2020 Gdynia
Established in cooperation with the Gdynia Cultural Centre and the City of Gdynia, the Culture Consulate has been a prominent feature on the cultural map of the Tri-City since its opening in 2018. With a wide array of events organised there – from theatre performances and film screenings to lectures and meetings with famous people – it provides entertainment for everybody, from children to senior members of the audience. Located in the building of the former Swedish Sailor’s House, it combines history with modernity, drawing the best from both. Among the things that add a modern touch to the venue, is our multimedia system, which helps instil the love of culture in visitors in an accessible and attractive way.
The historic Swedish Sailor’s House is a listed building so it had to be renovated in such a way as to preserve the historical character of the rooms. Another important aspect to keep in mind was the strength of the structure of the building dating back to 1936, which is not adapted to the weight of the modern day devices. Creating a system that would meet all the functional requirements for this type of facility, while taking into account architectural conditions and limitations, was a task that called for our expert knowledge and experience.
The Culture Consulate project involved a comprehensive approach and the creation of a complete stage system, covering both audiovisual equipment and related installations. We tackled this challenge by inviting partners from sectors such as stage mechanics, acoustic adaptation and effect lighting. We worked together with them to create a coherent solution that satisfied the highest standards.
The heart of the Culture Consulate is a multifunctional room that can seat up to 250 people. All the most important events are staged there, including theatre productions, concerts, film screenings and conferences, are staged there. Created as a universal and flexible space, it is easily configurable to accommodate any type of event.
Image is displayed in the room by means of the Sony laser projector with short focus optics. The use of a laser light source significantly reduces the operating costs of the projection system, ensuring its long, trouble-free and maintenance-free operation. The 440×275 cm motorised screen, installed above the stage and hidden in a discreet cassette when the system is inactive, ensures a clear image even for viewers from the far end of the room. With tensioners in place, the projection surface is perfectly smooth.
The wall-mounted connection units on the stage, AV sources at the operator’s position and the Crestron Airmedia wireless presentation system ensure flexible connectivity without interfering with the aesthetics of the room. An additional source of the signal is the Vaddio rotating PTZ camera, which records the events taking place in the room. With the Extron recording and streaming equipment, image can be sent from the camera to other displays. It can also be saved for post-production purposes.
Audio and video signals are transmitted within the room using a twisted pair cable – in the Crestron Digital Media and Dante standard, respectively. This allows the signals to be sent over long distances without delays or loss of quality.
In the multifunctional room, we used a concert sound system based on L-Acoustics and Electro-Voice speaker sets. The system consists of fixed and mobile devices used only for more demanding events. The audio console included in the system ensures full control over sound parameters. The system is complete with microphone sets – wireless microphones for the conference function as well as wired vocal and instrumental microphones.
As a public building, the Culture Consulate must be adapted to people with disabilities. By means of an induction loop, tThe sound system is also friendly for people with hearing impairment thanks to an induction loop – the sound is transmitted directly to their hearing aids. This helps eliminate potential signal distortions, and sound parameters are individually adjusted to the impairment of every person present in the room.
To increase the acoustic comfort in the room, we used acoustic adaptation features: Ecophon boards and panels.
Such a versatile room just could not do without stage mechanics. Lighting bridges installed within the upper mechanics can be used to mount effect lighting elements, while decorative battens will hold decorations, advertising banners, background features and stage curtains. The lower stage mechanics elements include mobile stage platforms, which, depending on the configuration, can become a grandstand or stage.
We integrated all the systems in the multifunctional room into one control system. Its interfaces are two 10” wireless touch panels – for the event facilitator and for the technical staff, as well as one wired panel. All panels have an ergonomic graphic application with a clear button layout that afford enable easy and full control over AV devices.
In addition to the multifunctional room, the Culture Consulate has a Digital Signage system consisting of a network of large-format Sony screens. In addition to displaying advertising and educational materials, combined with the intercom system, it also creates a simplified system for viewing stage action for artists preparing in the dressing room.
The extension of the Digital Signage system is tTwo multimedia touch kiosks with an application affording ashowing a three-dimensional view of the model of the Consulate building, are an extension of the Digital Signage system.
In addition, we have equipped two small meeting rooms with AV systems. We installed there a simple system based on a 65” large-format monitor in each room, with a wireless and wired display capability using a tabletop connection unit. Room screens can also display materials from the Digital Signage system.
Nowadays, technological innovations are increasingly often the main form of entertainment, especially amongst children and young people. However, those innovations do not necessarily have to be the enemies of “analogue” forms of spending time. On the contrary – they can add value to them. It was exactly our task at the Gdynia Culture Consulate: to create a multimedia system that would be innovative and functional, but serving just as a background or a platform, that would enhance rather than outshine, the artistic values of events. And the unquestionable proof of our success is the satisfaction on the faces of employees and numerous guests of the Consulate.