Housed in a converted water plant with the river running beneath visible though glass floors, the Kunszt Wodny (Water Art) building in Gdańsk is home to the Gdańsk Institute of Urban Culture. The Institute creates and hosts a wide range of projects designed to promote culture and nurture the city’s heritage.
As well as a 50sq-m interactive model of the city, a café, bookstore and three workshop rooms there is an auditorium, which Audio Plus has equipped with an L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound system.
‘The city of Gdańsk required the space to be a special, one-of-a-kind venue that would offer a spectacular cultural experience,’ explains Audio Plus Marketing Director, Pawel Kuhn. ‘Gdańsk has always been blessed with a pioneering, independent way of thinking. Everything starts here – one might say – and innovative spaces like Gdańsk Institute of Urban Culture with its L-ISA immersive experience help the community’s cultural vibrancy to flourish,.’
The 250-capacity auditorium space is adaptable, and can accommodate cinema screenings, concerts and theatre productions as well as being available for conferences and commercial hire. World-class sound reinforcement sat alongside flexibility and versatility required to meet the demands of the space.
Audio Plus’ long-time contractor Sound Design & Stage Technology proposed an immersive audio technology design based on L-Acoustics L-ISA technology for the space, and the proposal was accepted. Audio Plus, L-Acoustics Certified Provider Distributor in Poland, was appointed General Contractor for the project to provide sound and stage technology for the entire venue, including the auditorium, overseeing several subcontractors, with lighting delivered by LTT, stage mechanics by BSC, cinema equipment via Awaco, and finishing touches, including the acoustic cladding, entrusted to ESM Systems.
The configuration of the loudspeaker system consists of five hangs of two L-Acoustics A10i spread across the proscenium, with two flown hangs of two KS21i subwoofers. Seven 5XT placed along the stage lip provide spatial fill. Twelve X8, each on the side and back walls, provide surround, while six further X8 mounted in the ceiling provide overhead. The system is powered by five LA2Xi and one LA4X amplified controllers, while an L-ISA Processor II manages object-based spatialisation. A stage monitor system of four X12 and eight X8 is powered by two LA4X amplified controllers.
‘To help bring this kind of innovative thinking and technology to the city is an achievement for Audio Plus, as well as an incredible honour,’ Kuhn says. ‘The L-Acoustics L-ISA installation looks light and simple in the space but is unbelievably powerful at the same time. It’s everything we could have wanted.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com
