HARRISBURG, PA – Metropolitan Acoustics, LLC and Clair Brothers Audio Systems designed and installed a new sound system for the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center that includes nearly 800 Community loudspeakers strategically located throughout the complex's 11 buildings on 60 acres.
The buildings include three arenas, seven exposition halls and a banquet hall, all designed by Bala Cynwyd of PA-based Converse Winkler Architecture. A wide range of events are hosted on site, and with nearly 1 million square feet of space and a capacity of 10,000 people (not to mention farm animals), the complex has easily hosted more than 200 exhibits and trade shows, meetings and conferences, proms and graduation ceremonies, concerts, sporting events, rodeos and monster trucks.
"Because the complex hosts such a varied range of events, the sound system needed to be versatile enough to deliver both high intelligibility and good music reproduction," explained Saben Shawhan of Metropolitan Acoustics, LLC, who was project consultant for the audio design and installation. Clair Brothers Audio Systems was the installation contractor, with Bob Bickelman as project manager.
"In many of the locations we also needed a system that could stand up to the extreme conditions that accompany some of the Farm Show events," added Shawhan. "The loudspeakers are exposed to high levels of dirt, dust and moisture, and if that's not enough, they will routinely get washed down with a power washer.
"The R-Series loudspeakers from Community are ideally suited to this application," Shawhan continued. "They deliver impeccable intelligibility and exceptional durability." More than 200 R-Series All-Weather loudspeakers are installed throughout the facility, including 185 R.5-99TZ and 38 R1-66Z systems in the exhibit halls and equestrian center.
In areas were exposure to the elements weren't a concern, Community CLOUD Series ceiling mount loudspeakers were used, including more than 100 CLOUD6 and over 150 CLOUD4 systems in several locations. A variety of other Community loudspeakers were used in other areas of the facility, including 64 Solutions SLS and SBS models and more than 100 I/O and CPL loudspeakers. Lab.gruppen amplifiers power the system, with DSP handled by Peavey's MediaMatrix systems.
For more information, visit: www.communitypro.com.
