A Multi Purpose Solution
A common issue within Australian schools occurs when the need arises for both an indoor sporting complex and a performance space. Due to issues such as budget and location constraints, many schools often must choose one over the other; with the sporting complex usually winning out. However, when Mount St. Josephs Girls School in Altona West decided to create a dual-purpose venue, they genuinely wanted it to have the best of both worlds.
The brand new space was designed by architects Henderson & Lodge with the intention of being able to facilitate a full scale theatrical production, as well as inter-school basketball games and PE classes. The numerous schools and builders in the past who have attempted to create an all-purpose hall, would be aware of the difficulties of creating a space equally compatible for both intended uses. For this reason, experts where called in.
Maciek Turski from Connor, Pincus & Saunders – the Electrical and Consulting Engineers for the project – worked with Lightmoves to Design, Supply, Install and Commission all the lighting and audio/visual infrastructure for the project. With some relatively tight budget restrictions to take into consideration, Lightmoves developed a package that was heavily weighted towards a solid permanent infrastructure, allowing the school to hire equipment such as luminaires and a lighting desk when a production took place.
Lightmoves produced detailed plans including block diagrams for cabling and patching for use by onsite electricians Kavanagh Electrics, which also included the detailed infrastructure package for sound and lighting. Lightmoves supplied and installed Circuit Tube, a Patch Panel, LSC iPRO dimmers and a single DMX universe for the lighting, plus an audio rack, Crown XS500 amplifier and JBL speakers for the sound. A mezzanine level to the side of the stadium, acts as a Lighting and Sound control area and is wired with all the required DMX and audio cables. Principal for the school, Regina Byrne, is very pleased with the flexibility of the new space, “It is perfect for both sport and performance. Having the mezzanine level hooked up as a lighting and sound booth for assembly and performance, and then to be used as a fitness area during class, is great. We are getting maximum usage out of the space.”
Creating infrastructure that was capable of withstanding the rigours of a high school PE class, was also a high priority for Lightmoves. Great care was taken to position the lighting bars in an appropriate position, so that they were not only effective for performance use, but also unobtrusive onto the basketball court and protected from wayward sporting accessories. “The lighting structures don’t inhibit the PE class in any way; we have had no problems at all with the infrastructure standing up to the PE class” states Regina.
With the dual purpose venue now up and operational, and the infrastructure handling the impact of various sports taking place around it, the venue has proven to be a great success. This project not only highlights the potential that any school can have in their current sporting hall, but also highlights Lightmoves ability to tailor a theatrical solution to any sized project; even with budget restrictions.
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