FROM CHURCH TO PERFORMANCE VENUE – ARRoCC AT BALKISSOON THEATER

Requirement

Situated at the heart of the Amsterdam-Oost district, the 600-capacity Balkissoon Theater was created as part of the transformation of the former Christus Koningkerk church into a hotel complex by entrepreneur Lenny Balkissoon.

The ambition for Balkissoon Theater is to offer a multifunctional space where young people
from the area can perform, while also serving as a corporate events and conference venue. As befits its previous role as a house of worship, the space has lively acoustics that are beautiful for vocals but present challenges for amplified sound. Hotel rooms are situated close above and adjacent to the theater space.

Key requirements for the audio solution included:

  • Even audio coverage for every seat in the auditorium.
  • Flexibility to accommodate a diverse events program.
  • Ease of operation for volunteers and guest technicians.
  • Minimal sound transfer to nearby hotel rooms.
Audiofocus ARRoCC CC210N and CC210W loudspeakers plus 118SG subwoofers and Isolde AP108ix fills installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus ARRoCC CC210N and CC210W loudspeakers plus 118SG subwoofers and Isolde AP108ix fills installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost where an AUDIOFOCUS ARRoCC loudspeaker system has been installed
Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost where an AUDIOFOCUS ARRoCC loudspeaker system has been installed
Audiofocus ARRoCC CC210N and CC210W loudspeakers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus ARRoCC CC210N and CC210W loudspeakers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus Isolde AP108ix point source delay speakers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus Isolde AP108ix point source delay speakers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus A3004 and A704 SCiO amplifiers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Audiofocus A3004 and A704 SCiO amplifiers installed at Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost by Audio Acoustics
Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost where an AUDIOFOCUS ARRoCC loudspeaker system has been installed
Balkissoon Theater in Amsterdam Oost where an AUDIOFOCUS ARRoCC loudspeaker system has been installed

Solution

Lenny Balkissoon appointed Audio Acoustics to design, supply and install a high-quality audio and control system for the theater. Audio Acoustics opted for loudspeakers from the Audiofocus portfolio to meet the project’s requirements. The company also integrated its own TCU (Total Control Unit) system to provide unified, intuitive control over all aspects of audio, video, projection, and lighting. Presets allow the space to be reconfigured for theater performances, conferences, or film screenings with a single press of a touchscreen or wall panel.

The solution included:

  • 4 x ARRoCC 2X10” constant curvature loudspeakers, with the left and right arrays each comprising one CC210Nx (narrow) and one CC210Wx (wide) cabinet to achieve the desired coverage.
  • 4 x 118SG ground stacked 18” subwoofer (two per side).
  • 6 x Isolde AP108ix eight-inch point source cabinets serving as fills and delay speakers.
  • 2 x A 3004 SCiO 4x3000W amplifiers with DSP driving the ARRoCC and 118S speakers.
  • 2 x A 704 SCiO 4x700W amplifiers with DSP driving the Isolde AP108ix speakers.
  • TCU control system

Photos: Jorrit Lousberg

“For this project it was important to tailor the audio system to work with the natural acoustics of the venue, not fight with them. The ARRoCC series gave us the flexibility to devise a compact speaker setup that perfectly matches the room’s geometry. Using the amplifiers’ onboard DSP we individually tuned each loudspeaker to the acoustic requirements of its exact position in the auditorium, creating a controlled, clear, and powerful sound image. We were also able to deliver the desired even coverage from the front row to the back of the hall, without excessive reflections or unwanted low-frequency build-up.”
Sjoerd Wierda, Sales Engineer, Audio Acoustics