UK - An Allen & Heath iDR DSP system has been installed in St Paul's Church in London's Covent Garden as part of an overhaul of the sound distribution system.

The church, affectionately known as 'The Actors' Church' because of its long association with the theatre community, commissioned Autograph Sales to supply, design, install and programme a new audio system in time for the Julian Slade memorial where a host of stars, including Christopher Biggins, Jeremy Irons and Humphrey Barclay, turned out to pay their respects.

EM Acoustics speakers and MC2 amplifiers were installed in the

UK - Back in the golden age of disco, Mr. Smith's in Warrington was at the vanguard of 1980s club culture, and with its advanced moving rig was firmly in the 'superclub' bracket.

Last December the venue was one of three purchased by Paul Kinsey's Nexum Leisure. Earmarking a generous £7m for redevelopment, the company assembled a design team - including Alan Brown at Blueprint Design and Will Norton at Leicester-based Willpower Sound and Vision - to reinvigorate the nightclub and transform the interior into a 2,000-capacity, two-room space.

Although the experienced Willpower st

UK - Three distinctive projects, delivered by Theatre design consultants Charcoalblue, have received 2008 Civic Trust Awards in recognition of their 'outstanding contribution' to the quality and appearance of the environment: The Roundhouse, The Young Vic in London and The North Wall Performing Arts Centre, St Edwards School, Oxford. In addition to the standard prizes, nine Special Awards were also presented with the Special Award for Access going to The Roundhouse, Camden.

The Civic Trust Awards aim to promote the positive impact that good building and urban development can have on s

Ireland - Projected Image Digital (PID) has supplied and installed over 80 standard and custom Element Labs VersaTube LED fixtures in an architectural lighting feature at the new AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Bankcentre in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

The VersaTubes create four 22.25m high vertical lighting columns in the lift cores of the building's central atrium.

This 'live art' was conceived by London-based architectural lighting practice Pritchard Themis as part of their lighting concept for the new AIB building which was designed by RKD Architects and constructed by Sisk to accommodate 4000

The Azores - The Teatro Ribeiragrandense (Ribeira Grande town hall theatre) in the Azores island of São Miguel has recently been restored to its former glory with a little help from ETC. Portuguese dealer Luzeiro was the consultant on this project and specified a Congo jr with Master Playback Wing for the installation.

Maria Alexandra Pereira Bastos, commercial director at Luzeiro says: "We wanted a modern, uncomplicated and economical lighting system, and we immediately thought of ETC. We are so happy with the Congo jr desk, it has surpassed all expectations. Moreover, the supp

Turkey - Selected as Europe's 'coolest' hotel by The Times newspaper in London, the Adam and Eve hotel in Belek in the southern Turkish province of Antalya, has just been bestowed with yet another award, that of World's Leading Design Hotel from WTA (World Travel Awards), considered the Oscars of the travel industry. It also boasts interior architect, Eren Talu's signature all-white composition and minimalist interior along with the world's largest pool and longest bar plus conference halls, restaurants, theatre, nightclub and poolside entertainment facilities.

Not surprisingly

USA - A Renkus-Heinz Iconyx digitally steerable array system, matched to a high resolution plasma display matrix, is providing a unique integrated solution for a newly transformed, but acoustically challenging, indoor space at one of the US's largest diversified energy companies, DTE Energy.

DTE Energy has constructed a large new glass-roofed terrace space at the heart of its 'Town Square' at its Detroit, Michigan headquarters. The Town Square doubles as a cafeteria and corporate meeting area, and features 'green' technology throughout including cutlery and plates made from fully comp

UK - Surrey-based Marquee Installations is pleased to announce the appointment of Rob Whitaker as senior project manager. Whitaker's responsibility will be wide ranging across all applications of installed audio, from paging, BGM and distributed audio and video, through to FOH PA.

