UK - As UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford is playing host to an extensive programme of events in the arts and entertainment field. With a rich and diverse cultural heritage as the backdrop to a year of celebration, Bradford 2025 has invested in a number of existing and new creative spaces to further opportunities for people to engage in cultural events. One such significant venue is the appropriately-named Loading Bay, a multi-use arts centre located in a disused warehouse.
Music, comedy, talks, exhibitions, immersive theatre, and even live video-gaming take place across its two performance spaces and gallery. To ensure the best possible experience for artists, performers, and audience members alike, the Bradford 2025’s technical team enlisted Bradford-based production specialists Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to supply and install all the audio and video technology required for every part of its programme. The organisation wished to engage with the best local suppliers to ensure a fully-committed and agile response.
Dave Simpson of PAS comments: “This project was defined by the strong relationships that were quickly forged between all the contractors. The timeframe around the City of Culture status meant that things had to progress very quickly and efficiently with everyone hitting the ground running and pulling in the same direction. That’s exactly what happened.
“The technical team at Loading Bay, led by venue technical manager George Jackson and director of production Ben Pugh, came to us with a comprehensive list of their requirements, some of which were very specific and some of which they wanted to consult over. Loading Bay accepted our recommendations for a number of aspects of the project, most significantly the main front of house PA and monitoring system, as well as the zoned system which takes care of the gallery audio and paging throughout the venue.”
PAS recommended a front of house system from UK manufacturer EM Acoustics for the main 200-capacity theatre space. It comprised a flown pair of two EM Acoustics R8 (2 x 8”) compact, passive, three-way loudspeaker, supplemented by two R4 as front-fills and two R5 as delays. Two EM Acoustics S15 (15”) compact reflex subwoofers positioned on the floor completed the system, which is driven by an EM Acoustics Di20 installation amplifier.
“We’ve deployed EM Acoustics systems on a number of projects and felt that the R8s would precisely meet the needs of the space. Having rigged the system, we weren’t disappointed - and neither was the Loading Bay team. Since the venue opened, they have had numerous compliments from technicians and audience members about how good the sound is. We specified and supplied an Allen & Heath Avantis Solo mixing console, as well as A & H stagebox and expander.”
PAS also supplied a large inventory of Shure, DPA, AKG, and Sennheiser microphones for wired and wireless applications, passive and active DI boxes by Radial, and a range of speaker and microphone stands from K&M. “We also supplied and installed the venue’s assistive listening system based round a Sennheiser MobileConnect station,” adds Simpson.
For monitoring in the theatre space PAS supplied eight RCF NX10SMA active 10” monitor wedges and two RCF SUB 15-AX 15” active subwoofers. The steel pole mount installed on the side of the NX10SMA enables the wedges to be deployed as part of a small, portable standalone PA system in the venue’s other spaces, including its multi-format basement room. An Allen & Heath SQ5 console was supplied to work with this flexible system.
An Atlas IED Atmosphere AZM8 Zone 8-zone audio processor facilitated Loading Bay’s venue-wide paging system and enabled background music to be played in the gallery and outdoor areas, with a combination of pendant and wall-mount Cloud loudspeakers driven by a Dynacord amplifier providing the coverage for these areas.
Completing the picture from the PAS standpoint was the supply of a Panasonic VMZ71 BEJ projector, the smallest and lightest LCD laser projector in its class with up to 7000lm from its compact, easy to manage unit. Easily portable, this energy efficient projector offers Loading Bay flexibility across all of its spaces for a variety of applications.
This comprehensive supply and install project was achieved within a narrow window of time by virtue of PAS’s agile response and the cooperation of all parties involved according to Loading Bay’s George Jackson: “The project began in October 2024 with a tight deadline for its first event in March this year, with Pro Audio Systems brought in to handle the audio and video installations for the theatre, gallery, FOH areas, and other event spaces.
“From the start, the team demonstrated a clear understanding of the brief, and delivered a smooth, detail-oriented install. The venue hosts a wide range of performances, and feedback on the audio system’s clarity has been overwhelmingly positive.”
