UK - Unusual Rigging's work as designers and installers at English National Ballet's new HQ on London's City Island has been recognised as the building, delivered by Glenn Howells Architects has won the prestigious AJ100 Building of the Year award 2020. The building was chosen ahead of eight other finalists and recognises the finest building completed by an AJ100-listed practice in the last 12 months. In choosing the ENB, the judges said three key aspects made the £36m project stand out from the impressive shortlist with one judge commenting on the range of functions accommodated by the building, which Glenn Howells has managed to pack on to relatively tight site 'with an almost Rubik's Cube-like stack of dance spaces slotted within'. These include a suite of rehearsal studios and a full sized theatre space with stage and fly tower to accommodate full dress rehearsals
South Africa - For those who refuse to give up on life, events and making memorable occasions, DKSS has announced Pop-Up Events and their in-house virtual live studio. Midrand based technical supplier, DKSS, has surrounded itself with upbeat clients and suppliers to create unusual events during these unusual COVID-19 times. The company's in-house studio, more like a television broadcast space, consists of a 12m x 4m stage with a 13m x 13m (12.5m x 3m) curved Absen PL 3.9 Lite screen, while lighting includes 18 Robe LEDBeam 150s for fast beam work and a quality wash and 12 MiniPointes, particularly useful when hosting a band or music production on stage. "Our saving grace has been the relationships built with our suppliers over the years," say CJ de Klerk and Warwick Lawson of DKSS. "Changing the look and feel of the studio is as easy as picking up the phone and reques
Belgium - Social distancing protocol has kept many of Volvo Van Kasteren’s customers from visiting the dealership’s new showroom on Grembergen Stone Road in Sint-Niklass, but those who were fortunate to attended the facility’s grand opening celebration, held just weeks before the lockdown went into effect, still have vivid images of a memorable evening. Taking place in mid-February, the two-day event, which introduced Volvo Personalized Service (VPS) concept to its market, featured the latest hybrid and electric vehicles, such as the XC40 and XC90, set against the background of a sleek glass and metal showroom. Accenting the sights of the celebration was a lighting rig, brought in for the occasion by Solico Event & Expo Technics, that featured Chauvet Professional WELL Fit and Rogue fixtures. In keeping with the engineering tradition of Volvo, the temp
India - AM Integrated Solutions and GRS AV Solutions recently outfitted RYU Bar with a complete Harman Professional sound reinforcement solution to ensure quality audio quality for patrons and party-goers alike. Opened in January, RYU Bar is one of the latest additions to the popular nightlife scene in the bustling city of Gurgaon. Named after the Japanese word for dragon, RYU Bar delivers a pan-Asian experience, bringing together food, cocktails, music and décor from Chinese, Japanese and Malaysian cultures. To ensure immersive sound throughout the main space, rooftop terrace and private lounges, the owner hired AM Integrated Solutions and GRS AV Solutions to install a complete Harman Professional sound system, consisting of JBL loudspeakers and subwoofers, Crown amplifiers and BSS digital audio processors. “RYU was a uniquely challenging project for us, in terms
USA - The long, hot summer of COVID-19 saw live music safely come back to Chicago’s lakefront with the new Lakeshore Drive-In venue. Artist management company AudisBliss spearheaded the project working with LEC Event Technology, (LEC) to transform a parking lot just west of the Adler Planetarium into an in-person concert venue that keeps the safety of the attendees, artists and employees in mind. LEC provided Ayrton Perseo-S fixtures for the stage, the first compact, multi-function luminaire with an IP65 enclosure rating developed for intensive outdoor use. “The Lakeshore Drive-In is one of the most respected drive-in operations in the country and the only sustainable drive-in model in Chicago, which is operating very successfully within COVID guidelines,” says Matt Brotz, owner and director of Operations at LEC. “LEC took on the role of hardware provider prod
Lithuania - Located on the westernmost edge of Lithuania near the Baltic coast, UAB ProDJ is a full-service technical provider working in many areas of production, from television through to festivals, opera, sporting events and arena-scale concerts. Their in-house facilities include dry hire, logistics, rigging, lighting, video, crew and technical support. The company took delivery of an Outline Mantas 28 Golden Configuration rig during lockdown, a ready-to-roll complete solution designed for audiences of approximately 600 - 1500 (and also suitable for integration with all Outline GTO, C-12 and Superfly kits as down- and out-fills when required). The equipment list includes 16 Mantas 28 compact line-array enclosures, eight DBS 18-2 subwoofers and a single Newton 16+8 system processor, plus a complete suite of rigging, cables, pre-wired racks, weather protection and ev
