Opened in 2018, of the band Bring Me The Horizon frontman by Oliver Sykes, Church – Temple of Fun is a vegan bar, restaurant and entertainment venue occupying the historic Osborn Works building in Sheffield. Here, Gothic and industrial architecture meet striking South American–inspired religious décor – and a new sound system.
Stained-glass–style windows, murals and ornate statues nod to spiritual iconography, counterpointed by retro arcade machines, gaming pods, pool tables and a riverside terrace overlooking the River Don. Regular live music, DJ nights and art events make it one of Sheffield’s most distinctive cultural hangouts.
With a varied spectrum of activities taking place in the venue’s spaces, high-quality, easy-to-control zoned audio is essential. Audio Engineering Services (AES) of Sheffield is Church’s preferred audio supplier, responsible for installing the venue’s audio system and, most recently, upgrading its audio control.
‘The original control system at the venue had begun to fail, and the team wanted to replace it with a system that would be simple and intuitive to operate,’ says Audio Engineering Services owner, Andy Fisher. ‘As a multi-faceted venue comprising bar, restaurant, live music area, and more, it’s critical that the staff at Church can readily control the audio levels in order to create the right ambience. I recommended the AtlasIED Atmosphere platform – I’ve installed it in several venues, and it’s proven very popular.’
An Atmosphere AZM8 eight-zone digital signal processor with message player and virtual wall controllers was deemed the best fit for the Church’s needs. Programming is simple via an onboard web interface optimised for common use cases. The control interface is device agnostic, responsive, and meticulously designed for an ideal user experience without sacrificing design freedom. In addition to Ethernet, built-in Wi-Fi allows tablets and other controlling devices to connect directly to the AZM8 via rights-based access.
AES enhanced the venue’s flexibility and ease of use by installing an Atmosphere C-ZSV wall controller, enabling staff to control audio levels and source selection across multiple zones with simple, intuitive controls.
With user-friendly controls designed to prevent accidental configuration changes, staff can confidently manage the system without technical oversight. This ease of use drives greater adoption, ensures the system delivers long-term value, and even boosts employee engagement by empowering staff to take ownership of their environment.
Staff were excited about the new system control capabilities and loved being able to use their phones to adjust audio levels in all areas using Atmosphere’s virtual controller capabilities. ‘Atmosphere is easy to set up, is very flexible, and I can adjust it from my office if necessary,’ Fisher says. ‘It’s safe to say that Church is very happy.’
More: www.atlasied.com