The primary objective was to ensure that the building’s character was retained, and that the renaissance cinematic feel desired by the client was realized. Metropolis found a technical solution for this idea: the screen is still in its original position now at one end of the space housing the swimming pool, and what were the balconies are now tiered levels housing rows of exercise machines.
They installed two Sanyo XP45 LCD projectors on a special platform, beaming onto a surface painted with special Harkness Hall projection paint. The machines are lined up to cover half the ‘screen’ surface area each. One throws a single large image onto one side while the other throws a 4-way split image onto the other, each showing different pictures.
The projected material is a selection of the satellite and terrestrial television programmes received by the club’s SMATV broadcast system, based on Sky digital, also installed by Metropolis. Metropolis’s Simon Harris designed a Tannoy sound system that runs throughout the building. They also installed an 8-channel, 70-station Cloud Pump Station cardio theatre system, plus JBL sound systems in the two dance studios.
The biggest challenge was physically getting the Tannoy 240 sub bass units into the main auditorium area to be rigged in the ceiling. These sit disguised behind decorative platforms, high up each side of the screen area, and were hauled up onto the building’s roof before being manoeuvred into position inside.
(Lee Baldock)
