The MOHE building is considered to be one of the major projects in Saudi Arabia's new era of development. KHALDI EST masterminded the technical fit-out after winning a competitive tender, which included the design, supply and integration of all audiovisual components for the Ministry's main auditorium. The company, which specialises in delivering complete turnkey projects, has so far completed in excess of 100 major auditoriums.
The Ministry auditorium was designed to seat 850 people, with the ground level for use by male guests only, and the upper balcony for ladies (with separate entrances provided for each level). Part of the A/V system design was to link the main auditorium with the Ministerial office (and other meeting rooms) within the building facility via a LAN - providing the possibility to communicate via internet broadband with other remote locations.
KHALDI EST made the acoustic sound calculation and room measurements based on the latest RCF L2406 full range, highly intelligible, compact two-way speaker column arrays, with vertical controlled directivity.
Handling the low end extension is an S4012 subwoofer, with system optimization provided by an RCF DX4008 4-in/8 out digital loudspeaker management system. Supplying the power are RCF's HC2000 2x 1000W Class H amplifier and HC1600 2 x 800W Class H amplifiers.
KHALDI EST also installed translation and Polycom teleconferencing systems. For the former, the latest RCF FORUM 2000 simultaneous translation system environment this system were RCF digital radio transmission, a central conferencing processor, interpreter console and headphones, 100-channel simultaneous translation pocket receiver, stethoscope headphones and other accessories. The installation also makes use of RCF's gooseneck electret mics and announcement amplifier.
Other components from the Italian manufacturer's catalogue featuring in the installation include MX1822 14+2 universal input, 2+2 output mixer rack and PR4092 9-in/2-out preamp.
As for the A/V element of MOHE, which operates under Creston master control, this was implemented based on high definition visual setup with live digital recording.
"This was a challenging project in every respect," stated installation project team leader (and executive manager), Engr. Amer Alkhaldi, who was assisted by project manager, Dr. Engr. Mohammad Fouad. "The installation called for high speech intelligibility and simultaneous translation facilities - and RCF's perfectly matched components were able to facilitate this."
(Jim Evans)
