UK - The University of Manchester's Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama has long been a cornerstone of the institution’s performing arts and education programmes. Home to two key performance spaces, being the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, the Centre recently underwent a significant AV upgrade to meet evolving teaching and performance needs.
The project was led by Stage Electrics, a trusted audiovisual partner of the University for over two decades, in close collaboration with British loudspeaker manufacturer EM Acoustics. The focus was on integrating high-quality audio systems tailored to each space to improve the audio experience for students, faculty, visiting performers and audiences alike.
Stage Electrics was tasked with upgrading the trusted existing EM Acoustics audio systems to match current standards and provide greater flexibility in support of a wide variety of events.
“We needed a solution that would free up space in both venues and improve the efficiency of our technical operations,” says Karl Spencer, senior technical and buildings manager at the Martin Harris Centre. “Many of our courses rely on both video and audio, so we were looking to improve audiovisual quality to provide students and teachers with an enhanced experience and the resources to thrive.
“EM Acoustics products have never let us down and have always worked perfectly. We also appreciate the fact that they are a British company because we like to support homegrown businesses.”
The Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall primarily hosts classical music concerts, spoken word events and comedy performances. A key challenge here was achieving consistent acoustic coverage across the auditorium whilst being sympathetic to the hall’s appearance.
Stage Electrics and EM Acoustics addressed this by installing a comprehensive sound system designed by Greg Clarke, brand manager at EM, comprising left and right hangs of eight Halo-C line array loudspeakers as the main PA, supported by two R8 loudspeakers at stage level. A further two S-15 subwoofers provide low-frequency support.
"The compact design of the Halo-C line arrays and point-source systems was a perfect fit for these spaces,” confirms Karl Formstone, senior project manager at Stage Electrics. “They provide powerful sound reinforcement while seamlessly integrating into the venue’s aesthetics, maintaining both form and function."
The John Thaw Studio Theatre serves as both a teaching space and a venue for talks, poetry readings and screenings. The space was already performing well but needed a new surround sound and video projection offering so it could also be used as a full-blooded cinema facility. Therefore, a multifunctional sound system capable of delivering an immersive listening experience was required.
Stage Electrics and EM Acoustics teams chose to install a point source distributed loudspeaker system with amplification and processing. This new system comprises seven R8 right, left and centre hangs, 12 EMS-51X for cinema-quality surround sound and two S-15 subwoofers.
"Designing a sound system for a space that doubles as a teaching area and a cinema required a highly adaptable solution,” remarks Formstone. “The point source distributed system allowed us to create a truly immersive audio environment while maintaining the versatility needed for various configurations."
Both venues benefit from user-friendly system control, accessible to students, staff and outside users. The audio system is integrated with the in-house Symetrix control system via several touchscreens. Preset configurations allow the spaces to adapt to different use cases with just a few touches.
The upgrades in both spaces have been transformative. The Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall now boasts superior acoustic coverage and power, enabling it to host a broad range of events to an exceptionally high standard. The streamlined system control significantly reduces setup time and overall operational demands. Over in the John Thaw Studio Theatre, the enhanced surround sound helps redefine the capabilities of the space.
“Thanks to Stage Electrics and EM Acoustics, we are proud to say that our students now have access to state-of-the-art facilities,” says Spencer on the overall impact the new system has had on the learning experience at the University.
