BUFFALO, NY — Powerhouse Pro Systems and Wittburn Enterprises teamed up on the design and installation of a sound reinforcement system that was part of a $2 million project to turn a formerly industrial area into a more inviting public space for visitors and residents alike. Led by Larkin Development Group, the area is known as Larkin Square.
More details from Technomad (www.technomad.com):
The Larkin Development Group of Buffalo, NY has unveiled a multi-purpose public space in the Larkin District of Buffalo, NY to further unite the community. The newly developed Larkin Square is alive with outdoor concerts, retail markets, office buildings, lounge areas and more, bringing people together in a vibrant open-air environment.
Stretching the length of one city block, Larkin Square features an exceptional professional audio system equipped with 25 Technomad advanced audio loudspeakers. The new audio system supports the “Live at Larkin” summer concert series, a weekly Wednesday evening entertainment series featuring local musicians and nationally recognized artists.
Local systems integration firm Powerhouse Pro Systems strategically positioned the loudspeakers throughout the square to maximize coverage for large audiences. The weatherproof loudspeakers deliver background music and announcements, including public safety information, to roughly 10,000 people gathered in the square each week.
The Technomad loudspeakers comprise a mix of the company’s Noho and Vienna loudspeakers, and were chosen for their ability to deliver intelligible voice and background music in a compact and durable package. The weatherproof loudspeakers are unprotected from outdoor elements and deployed in a 70-volt configuration to accommodate lengthy cable runs.
Tony Spencer of the Buffalo-based Powerhouse Pro Systems installed the systems in cooperation with local electrical designer Paul Foxe of Wittburn Enterprises. Spencer, in the AV installation business for more than two decades, consistently uses Technomad loudspeakers for their ability to withstand rigorous climates and project full-range audio with broad dispersion over long distances.
“Technomad loudspeakers were designed to perform under a multitude of weather conditions, whether it’s 90-degree heat in the summertime or below-zero temperatures during winter,” said Spencer. “We get both in Buffalo, so having durable, weatherproof construction that could withstand snow and ice buildup was of major importance. We also wanted loudspeakers that offered good projection and delivered well-rounded audio with an admirable amount of bass. The Noho and Vienna were the perfect fit for this project as they are the ideal size, and deliver superbly intelligible speech and unmatched audio.”
Spencer and Foxe installed 10 Noho loudspeakers on five light poles spread throughout the square. The two-per-light pole strategy ensures an even outdoor audio pattern outside with broad audio coverage at any volume.
The remaining 11 Nohos blanket a covered walkway area that can accommodate 1,000 people, with the loudspeakers positioned high above the crowds. The Nohos in this section are evenly spaced and directed inward to the crowd — ensuring even audio coverage and a pleasant background music soundtrack to match the relaxing, lounge-like atmosphere of the space.
The duo also installed four compact Vienna loudspeakers in the nearby covered stage area, which is an elevated space for smaller live acts.
“We placed the Viennas roughly 10 feet up from the stage floor, which was the ideal height to deliver the perfect pitch here,” said Spencer. “This space doubles as a lounge area with background music when not being used for a live band. The Viennas fill the need perfectly.”
The Technomad system is performing without fail, and Spencer notes that there are future plans to expand Larkin Square with additional shops and recreational space. “I’m used to Technomad performing well, and that’s why I continually rely on their excellence,” he said. “When they expand, we’ll turn to Technomad again. There’s no other choice in my mind.”
More details from Ashly Audio (www.ashly.com):
In a Buffalo, New York, for an urban district that was, just a few short years ago, an uninviting industrial area, the Larkin Development Group has revitalized and repurposed old buildings and converted the area between them into a forward-thinking public space. With a footprint the size of a city block, “Larkin Square” boasts whimsical sculpture, functional green space, inviting places to relax, and a stage for public performances, in addition to great establishments for food and drink. During the summer, the stage provides a casual venue to enjoy a free show on Wednesday nights in a series dubbed “Live at Larkin.” Distributed sound reinforcement and lighting give Larkin Square a modern vibe, and Ashly Audio processing, amplification, and control give it the reliability to work day-in and day-out, as well as the flexibility to grow with the aspirations of its oversight committee.
“Thousands of people live and work in the newly rehabbed buildings that surround the square,” said Tony Spencer, with Powerhouse Pro Systems (Buffalo). “It’s like a little city within the larger city of Buffalo. Larkin Square provides the public focal point for the new development.” First Niagara Bank, the City of Buffalo, and the Larkin Development Group funded the $2 million project. Under Spencer’s direction, Powerhouse Pro Systems designed the Ashly-centered sound reinforcement system. Paul Foxe of Wittburn Enterprises, the general electrical contractor at Larkin Square, programmed the system and oversaw its installation.
To provide coverage of the entire square without blowing some visitors away with too much volume, Spencer distributed twenty-five Technomad 300-Watt full-range, weatherproof loudspeakers throughout the space, mounting them on light poles or other structures to provide the necessary height. Three Ashly ne2400.70 amplifiers and three ne1600.70 amplifiers power the loudspeakers, and one Ashly ne24.24M modular DSP handles input & loudspeaker processing as well as matrix routing. For concerts, the system ties into the stage PA, but it is mostly used to provide background music, with special content for lunchtime and the cocktail hour. Elation LED architectural lighting illuminates Larkin Square at night, either with a “theme park” feel or a more straightforward feel.
“We originally put the Ashly ne24.24M in with optional card slots for an 8-in by 8-out structure,” said Spencer. “However, the oversight committee wants control over more zones, as well as more inputs. So we’re expanding the ne24.24M to a 12-in by 12-out. The flexibility of the unit is great. All we have to do is drop in some new cards and we’re set. No need to buy a new piece! Moreover, the ne24.24M can grow with the needs of the space months and years down the road.”
Inputs to the system include the stage mixer, several iPod/iPad docks, A/V access points for presentations, cable TV, Pandora, and a handful of wireless microphones. For the convenience of the staff and because they require nothing more than a networked Ethernet connection to function, Spencer specified the placement of eight Ashly neWR-5 remote controls throughout Larkin Square. They provide input selection and zone volume control. In addition, an Ashly FR-16 programmable fader bank provides centralized control of all zone volumes. “Before the client expanded the system, we were planning to use the FR-16 as an eight-input/eight-output volume control,” said Spencer. “Since they’ve increased that count, we’re going to repurpose the FR-16 for output volume control. It’s nice that the FR-16 is flexible enough to be programmed to control anything.”
He continued, “We went with Ashly because the products integrate well, are solid, and are backed by a five-year warranty, but perhaps more so, we went with Ashly because of the people who stand behind those products. I knew that the programming would be quite involved, and Paul [Foxe] always received immediate help from the folks in Ashly’s technical support department whenever he needed it.”
