Professional Audio. Video. Lighting

[By Dan Ferrisi, from Sound & Communion magazine]

At root, any house of worship audiovisual install comes down to faith: Leaders from the worship center that is being constructed, or in some cases renovated, must invest their faith in the systems integrator that has been contracted to outfit the facility with the AV excellence people have come to expect and appreciate. The monthly “House of Worship: Business” column in Sound & Communications, written by David Lee Jr., PhD, often stresses the importance of relationship building in the house of worship vertical market. This is particularly so not only because churches often have to work within a limited budget, which means there likely are not funds for a “take two” on a bad system, but also because of the passion with which adherents to a faith—whichever one it might be—want their message to be heard and understood.

Allstar Show Industries recently completed a design/build installation for Beulah Ministries in Edmonton, Canada on both their main and satellite campus. Dwayne Plishka, project manager, is also the technical director for the ministry. The 85-year-old church is in its third building, an auditorium that seats 1,400 with an average weekly attendance of over 2,000. A rental facility serves as its new Whitemud satellite campus serving a congregation of 100 and seating 250.

by Lisa Young

Edmonton, AB / Calgary, AB

Completed in 1957, the Jubilees have been true centres for the fine arts in Alberta, providing a home for the Edmonton Symphony, Alberta Ballet, Edmonton & Calgary Opera while also hosting a wide array of other concert and cultural events. In 2004 extensive renovations began for both venues which were completed in time for Alberta’s Centennial Celebrations in 2005. Allstar arranged for a demonstration of Meyer Sound M2D line array cabinets and after a competitive bidding process was awarded the contract to supply and install the sound and video distribution portions of the project. Working with (and around) the other contractors through tight time lines, Allstar delivered world-class installations in both cities, on time and on budget.

Haifa, Israel

The Bahá’í World Centre is the world headquarters for the Bahá’í Faith. Located in Haifa, Israel on the slopes of Mount Carmel, it is the spiritual and administrative heart of the Bahá’í Faith. From this complex a staff of more than 600 people from 60 countries administer the internal affairs of the Bahá’í World Community. In the 1990’s a new phase of construction was launched. A series of terraces and several new institutional buildings were completed in the year 2000.

Coquitlam, BC

A complete sound system was designed for this new multifunction performing arts complex. The system is completely portable to allow for changes in the venue, or performances outside the venue. Electrovoice Delta Max Speaker systems, Ashly amplifiers and processing and a Soundcraft console are the central pieces of equipment in this system. A custom three zone program sound system and two channel Clearcom system are also part of this installation. A custom multi pair cable system allows the system to be moved to accommodate changing requirements.

Calgary, AB

Calgary's Olympic Oval received a new distributed multi-zone sound system when Allstar Show Industries was contracted for the equipment supply and installation. Allstar's installation team was challenged by a venue which was in constant use seven days a week, an existing, dated, but fully operational system and high ceilings.