Well known in the industry, Whitaker began his pro audio career straight from school, starting with a 3-year Sound and Production BTEC course in Birmingham. Following experience in music retail and studio recording, Whitaker joined a major leisure group as stage crew; leaving as group technical manager 8-yea

Indonesia - Based in the Capital of Indonesia, the charismatic GBI (Gereja Bethel Indonesia) Church has a vigorous 10-year history, growing in typical fashion from a small but committed inspirational movement to its current widespread congregation and some 3,500 churches.

Led by Senior Pastor Dr Janto Simkoputera, GBI has recently opened up a new church in the MGK Mall in downtown Jakarta, a move prompted by the need to accommodate its ever-growing community. "The new church is a great facility for us," said GBI's head of sound Handri Nathanael. "The church is on two le

Italy - Rimini's Paradiso is one of the few clubs in the world able to boast a 50-year history. The venue, offering clients a breathtaking view from its vantage point overlooking the Adriatic Riviera, recently made front-page news when the new owners - Luca De Simone and Alessandro Volta - announced their intention to re-open the legendary Italian venue precisely 50 years after its original inauguration, undertaking to restore it to its position as one of Europe's leading venues, and adopting a Martin Audio sound system.

The club became by-word on the international club scene thanks t

UK - Watford Grammar School's new music centre, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, has bnenefitted from treatment by Arup Acoustics. Additionally, ETC lighting and controls have been installed by Lighting Logic.

Raf Orlowski, director at Arup Acoustics, says, "Around 15 years ago, Arup Acoustics carried out a survey of music facilities in schools for the then DfES and found inadequate conditions in many instances; pupils practicing in corridors, music classes blighted by extraneous noise and band rehearsals in totally inappropriate acoustic environments. This survey led eventual

USA - Global communications company Imagination (USA) Inc has unveiled its new booth design for the luxury bathroom brand Toto, unveiled at the recent Kitchen/Bathroom Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) in Chicago. This is the largest biggest bathroom and kitchen retail exhibitions in the US with over 20,000 visitors attending each day.

The new stand has been designed by Imagination's New York team to showcase the full range of the global brands luxury products as well bringing to life Toto's philosophy of 'totology' - a quest to enrich lives today, while simultaneously conserving and

China - Beijing has become a hot spot for avant-garde architecture as the world pays more attention to the city's building boom. Many of the world's great architects have bold structures sprouting all over the city, with such descriptive nicknames as the bird's nest, twisted doughnut and eggshell. Even surrounded by such ultra-modern marvels, the New Poly Plaza in Beijing stands tall as a bold landmark building. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), it is recognized as one of the most innovative architectural designs in the world. The building incorporates 24 stories of office s

UK - Despite the issues that have been making the headlines concerning the opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5, there is still much to be proud of in the building, including a major design and installation project recently completed for World Duty Free by Bradford-based audio specialists Pro Audio Systems. The contract, awarded against stiff national competition, was to advise World Duty Free on the best and most innovative way to operate a fully integrated sound and visual media marketing package throughout their stores.

To this end, Pro Audio Systems created an integrated network o

UK - The first exhibitors have already committed to next year's Showlight which takes place at BBC Scotland's headquarters in Glasgow, from 16-19 May 2009. Martin Professional, the main sponsor for the event, was first to sign up, followed by ETC, Gerriets, MA Lighting, Pixel Range, Rainbow Colour Changers, Robe UK, Robert Juliat and Selecon Europe.

Mark Ravenhill, vice-president for television and theatre lighting at Martin Professional, says, "Showlight has emerged as one of the most important events for lighting professionals, an invaluable asset to the ongoing development of

UK - Large-format projection specialists E/T/C London created spectacular 90m wide images and produced the soundtrack for a special large scale outdoor event to launch the new Sunderland Aquatic Centre, the North East's first Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Working closely with show producers Magnetic Events, and soundscape producer Karen Monid, E/T/C's Ross Ashton interpreted an original storyboard by Magnetic's Robin Morley to create a 15-minute collage of images based on aquatic themes, interwoven with water-related elements from the City's past and present, with "the swimmer&quo

Iceland - The Café Paris at the Kringlan shopping mall, a modern shopping and recreational centre situated close to Reykjavik City Theatre has a strong focus on providing a quality music environment for its clientele as well as outstanding coffee and hot chocolate.

