RADFORD, VA – Radford University, founded 100 years ago, opened its Dedmon Center in 1981 with a then-futuristic air-supported roof. Since then, however, the 5,000-seat facility, home of the school's Highlanders basketball team, was renovated with a steel-reinforced roof and a new audio and video system, including Community Professional Loudspeakers' Solution Series loudspeakers.
The renovation also includes a new basketball court and new LED video scoreboards and broadcast capabilities.
"It's a great place to see a game, but the sound system was always something of an afterthought," said Tom Gallaher, president of Alcoa, Tenn.-based Gallaher and Associates. As Gallaher observed, the cavernous space is large enough to easily hold triple its current seating capacity, and has long suffered from challenging acoustics.
The new sound system utilizes 22 Community SLS920 three-way full-range loudspeakers to cover the entire main seating area and the adjacent volleyball courts. Eight i215LVS dual 15-inch subwoofers deliver 36,000 Watts of low-frequency punch, and six i2W8 two-way boxes provide additional front fill coverage.
"Our goal was to design a system that could create an NBA-level environment," said Gallaher. "That means serious sound, with powerful bass and great intelligibility everywhere. We've used the Community SLS boxes on other projects and knew they could deliver that level of performance. We also knew we could count on Community for great support in ensuring the benchmark of our system designs."
The installation also includes dual video scoreboards integrating player statistics, time and multiple camera feeds with three angles of instant replay. Crestron touch panels provide control of the system, streamlining many of the more complex operations.
"One of the biggest challenges in providing the Center with such an advanced system was the fact that they had limited resources available to operate its features," said Gallaher. "Once you bring in LED video boards with the capability to incorporate time, player stats, instant replay and more, it requires considerably more manpower to run those features."
Gallaher's partner firm, Capturion Network, manufactured the LED video boards, video server and shot clocks.
With the athletic department's limited technical staff, it was necessary to create a user-friendly system to automate many of the operations. "For example," said Gallaher, "when time is not limited prior to tip-off, they can insert audio files for the starting lineups, set up lighting effects, select intro music and video, creating a fully automated player introduction sequence at the touch of a button."
Computers elsewhere in the facility can also operate the system, to eliminate the need for access to the control room for team practices and other events.
As often happens, scheduling and logistics added an extra layer of complexity.
"The original plan was to have the project completed before the conference games started," said Gallaher, "but necessary electrical upgrades pushed back our starting dates, and as a result we had to start and complete the project during the most hectic and critical stretch of the season. Since we couldn't work during games or practice, we had to schedule our work around the teams."
Gallaher noted that both fans and administration are happy with the system's performance. "For Radford president Penelope Kyle and athletic director Robert Lineburg, there's always been a friendly rivalry between Radford and the University of Virginia, and their arena's got a two or three million dollar sound system," he says. "With this new system, Dedmon Center sounds every bit as good."
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