Onyx Projects were asked by architects Smith Caradoc-Hodgkins (SCH) to design an integrated AV solution after the two companies had worked together on developing the Rainforest Café concept. There are three individually styled restaurants contained within the vast 22,000sq.ft footprint on the site for the former Thomas Cook head office - occupying the ground floor and two basement levels. The feature area - La Rascasse Restaurant - is a large, 170-cover banqueting room, which is also available for corporate functions. Here, two discreetly recessed Christie Vivid Green projectors, fitted with standard lenses, project onto a pair of 8ft by 6ft Faith Audio Visual screens, set on either side of the VIP gallery. Taking satellite, DVD and VHS programme feeds, there is also a local input point which allows data switching for Powerpoint presentations.
The Vivid Greens were originally designed to be mounted on hoists, but interference with the water pipes for the sprinkler meant that another solution needed to be found, and Onyx have now recessed the projectors into the ceiling pelmet on Unicol cradles. Another area, called Rosie’s Bar, is also available for corporate hire, and includes a Christie Vivid Lite portable projector. This can be trolleyed into any area not requiring permanent video, but where presentation media is required via plug-in points.
Vivid Green features up to 3600 ANSI lumens, true XGA (1024 x 768) resolution with the latest in LCD technology and optical design, while the DTV and HDTV-compatible Vivid Lite (1800 ANSI lumens) is a multimedia projector delivering high-quality images in an ultra-portable package (little bigger than a sheet of writing paper).
Onyx’s projects director Richard Studerus, commented: "We chose the Vivid line simply because they were the best projectors for the job - cost-effective, with great picture clarity and offering high light output. Nothing came near this specification within the price budget."
With DVD, VHS and satellite feeds to the LCD projectors in La Rascasse, and further screen destinations in the Pit Brasserie, in the form of a 42" plasma display, and five 28" monitors fanned around the curve of the Farboud car revolve, Delaunoy wanted absolute control over his media. Onyx opted for the Crestron CNMSX-AV control processor, which is dynamically-expandable, offers unprecedented communication possibilities, and allows seamless integration within a computer network.
Three programmable LC-1000 3.9" greyscale wall-mounted touchpanels provide local bar control, while Delaunoy operates the projection feeds to the two 8ft x 6ft Faith Audio Visual screens, mounted either side of the VIP gallery, from a SmarTouch ST-1550 5.7" RF wireless control panel, programmed by Mick Yarranton.
Commented Onyx projects director, Richard Studerus: "Olivier was the driving force behind the Crestron systems from the beginning, as he wanted an LCD touch screen that would give him master control - so that’s exactly how we programmed it. The bar staff use the subsidiary push-button wall plates to control the functions and sources."
(Le Baldock)