"Owner Grétar Ingi Berndsen knows a lot about good audio," said Gudmundur Finnsson of Pfaff, Iceland who installed the audio. Berndsen is now carefully building the Café Paris brand of music bars. "The downtown site has been open for two years and is well used," said Gudmundur, "

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technician's ABTT Theatre Show is gearing up to celebrate its 30th birthday in London's Royal Horticultural Halls, 11-12 June 2008.

Many new innovations on the lighting front will be showcased this year with an emphasis on energy efficiency in line with the Theatres Trust conference on sustainable theatres to be held on 10 June.

Selecon will showcase its new 80V Power Supply with direct DMX control.

ETC will highlight products that offer low cost of ownership and sustainable solutions. PRG Europe will highlight its products and services.

Z

USA - Technomad Associates, LLC reports that San Mateo Community College District in California has standardized on Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers on its three Bay Area campuses. Skyline College in San Bruno; Cañada College in Redwood City; and the College of San Mateo are home to multiple indoor and outdoor venues now using Technomad Vienna 16 and Noho C loudspeakers for live sports and event coverage, with additional venues to follow as the district moves closer to completing a multi-year, multi-venue upgrade project that covers everything from field surfaces to bleachers to PA

UK - Litestructures Studios provided world tour support services during April, for Kylie Minogue. Approached by production manager Kevin Hopgood, the studio catered for Kylie's team who stayed 22 days for full rehearsals in preparation for her Kylie X2008 world tour which kicked off last week in Paris.

While rehearsing, Kylie's creative crew made various set changes and Litestructures were able to support these. Working in conjunction with Creative director William Becker, Litestructures facilitated many new elements, including an 8'x 8' cube frame feature, powder coated in bla

UK - The Arcola Theatre in Hackney has been nominated for a major national prize at The Charity Awards 2008, the UK charity sector's most prestigious award scheme. Chosen from a long list of entries, the theatre, which provides high calibre, accessible theatre and aims to become the world's first sustainable arts venue, has been shortlisted in the Animals and the environment category. It is hoping to pick up the coveted award at an awards ceremony in London on 19 June.

The annual Charity Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation and The Times newspaper, is the most h

UK - Litestructures has expanded its UK design force with the recruitment of sales design engineer Patrick Lockwood.

Lockwood has a proven track record within the industry; he started his career 18 years ago as a qualified welder/fabricator within James Thomas Engineering. He then progressed on to the export sales and project teams where he managed many concert, theatre and design projects from initial enquiry through to final completion. Moving on as a sales engineer, he then joined Tomcat UK for four years.

Lee Brooks, sales director comments: "It's not everyday that you get

UK - Current Thinking, based in Sunderland, has supplied the massive network of integrated fire telephones and disabled refuge points installed throughout the Wimbledon Lawn tennis complex during the multi-million redevelopment of the world's most famous tennis centre.

The system, called VoCALL is a fully distributed Emergency Voice Communication System (EVCS), complying fully with BS5839-Part9:2003 and combines both fire telephones and disabled refuge points. It covers all buildings including offices, media centre, main court complexes and museum across the South London site.

Chris

Russia - Aero line array are the systems of choice for a number of large venue sports projects in Moscow, including the CSKA stadium, Central Sports Army Club Moscow which is noted internationally for its major league football, basketball and hockey teams.

This centre celebrates sports events with wide media coverage. Bossman, D.A.S. distributor for Russia, was responsible for this project and chose D.A.S. Audio's Aero 38A.powered line array systems. 16 of these units were installed as a central cluster and eight Aero 218 subs as bass reinforcement.

Bossman installed 16 powered Aero

Latest Issue. . .