Among Europe’s most historic convention facilities, the Hamburg Congress Centre (CCH) has emerged from a five-year renovation that includes the installation of L-Acoustics’ L Series line source arrays.
Built in 1973 and protected as a historic landmark, the CCH renovation was led by consultant Graner + Partner and aimed to modernise the facility while preserving its heritage. ‘It makes a huge difference to be able to deliver the very highest quality to our clients – from the architecture to the audio,’ says Dominik Schenke and of Graner + Partner. ‘The L-Acoustics L Series breathes new life into the building and opens up new possibilities for its future.’
The installation of the L-Acoustics system was executed by Protones GmbH & Co. KG, a full-service provider based in Lüneburg. Benjamin Schulenkorf, Technical Managing Director at Protones led the project. The venue’s commitment to sustainability was a key factor in choosing L-Acoustics as a partner, having recently achieved Gold Certification from the German Sustainable Building Council – the first German convention centre to do so.
‘From the outset, we were looking for a partner that shared our values and would be able to meet our sustainability standards,’ CCH Head of Sound Gralf Krüger explains. ‘L-Acoustics was a perfect match.’
The L Series loudspeakers align with the CCH’s eco-friendly goals. Compared to traditional line arrays, the L Series uses 56 per cent less paint, 30 per cent less wood and 60 per cent less steel in the manufacturing process. It also occupies 30 per cent less volume and weighs 25 per cent less than equivalent line source arrays. This efficiency translates to reduced transportation costs and lower carbon footprint.
The L-Acoustics L Series was chosen after rigorous testing, primarily for its audio quality and speech intelligibility – crucial factors for the diverse range of events hosted at the CCH. The system was designed using L-Acoustics Soundvision in a collaboration between Graner + Partner, Protones and audio consultant Rûdiger Aue.
The main hall features a LCR configuration, with a single L2 and L2D forming the left and right arrays, complemented by a centre cluster of a A10i Focus over two A10i Wide speakers. Four KS21 subwoofers per side, in cardioid configuration, are groundstacked on either side of the stage, while two X8 are mounted either side of the stage for out fill and eight 5XT across the stage lip for in fill. Two additional hangs of one A10i Focus over one A10i Wide provide stage monitoring. The system is powered by L-Acoustics LA7.16i amplified controllers.
The L-Acoustics installation sits on a media technology network that includes Q-Sys Core processors in various halls and uses Dante Audio-over-IP. ‘Our long-standing relationship with CCH and extensive network technology expertise during planning and installation has allowed us to develop a comprehensive in-house audio network that connects all venues, including Hall 1,’ Schulenkorf explains. ‘Although the system is discreet in size, the output is amazing. It means we can meet the requirements of any client without a problem.’
The renovation has expanded the CCH’s capacity to 12,000, with the largest hall seating 3,000. An extensive Dante-based audio network enables connectivity between all halls, providing unparalleled flexibility for various event types.
‘For decades, the CCH has been pushing boundaries and setting the standard for what is possible in the conventions sector,’ Schenke concludes. ‘This renovation ensures we will continue to do just that for many more to come.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com
