudspeaker company EM Acoustics.

In fact, Westfield used the successful audio installations at the Westfield London site as the blueprint for Westfield Stratford City. Following the success of the HALO line array system from EM Acoustics used in The Atrium performance space in Westfield London, EM Acoustics was selected for the main performance space in the new Westfield Stratford City as well as a portable system designed for Westfield's smaller event spaces, but that may in fact be used anywhere throughout the retail complex according to requirements.

The main performance space is a multi-purpose event area that hosts everything from fashion shows to product launches, exhibitions, concerts and film premieres. The brief was for a powerful yet flexible system that can be quickly set up, mounted and configured and just as easily broken down after the event as it does not remain in place permanently.

Media Powerhouse supplied a HALO line array system from EM Acoustics comprised of 16 HALO cabinets (two hangs of eight) underpinned by four MSE-118 Quake subs. Eight EMS-122 medium format full range cabinets act as delays with a complement of four EMS-81X small format full range speakers for front fill. No fewer than 20 M-12 stage monitors have been provided for use across all the performance spaces.

The second, mobile system supplied by Media Powerhouse comprises four EMS-121X full range cabinets accompanied by four EMS-215 subs. All enclosures except the M-12 stage monitors and the EMS-215 subs were supplied in white for minimal visual intrusion.

Media Powerhouse's account director Dave Green who project-managed the installation of all the audio systems throughout Westfield Stratford City was particularly impressed with the build quality of the EM Acoustics equipment. "I'd say that the build quality of EM Acoustics gear is among the very best I've worked with - noticeably better than the common standard," he noted. "The reliability of their systems has been excellent throughout, and as a company they are great people to deal with - dedicated, friendly staff for whom nothing is too much trouble. They have been a pleasure to work with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend their systems to anyone."

(Jim Evans)