The building will be renamed The O2 will also have a smaller Music Club venue with a capacity of 2,200, a multiplex cinema, an ice rink, a world-class exhibition space and a vibrant 'entertainment district' featuring a variety of bars, restaurants, retail and leisure facilities.
Building on Vision Fire & Security's global partnership with Tyco, the Millbank team began working together with ADT to realise the challenging brief from the early stages.
The project is divided into two distinct sections: the first being the performance sound system for the 23,000-seat arena and the second being the life safety and voice alarm systems for the areas surrounding the Arena - known collectively as The Waterfront.
The performance sound system comprises a 16 metre central truss with 12 x clusters of JBL loudspeakers including 35 precision directivity devices. Plus it has 24 x low frequency arrays and the Vertec line-array cabinets.
The system will be powered by Crown amplification spread across 18 equipment rack locations connected with dual TCP/IP network edge switches driven from dual network servers and Soundweb London DSP control. Inputs to the system include a revolutionary UHF digital radio microphone deployment offering distributed control via the TCP/IP network.
There is a substantial FOH console in addition to an analogue cable network plus a neat solution for wireless PA system set-up and configuration. The Waterfront street and entertainment areas are being equipped with a state-of-the-art voice evacuation system, designed and specified by Millbank using Bosch Praesidio hardware.
Eddie Thomas, project manager says: "Millbank's experience in touch screen control and networked voice evacuation has added the valuable integration and programming capability to meet the demanding requirements for life safety on this scale."
Multiple rack locations are spread over a 2km fibre backbone stretching around the perimeter of The O2. Emergency messages are either pre-recorded or driven live from touch screen paging stations. Ambient noise sensing and the comprehensive equalisation and other DSP processing tailor the system to this unique environment.
A variety of JBL loudspeakers have been specified to cover the larger open areas in addition to the more standard ceiling and horn cabinets deployed internally.
Neil Voce, Millbank sales director, added: "We're proud and excited to be part of this ground-breaking project that offers London a unique venue that will stand as a technological landmark for its sound and performance standards. With the Olympics due in 2012, The O2 Arena sets a great example for getting large PA/VA projects delivered in London."
(Chris Henry)
