The venue is something of a work in progress, with the revamping and augmenting of the existing structure being carried out in a series of phases. The industrial minimalist design has been extended into all three storeys of the expanded building, with a plan in place to landscape and enclose the courtyard entryway to extend the club's capacity to around 1,500.
The sound system in the club goes well beyond simply powerful, though power is certainly not lacking. London company Blue Box, led by Mark Metcalf and Rob Barton, have designed each of the three floors' systems specifically around the music planned for each area.
The ground floor, which hosts the harder dance music, features a four-way active system consisting of Funktion One Resolution 4 cabinets and F218 subs, powered by QSC PowerLight amplifiers. Upstairs, the first floor is designed for live acts and less heavy material; here Funktion One Resolution 2 biamped cabinets and F218 subs are powered by a mix of QSC PowerLight amps. The top floor hosts a VIP and private area, with a more laid back, informal atmosphere. For this area, Blue Box specified a number of the Funktion One F88 boxes, complemented by the Funktion One Minibass. Again, the system is powered by QSC amplifiers.
The Funktion One components were supplied directly from the manufacturer. UK distributors HW International, now known as Shure Distribution UK, supplied Blue Box with all the QSC product.
(Ruth Rossington)
