Set in the seafront city of Pula, the Church and Monastery of St Francis has served as a Croatian place of worship and cultural gathering for centuries. Recently, the church embarked on a transformative journey wth local distributor, LAV Projekt, to elevate its acoustics and improve sound clarity with a Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker system.
Dating from the 14th century, the building combines Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles with a central hall, elevated sanctuary and apse, along with a gallery with pipe organ. In addition to its role as a place of worship, the church frequently hosts concerts, exhibitions and cultural gatherings.
‘St Francis Church’s sound system was unable to deliver the clarity and coverage needed for both worship services and events,’ explains LAV Projekt audio system specialist, Patricio Valenta. ‘With the expertise of Renkus-Heinz, we envisioned a system that would respect the church’s aesthetic while addressing the complex acoustics of this sacred space.’
The open and reverberant nature of spaces like the Church of St Francis presents significant acoustic challenges to the use of sound reinforcement. Accommodating both spoken word and musical performances, the need was to deliver consistent, intelligible sound without disrupting the architecture.
‘Our team knew that any system implemented here had to be meticulously planned,’ Valenta says. ‘The objective was to keep sound clear and focused on the congregation without interfering with the church’s ancient aesthetic.’
The project team recommended Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact ICC36/3 active digital beam-steerable loudspeakers for the nave and sanctuary areas, known for their compact size, directivity and form factor that readily blends with historic interiors.
‘Given the unique challenges of this space, we selected the ICC36/3 for its precise digital beam-steering capabilities,’ Valenta says. ‘This technology allowed us to focus the audio precisely on the congregation, reducing unwanted reflections and enhancing clarity.’
Two ICC36/3 units were installed between the sanctuary and nave, facing the congregation. Each loudspeaker uses Renkus-Heinz’s beam-steering technology, which allows the sound to be directed exactly where needed, away from walls, ceilings, and other reflective surfaces. An integrated 36-channel amplifier enables refined control over the soundfield, ensuring that every word spoken during a service or event reaches listeners with clarity.
For the sanctuary and apse, the team incorporated two Renkus-Heinz UBX4 passive directional column loudspeakers. Mounted discreetly behind the ICC36/3 speakers, these provide additional sound coverage to the altar. ‘The UBX4 was ideal for delivering the required sound reinforcement without visually intruding on the space,’ Valenta notes. The UBX Series achieves asymmetric vertical dispersion, maintaining consistent directivity and reducing interference from side reflections.
An additional Renkus-Heinz UBX8 passive loudspeaker was installed in the atrium to extend audio coverage to the monastery courtyard. Like the UBX4, the UBX8 is designed to withstand outdoor environments and integrates into the exterior layout. ‘The UBX8 makes the liturgy audibly accessible in the atrium, allowing the sound to carry naturally across the courtyard,’ says Valenta.
After installation, the system was calibrated using Renkus-Heinz OmniBeam software, which allows precise control over the angles of each sound beam. The calibration was key to achieving an impressive Speech Transmission Index for Public Address (STI-PA) score, exceeding 0.6 across more than 90 per cent of the church.
This first project for Renkus-Heinz’s new Croatian distributor marks a significant milestone, both for the brand and the Church of St Francis. ‘This installation exemplifies our commitment to delivering precision audio in even the most challenging and historic spaces,’ says Renkus-Heinz Export Sales & Marketing Director, Michal Poplawski. ‘The success of this project demonstrates how technology can enhance traditional spaces without compromising their essence.’
The Church and Monastery of St Francis now stands as a model of how heritage sites can evolve with technology, meeting modern audio needs while preserving historical beauty.
