The sound system design and installation for the park was carried out by the Madrid-based Himesa Professional SL, using a variety of D.A.S. products. The system designed by the company provides ambient sound and paging utilizing 60 Factor-5Ts keenly camouflaged within the decorative elements of the park.
The park is accessed through the Plaza of the Americas where shops and food services are available. Through the plaza, visitors enter the Caribbean zone know as the Antilles, home to the Dolphinarium, an installation designed to exhibit, maintain and breed species of dolphins and sea lions. This zone recreates the Caribbean shoreline with shallow water coves and beaches. Sound reinforcement here is handled by two self-powered DS-12A systems, eight DS-12 and eight DS-8 conventional systems. The Dynamics series enclosures are manufactured using high-density polypropylene, which provides weather resistance for greater durability in outdoor conditions. The systems installed provide sound reinforcement for the numerous presentations and educational events that take place in the 1,000 capacity Dolphinarium.
Continuing on the tour visitors arrive at the Papagayo Club, where they can watch spectacular flights and amazing bird exhibitions. Eight DS-8 systems, powered by external amplification, are used to provide sound reinforcement. Here, a natural and precise sound is very important to accurately reproduce the sounds of the different talking birds such as Parrots and the Papagayos.
One of the most impressive zones located in Selwo Marina is the Ice Island, home of the Penguins. A state-of-the-art cooling system located in this glass enclosed area provides the animals with the extreme living conditions found in Antarctica. Besides the beach, where the animals live their daily lives, the Ice Island has a rocky peninsula and year-round snow recreating the climate condition of their natural habitat. Himesa installed four Factor 5T two-way systems to provide background effects in this area.
(Ruth Rossington)
