PEL Services has completed an upgrade to the Public Address (PA) and Voice Alarm (VA) system at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading.
At the same time, the installer refurbished the security systems. All work was carried out without compromising the theatre’s schedule the firm says.
Outside the performance-space, the many levels and access-ways make for complex acoustics. The particular age and architectural character of the largely solid-concrete structure of the building produced some additional challenges along the way.
PEL’s engineers designed, supplied, tested and commissioned a multiple zoned, high-specification Bosch Praesideo PA and VA digital system, backstage to front-of-house.
The quality of the system, design and installation enables the Theatre’s many spaces to be comprehensively filled with intelligible sound, notably including useful improvements to the show-relay into dressing rooms and artists’ corridor, as well as comprehensive VA readiness for all corners and levels.
The Bosch Praesideo system was the installers say suited to the Hexagon Theatre as its ‘daisy-chain’ network (topology) means system elements can be connected to virtually any point and any type of equipment to be located wherever most suitable in the building – including the many corners in this unusually shaped building.
The system features 150 low-profile speakers and a number of line column speakers which have replaced some of the previous cabinets to provide more efficient sound-distribution while reducing total number of speakers. Energy savings have also been made, with the control rack reduced from a 6ft tower to an efficient and compact unit less than half the size, even saving on space at the side of stage.
Over 10,000 metres of cable was used in this install, giving an indication of the size of overall project. The result is a future-proofed, optimised PA and VA system the installres say.
For The Hexagon, it was also essential that the theatre remained open for business while the system was installed, so as to maximise revenue. Work was planned according to The Hexagon’s performance and rehearsals calendar, with commencement after the pantomime season. Potentially noisy and intrusive passages of work were programmed by PEL on “dark” (non-performance) days and during gaps in rehearsals. Work was also done out-of-hours, make progress while keeping the theatre operational.
Fiona Swell, Assistant Manager of The Hexagon said: “PEL have managed the project professionally and efficiently, considering the complexity of the building and the busy events schedule at The Hexagon. We had concerns initially about the disruption caused by such a large project happening while the building remained open, however this was totally unfounded. PEL communicated with us every step of the way, taking into account the many operational issues involved in the install, and wouldn’t hesitate to use them in the future.”
About the theatre
As the name suggests, The Hexagon Theatre was built in the shape of an elongated hexagon in 1977 and is a multi-purpose theatre and arts venue with a maximum capacity of 1,200 seated. A versatile facility, several different staging configurations in the Auditorium are possible.
About PEL Services Limited
The UK systems company designs, supplies, installs and commissions sound, fire, security and assistive technology for communications systems in markets as diverse as retail, education, logistics, local authorities, healthcare, social housing, financial, public utilities and leisure venues. For more go to http://www.pel.co.uk/sound/public-address-systems or contact PEL at 0333 123 2100 or [email protected].
