DOX+ Multifunctional Hall

ACOUSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THEATER, MUSIC AND FILM

The new bulding complex was completed in Holešovice, Prague. It expands the DOX Center for Contemporary Art exhibition spaces with other artistic fields, such as theater or cinema.

We have designed and integrated an equipment consisting of AV technology and theater technology in a multifunctional hall with capacity from 450 up to 700 people. Its target is to offer the widest range of possible uses. That project was our second collaboration with DOX, after the one called Airship Gulliver.

What did we have to solve?

AV technology — hall sound systems for various productions and equipment of the projection room.
Scenic lighting — lighting console, dimmer units and scenic lights.
Theater technology — a main curtain, decorative drapes, a backdrop, mobile rostrum halfpaces, lifting stage platform and lookout bridge.
Variable room acoustics — ceiling rotating acoustic panels, their sides have tiles with various acoustic properties.
Elevated mobile auditorium — a telescopic tribune with electric opening and closing controls and a capacity of 232 seats on tilting chairs.

It goes without saying that we design all the equipment and implement it, including anchoring, cabling and then training the operating stuff.

How did we reach the most variable use of the hall?

Thanks to the ceiling rotating panels, the hall has now variable acoustics which can be adjusted to the type of event.
We have designed two electroacoustic sound systems, one for cinema and the other for events (conferences, concerts, etc.).
The mobile auditorium allows to free up space for non-elevated social events.

Technical Specification

Projection Room

On an atypical stand, there is a 3LCD laser projector Epson EB-L25000U with 25,000 ANSI lumens brightness. The image is projected on a 11 meters wide MW Maxxscreen Giant motorized screen with mini-perforation.

The projector is connected to a media server to ensure projection from a standard distribution network. Oppo UDP-205 Blu-ray player is also available.

Sound Control Room

The entire distribution system and operating of the new Yamaha QL5 digital mixing console is based on the topology of the interconnection of all elements in the system using redundant optical and metalic wiring.

For distribution, we have designed Dante digital distribution protocol using the benefits of classical data cabling. The conversion to the Dante audio distribution protocol is carried out by Yahama RiO1608-D stageboxes.

The rack is also equipped with a Yamaha MRX7-D digital signal processor, Shure ULDXD4Q quad channel digital wireless receiver and Tascam SS-CDR250N networkable solid-state/CD audio recorder. For recording and editing, there is installed a Dell PowerEdge R7910 rack server.

Sound System

The main sound system of the hall is a two-way modular line source system consisting of 6 L-Acoustics KIVA II modules on each side of the hall. Subbass system consists of two high-powered compact L-Acoustics SB18 subwoofers on each side.

Sound for the cinema arrangement is provided by mobile three-way speakers and subbass speakers which are placed behind the screen. There are installed effect speakers on the side and on the back walls.

L-Acoustics LA12X amplifiers for the main sound system and Bose PowerMatch PM8500N and PM8250N for cinema speakers are located inside the rack in the projection room.

Scenic Lighting

For lighting control, we installed MA Lighting grandMA2 ultra-light lightning console which allows up to 4,096 parameters and a remote control via Wi-Fi.

For the greatest variability of the hall, there are several types of scenic lights available – profile spotlights 750 W, theater spotlights 1000 W and 2000 W, pinspots 1000 W, LED pinspots, stage theater symmetrical and asymmetrical spotlights 1000 W, movable effect LED spotlights, tracking spotlight and haze machine.

Scenic Technology of the Hall

To create a theater environment, the stage part of the hall is equipped with electromechanically opened and lifted curtain. Decorative drapes are located between the main curtain and the opened backdrop.

Electromechanical pull unit is located under the ceiling and. The pull unit consists of a frame, on which, there is a rope drum mounted in the transmission which is powered by electric motor. Electric motor is equipped with a double safety brake in silent design and with manual release levers. A spindle limit switch is used for micro ride before reaching the end position for monitoring the end and emergency positions.

Variable Acoustics

In order to have variable acoustics in the hall, the ceiling has 24 rotary panels with three sides – reflective, absorptive and difussive sides. Panels are anchored to the steel construction by self-tapping screws and their rotation is made by electromechanical drives. There is one drive for every two panels.

Acoustic panels have a shape of a triangular prism and they are made of steel. On both ends of the steel construction, there is a bearing shaft that is attached to the consoles hanged from the ceiling. The drive is anchored similarly, it consists of a worm gearbox with an electric motor and a output pulley which rotates two acoustic panels by using belts.