Austria - The Vienna Volksoper, or People’s Opera, is Vienna’s largest theatre for opera, musicals, classical concerts and ballet. The theatre offers one of the most diverse musical programmes in the country, ranging from Carmen to Kiss Me Kate, and Coppelia to Cabaret, as well as productions for schools, lots of local German operetta performances and much more besides. The venue is also the first in Vienna to open its doors to the public after the summer break, but more importantly in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, with a performance of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus on 1 September followed by a revival of Cole Porter’s classic musical, Kiss Me Kate on 2 September. Both will be benefitting from the audio reproduction of a new KV2 audio system, which also happens to be the first ever to use KV2’s new control & diagnostics t
Czech Republic - Škoda world premiered its new Enyak iV all-electric SUV in the main hall of the O2 Universum event and conference complex in Prague. This event generated a buzz of excitement, not just because of this landmark vehicle, but also as one of the first properly ‘live’ events delivered safely and spectacularly in a post COVID-19 world. Germany-based creative producers Schachzug collaborated with event planners Pure Perfection, technical specialists MacomNIYU and technical supplier Ambion, with the latter delivering the lighting, audio, video, SFX, staging, etc. The MacomNIYU team had started speaking to lighting designer Chris Moylan from Berlin-based design company Optikalusion about the event back in in January, well before anyone realized how changed the world would be by showtime! Chris created a highly flexible lighting scheme for the
USA - When the entertainment industry’s lights were switched off by the global pandemic, Fuse Technical Group, like many others, had to come up with new and innovative ways to continue serving its customers. The solution became evident when the full-service production company decided to partner with LA-based Third Encore Studios and Monsters of Rock Cruise (MORC) to build a virtual live production environment for content streaming. Regular events including MORC’s PPV live streamed music performances are delivered in front of rich visual backgrounds thanks to the processing power of Brompton Technology and its HDR solution. “Third Encore Studios is a well-known rehearsal facility in Los Angeles. We’ve crossed paths many times, but never worked together on a project like this before,” says Fuse project manager, Benjamin Johnson. “The coronavirus pandemic and
USA - For decades, Willow Creek in South Barrington, Illinois has been one of the most well-known and influential non-denominational megachurches in the United States. However, like many houses of worship during the 2020 pandemic, its 7,200-seat Worship Centre has switched over to become a streaming-only broadcast site, a change that will continue to be the case throughout the remainder of this year. To retain some physical sense of community, Willow Creek set up a large tent in its parking lot to host nearly 30 congregational events between 19 August and 6 October. The primary focus of these has been the church’s hour-long evening programme series of 16 Prayer and Worship Gatherings, comprising a live praise team set, a brief message from new campus pastor Shawn Williams, and a time of prayer for 100 pre-registered and masked guests. To ensure that guests can prope
USA - As drive-in concerts continue to provide an interim solution in the live sound market, bluegrass star Billy Strings put on his first shows with a live audience since March 2020. The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, PA outdoor parking lot venue was powered by a Meyer Sound Leopard reinforcement system for three consecutive nights of Billy Strings’ Meet Me at the Drive-In Tour. Dave Brotman and Mike Shoulson of Coatesville, PA-based rental company DBS Audio Systems were on hand to provide the audio solutions and support to the Billy Strings production team, including FOH engineer Andy Lytle. “What a wonderful experience it was to work a large show again - our first since December - and to work with such a professional crew and fabulous band as Billy Strings,” DBS Audio Systems president Dave Brotman said. The parking lot venue
USA - As a specialist in visual content delivery, Jon9 has developed a productive relationship with the Green Hippo team and its Hippotizer Media Server range - the toolkit he finds best suited to enabling his vision. Jon9 first used Hippotizers in building the media playback solution for Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE show in Las Vegas in 2004. It was a record-breaking system at the time. Since then, he has gone on to produce numerous immersive and experiential projects through his company Holonyne Corporation. In 1987, he founded the first videowall programming company in the US - Programination Inc. From delivering 640x480 resolution visuals to trade show videowalls from ¾” tape decks, he progressed through Beta SP, to video discs and DVDs. “Disc-based media gave us random access and enabled interactive installations,” he says. “Finally, in the 90s, as pe
USA - Pensacola Christian College teaches over 4,500 students at its Pensacola, Florida campus. Its students gather in the nearly 6,000-seat Crowne Centre frequently for community-building, events, chapel, for concerts, and church services on Sunday morning, and Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Sunday morning services are recorded and broadcast as Rejoice in the Lord on the Daystar Television Network. All Pro Integrated Systems, a locally-based AV integration firm with international reach, recently replaced a number of loudspeakers, subwoofers and amplifiers in the Crowne Centre with a smaller number of Danley products, including Danley Jericho Horns, TH118XL subwoofers and DNA-series amplifiers with onboard DSP and optional Dante connectivity. “We put the original sound system in the Crowne Centre when the building was new almost 20 years ago,” explained Sco
