MOORESTOWN, NJ –The Baldwin School, a prestigious independent all-girls school in Bryn Mawr, PA had big plans for their outdated gymnasium space. The school enlisted the award-winning architectural firm Voith & Mactavish Architects LLP for the design this vast transformation into the The Simpson Center for the Perfoming Arts. VMA enlisted Fisher Dachs Associates for designing the Lighting, Rigging, & Curtains systems, and sought out Marshall-KMK Acoustics for the Acoustic, Audio, & Video systems for this multi-purpose performance space.
More details from Starlite (www.starlite.com
Starlite Productions collaborated with each of the consultants to provide systems that gave immense flexibility to host a wide array of events such as musicals, concerts, lectures and theater performances. With only a six-month construction window, Starlite’s Integration department quickly mobilized its team, and completed each of the systems on time and on budget. The space was upgraded with a state-of-the-art video and projection systems, including an NEC 8,000 lumen LASER projector, a Draper Paragon 132”x211” screen and Crestron distribution and control.
The client also wanted attendees in the lobby of the Simpson Center and in their Skye Room to be able to view performances as they were happening live. To do that, Starlite installed two 65” Sony Bravia screens in the lobby area, a Sony BRC z700 camera to be used with the Vaddio Quick-Connect CCU, ProductionVIEW controllers and an AV Bridge as well as a NEC preview monitor.
Prior to this upgrade, the school had previously held small-scale productions in various hallways or open-spaces throughout the school. Now the new space boasts a 45’x45’ pipe grid from which to hang lights, scenery and drapery, sound reinforcement, distributed audio/video, video projection, acoustical curtains and track systems, performance space house lighting and of course, theatrical lighting.
Audio components of the new space consisted of Soundcraft’s Performer 2, Mini Stagebox 32, Compact Stagebox and for DSP the BSS BLU-806. The speaker and amplification was a combination of JBL speakers, subwoofers and distributed speakers paired with Crown DCi amplifiers for enhanced performance sound quality.
Lastly, the crew installed ADC curtain tracks with Curtains, Cyclorama and Scrim. Then they gave the performance space the ultimate upgrade with ETC lighting and dimming system which included (30) ETC Source4 LED Series 2 Lustr and (20) ETC Selador Desire D40 Lustr+ fixtures.
However, this project didn’t come without it’s obstacles. “One of the biggest challenges with jobs of this size which have accelerated timelines is the communication and coordination required between all the different trades and parties involved.” Said Project Supervisor, Christopher Lugo. But, after working through all the hurdles and tight deadlines on this project, “seeing the excitement on the client’s face when they are able to showcase their new technology made it all worthwhile.” adds Lugo, “It’s the reason why I do what I do.”
