New York City’s famed St Bartholomew’s Church, recognised for its architectural grandeur and rich heritage, recently contacted design consultant Salas O’Brien and A/V integrator IVCi on a sound system to meet modern performance standards without compromising its architectural beauty.
To achieve this balance, the church worked with EAWs representative AudioPros to define a system based on AC6 ADAPTive Column Loudspeakers for the purpose.
‘There was only one option that met the needs of what the leadership at St Bartholomew’s was looking for,’ says AudioPros Principal, Andrew Shillo. ‘EAW’s ADAPTive system was the best solution because it not only provided quality sound coverage but was architecturally pleasing without disturbing the historical nature of the space.’
The church presented a challenging acoustic environment with the existing loudspeakers aging columns that failed to deliver consistent clarity. ‘The ultimate goal was to provide even coverage throughout the sanctuary while keeping acoustic energy off the walls and ceiling,’ Shillo explains. ‘The speakers also had to disappear into the architecture.’
In reply, the team installed four custom colour-matched EAW AC6 loudspeakers in a single front-facing vertical array, with two satellite speakers covering the balcony and one covering the chancel. The choice of AC6 eliminated the need for subwoofers and offered minimal visual impact. ‘We’ve worked with EAW for years and knew the AC6 would give us the directional control and frequency response needed for a space like this,’ says Salas O’Brien Associate VP of Acoustics & Technology Ben Boeshans, who led the system design and commissioning. ‘We also demoed the EAW system in the church to confirm performance and coverage before installation.’
‘IVCi is proud to have led the integration of this system that gives St Bartholomew’s exceptional sound while preserving the integrity and beauty of its historic architecture,’ says IVCi Director of Engineering, Michael Walker. ‘The EAW AC6 speakers were the perfect fit, and our team’s design and installation expertise brought the technology to life while honoring the space. Seeing the leadership and congregation so pleased is the ultimate measure of success for us.’
Using EAW’s Resolution software, the team was able to model the system with precision. ‘The real-world results matched the design perfectly,’ Boeshans says. ‘The mappings mirrored reality, which is exactly what you want during commissioning.’
‘Our EAW AC6 speakers are the perfect fit for our historic building; not only do they sound great, but they fit both our technical and architectural environment perfectly,’ says Niko Bakulich, the church Production Manager. ‘Multiple outside vendors, as well as congregants, have complemented the sound of our system. EAW was the perfect choice to breathe fresh life into our wonderful cathedral.’
‘The leadership at St Bartholomew’s is thrilled; they are very happy with the results,’ Shillo reports. ‘Ultimately, their satisfaction is the number one priority.’
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