USA - Following the recent launch of its new CORIOmaster2 all-in-one, multi-window video processor, tvONE has announced the first installation of the product, as part of a system upgrade for a 911 Emergency Operations Centre in Peoria, Illinois. The centre has been handling emergency ambulance dispatch and critical medical services for regions throughout Illinois and Iowa for almost a decade, and its previous audio-visual system was beginning to fail. To fix the problem, they approached local company IAS Technology, a specialist in the design and installation of professional audio/video systems. “Because of the critical nature of the centre’s work, the AV system plays a vital role in the provision of services,” says IAS Technology’s CEO and chief design engineer, Jeremy Caldera. “It displays GPS mapping/tracking, call data, and other critical information, whi
USA - Located in Westfield, Indiana, the mission of Westfield High School is to provide rigorous and engaging experiences for all students with a performing arts programme dedicated to creating a lifelong appreciation for the arts. With a busy annual event schedule which keeps their 868-seat auditorium in regular use, the antiquated house lighting design was often struggling to provide the illumination desired. Working with long-time partner Associated Controls + Design, the school decided it was time to renovate the aging house system for a brighter and more visually engaging environment using Altman Lighting Chalice LED downlights installed by Huston Electric. “Westfield High School has been a long-time client of ours and we even sold them the first lighting control system when they originally built the auditorium,” began Mike Brubaker, Associated Controls + Desi
Switzerland - In the age of social distancing, how can an orchestra and choir create a great musical performance when they cannot be in close proximity to each other? During the coming season, Switzerland’s Zurich Opera House will rely on Lawo IP technology to solve this problem. The need to find a solution for future performances became clear in early 2020, after Switzerland’s lockdown went into effect on 15 March. That solution came in the form of an IP-based remote production installation from Lawo, designed specially for WAN-based remote productions. Equipment includes a Lawo mc²36 console, Compact I/O stagebox units, and V__remote4 devices to transport and process video and audio signals, plus an upgrade of the Lawo Nova73 HD Core already installed at the Opera House which adds Ravenna networking and additional SFP Ethernet ports. “At first we sat at
UK - Peachy Playhouse, a new socially-distanced entertainment concept developed to deliver safe live performances during the coronavirus pandemic, closed its summer season at Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey, on a high note. That didn’t just include a spirit-rousing performance and from the Ambassadors Band, the ground-breaking season, a big leap of faith and some serious planning and investment by Philip French from Peachy Productions, was a resounding success. Philip and his team supplied 95% of the technical production infrastructure for the six-week period including staging, lighting, video, and audio. The Playhouse show schedule ran for two two-week sessions with a two-week break in-between, working alongside some carefully selected locally-based partners to provide the other elements including catering, generators, marquees, and toilets. Robe moving lights
UK - Last month, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre reopened with a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar, making it the first major London venue to do so post lockdown (a full technical report will be featured in LSi October). Having supplied the Open Air Season for many years now, as well as working on a host of outdoor productions over the past few months, WL was called upon to supply the lighting for this much anticipated concert. Created by the team behind the Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning production, Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert is a special staging of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. Complying with government regulations, this version is being performed in front of a socially distanced audience in order to ensure the complete safety of everyone in attendance. While there has been a lot of changes to
Denmark - HEX! Museum of Witch Hunt has recently opened in Ribe, Denmark, complete with a Smart IP loudspeaker solution from Genelec designed and installed by the Moesgaard Museum Exhibition Design Studio. As Denmark’s oldest town and home to Maren Spliid, the country’s most famous witch, the setting is ideal for a museum that aims to tell the stories of these witches – who they were, why they were so feared, and the myths and superstitions that surrounded them. In order to create the best possible visitor experience, HEX! turned to the museum technology experts at the famed Moesgaard Museum led by Johan Ahrenfeldt. “We wanted to create a complex soundscape for the various stories being told in each of the nine exhibition rooms,” explains Ahrenfeldt. “However, the building itself posed a few challenges as it’s an old listed building in the center of Ribe.
