The Episcopal Cathedral of St Philip stands as a symbol of community and faith on the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, hosting one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the US. In need of an upgrade to its sound system, the cathedral recently called in Dynamic AV Systems and has since installed a Renkus-Heinz replacement.
With stone walls, high ceilings and hard floors, the cathedral is a highly reverberant space, making speech intelligibility almost impossible with the previous system. ‘The sound system had been in place for more than 20 years, cobbled together over time with parts that didn’t match,’ says James Denmon of Dynamic AV Systems, who led the installation project. ‘We were approached by the consultant, Newcomb & Boyd, who had been tasked with delivering an upgraded solution that would optimise clarity and minimise reverberation.’
In order to design a system that would address these architectural and acoustic challenges, Newcomb & Boyd created an Ease model of the cathedral to determine, in conjunction with Dynamic AV Systems. which loudspeakers were best suited to the space. ‘We have worked with Renkus-Heinz plenty of times in the past. Knowing that speech intelligibility was the main goal, the Iconyx steerable system was the obvious solution for this venue,’ Denmon states.
‘At the front of the hall we deployed two IC24-RD Digital Steerable Line Array loudspeaker systems as mains, supported by two IC8-RD arrays for the transepts at the sides,’ he continues. ‘Through to the back of the room we installed ten IC16-RD columns. The ability to steer sound directly to the audience is a real game-changer for acoustically complex venues such as this cathedral.’
Throughout the installation process, the cathedral continued to rely on the legacy system for services. Despite the added complexity, the Dynamic AV team worked around the legacy equipment, ensuring that worship services proceeded without interruption. However, when it came to controlling the system, there were some initial network challenges.
‘The customer wanted to stick with the existing network provided by their IT company, but this simply wasn’t feasible with the updated solution,’ explains Denmon. Ultimately, Dynamic AV developed a dedicated A/V network, using Dante for intuitive, user-friendly FOH control.’
We were able to get the system aimed, delayed, and equalized, with the flexibility to adapt for different scenarios. Wherever you are in the room, you can hear at least one of the IC loudspeakers.’
For smaller services or events with fewer than 100 people, staff can easily turn off the back arrays to leave only the front IC24s, removing unnecessary loudspeakers for pristine clarity, while the full system delivers unmatched coverage to the entire congregation.
The interior aesthetic is also a key part of the cathedral’s character, making it an essential aspect of the installation. While the previous system had not taken this into account – cables on display and prominent loudspeakers – Dynamic AV Systems made sure that the Renkus-Heinz system would present minimal visual disruption. ‘The loudspeakers were custom-painted in a colour specified by the client to match the stonework,’ Denmon saus. ‘Working with the electricians, we also created custom-painted wire moulds to run up the stone columns. Some elements now blend in so well that people were asking when the new system would be installed.’
Through the collaboration with Newcomb & Boyd, Renkus-Heinz, and the cathedral’s in-house engineers, Dynamic AV Systems successfully overcame the venue’s architectural and acoustic complexities. ‘The Iconyx system has dramatically enhanced speech intelligibility for services of all sizes. One parishioner told us that after attending the Cathedral of St Philip for many years, she could finally understand everything that was being said,’ Denmon reports. ‘It’s hard to claim that any single loudspeaker can suit every room, but Renkus-Heinz’s steerable arrays come very close.’