To help realise the owners' vision of moulding the cutting edge architecture of the impressive three-storey venue into 'more than your average' golf centre, local installation specialists F.C. Smith (audio consultants) were called on to design and install an infrastructure capable of distributing high quality - but visually unobtrusive - audio to four distinct areas.
At the centre, pro golf shop, The Golf Bunker, occupies the ground floor, adjacent to a relaxed bar and lounge area. The second floor is home to Jaf Jaf, a sophisticated yet intimate restaurant with a view out over the first tee, whilst a dedicated conference suite occupies the third floor, with the venue being capable of accommodating up to 200 delegates.
FCS's brief was to provide an 'invisible' audio system which would excel at music reproduction, but be equally clear for speech applications, without the use of any wall-mounted speakers - a tough call.
"The requirement for higher quality ceiling speakers for two recent installations at Leeds Metropolitan University's Carnegie and Civic Quarter gymnasiums led us to HK Audio's new Installation Line models," explains FCS' Fred Smith. Being highly satisfied with the performance of HK's IL60CT and IL80CT (co-axial 6.5"/1" and 8"/1" units respectively) used for the university projects, FCS turned to the larger HK IL80CTs. As such, a healthy quantity of these units was employed to deliver the varied audio requirements throughout the Acanthus centre, from relaxed background music in the shop and bar/lounge area, to the sophisticated ambience required in Jaf Jaf, and the clarity and high intelligibility required in the conference suite.
"Both ourselves and the venue are highly satisfied with the sound," is how Smith summarises the project. "HK's ceiling speakers really do tick all of the boxes sonically, with a pleasing musicality not always found in other ceiling speakers."
(Jim Evans)