USA - Kentucky-based production designer, Bobby Grey, already had a wealth of real-world experience behind him - ranging from theme parks to theatre, touring and designing top-end festival stages - by the time he had reached 30. Concentrating on lighting he came under the influence of Joe Paradise - and it was he who introduced Grey to his current charges, veteran rock band 311. Along the way Grey became an associate designer with Sightline Design Group, before starting his own company, Notan Creative in January 2020. The band are now noted for their summer tours and legendary ‘311 Day’, held annually at the Park Theatre, Las Vegas (Park MGM) on 11 March. But this year the event went into overdrive as they celebrated their 30th anniversary over three nights. Bobby Grey designed another bespoke rig, using an abundance of GLP X4 Bar 10 and Bar 20 and JDC1 hybrid st
Italy - Situated in the northern Italian town of Arco, the Centrale Caffe recently underwent a complete renovation, which in addition to the general interior and patio also included the sound and video systems. Local contractors, Iiriti srl, were brought in, and having installed Martin Audio systems many times in the past, again recommended the brand - as did the project architect Thomas Matteotti. Owners Ciroc Srl had commissioned the substantial upgrade just before the COVID19 lockdown. Special attention was paid to the terrace, which has been completely renewed, with three Blackline X8 mounted horizontally on the external walls of the patio. Meanwhile, 10 Adorn A55 loudspeakers populate the main room and lounge. The system was designed by Iiriti owner, Giacomo Galassi, and supplied by Audiosales srl, Martin Audio’s territorial distributor. The sound sy
USA - History resonates throughout the Roxy Theatre, the legendary Sunset Strip club opened in 1973 by Lou Adler and a group of celebrity partners. It was here that the Rocky Horror Picture Show made its US debut, and the Ramones gave their first California concert. Bob Marley recorded a live album at the club in its first decade, so too did Ratt, Frank Zappa, George Benson, and Bruce Springsteen. Impressions of these moments echoed through the mind and imagination of Julien Reux, the owner of ReuxLight Design, when he sat down this summer to create some special looks for a virtual four-show tour by Wallows at the legendary venue. Summoning the evocative spirit of the club’s rich past, he gave his shows a haunting, redolent flavour with help from the warm white light of 20 Chauvet Professional STRIKE 1 fixtures supplied by the Envizion Group. Reux, who has bee
India - Pune nightclub Sky High hired integrators Smart Homes to design and install Harman Professional audio and lighting solutions. Known as the best rooftop venue in Kharadi, Sky High - The Club spans more than 5,000sq.ft and offers guests a one-of-a-kind nightlife experience. The facility features an indoor clubbing space with a DJ booth and dance floor as well as an outdoor terrace with a patio and bar. "For the club’s sound, we were looking for control,” said Shaukat Ali of Sky High - The Club. “Since the venue is located in an IT hub and surrounded by a residential neighbourhood, we need to control the levels that we are sending to our audience and outside our facility. It’s very important that we do not annoy our nearby residents.” In the bar’s indoor club environment, Smart Homes installed JBL AM7212/26 12” high power two-way loudspeakers
USA - Astera products played their part in the recent #RedAlertRESTART campaign in the US on 1 September, a collective lighting action that saw over 2000 buildings, places, structures, landmarks and spaces lit in red to highlight the critical situation facing live events and entertainment. John DiEleuterio, sales / project manager for from Wilmington, Delaware-based dry hire company Main Light Industries, reached for the company’s stock of Astera AX5 TriplePAR battery powered LED fixtures in support of the event. This latest lighting ‘red day of action’ was part of a wider international industry campaign being led by the #WeMakeEvents movement, a collective of trade organizations, companies and individuals including PLASA (the Professional Lighting & Sound Association). Like many in the technical production industry, John is passionate about his job, c
