Civic Center Audio Control System Installation
The Peoria Civic Center revitalization project added 110,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space plus 27,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting space to create a state-of-the-art cultural venue. Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) managed the installation, and integration of all audio and control system designs, along with expanding security and fire alarm systems into the new areas.
Integration Magic
The new audio reinforcement systems provide paging, background music, speech, and presentation capabilities. Along with the new audio systems, the existing A, B, and C halls received audio upgrades. The meeting rooms have the latest JBL high output coaxial speakers. The multifunction area alone has eighty-eight speakers for superb fidelity. The new exhibit halls use a series of community loudspeakers. The Great Hall speaker manufactured by Duran Audio has the latest innovation in steerable line array technology. Utilizing this technology allows for maximum audio intelligibility in an acoustically difficult space.
Audio Reinforcement Systems
One of the interesting aspects of the Civic Center project is the integration of speakers and lighting to ultimately be controlled by a few buttons on a touch screen interface.
This project was one of the first large-scale implementations of SoundWeb London processors with Crestron control systems. The Crestron system allows for programming to a touch panel interface for easy, intuitive user interaction. SoundWeb London provides a combination of 16 digital signal processors (DSP) and 30 Crown programmable input processor (PIP) modules that integrate via the Cobra net, which are all controlled and monitored by the Crestron control system.
The end-user can configure multiple meeting room combinations by using a remote touch panel interface. Touch panels are also in each room for individual user audio and lighting adjustments. All areas of the Civic Center, with the exception of the theatre, can be combined for maximum flexibility of sound and lighting.