French AV integrator Groupe Novelty played a central role in the rebirth of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral following a devastating fire in 2019.
The Cathedral was engulfed in flames on 15th April 2019 in a raging fire that destroyed its famous spire and roof, causing significant damage to the cathedral’s altar, pipe organs, 13th-century rose windows and religious relics. The cathedral finally reopened on 7th December 2024 in a restoration that is considered by some to be one of the most ambitious and extensive house of worship reconstruction projects in modern history.
Novelty Paris took on the role of lead integrator for the job, seeking support from its sister company De Préférence for fine-tuning and acoustic optimisation, with the wider Groupe Novelty companies undertaking the challenge of equipping the historic cathedral with fully integrated audiovisual infrastructure.
The project incorporated a sound system installation, live audio recording and video delivery, as well as remote video production capabilities for KTO, the French language Catholic television channel to broadcast the reopening and subsequent religious services.
Novelty Paris requested from the onset an increased capacity for optic fibre to be used in the cabling infrastructure, with a full-fibre infrastructure deployed throughout the cathedral which allows management for technicians and external service providers.
A dual spine-leaf network topology supports both audio and visual workflows and utilises industry-standard protocols such as Milan-AVB, Dante and NDI for low-latency transmission.
Custom and non-invasive mounting systems were needed to preserve the remains of the original cathedral, presenting a unique position for the integrator due to the restrictions imposed by the architecture. Speaker placement was optimised using altimetry, angling and rotation, using discreet locksmithing to support 128 colour-matched L-Acoustics speakers, with KIVA in the main area and above the choir stalls.
A combination of two-way passive 5-in SYVA and 3.5-in SOKA column speakers were coupled with two-way passive 5XT and X4i boxes.
The sound distribution is amplified by six 19-in racks situated in the grandstands, with an additional rack located in a chapel on the ground floor dedicated to the technical room.
LA-2Xi and LA7-16i models were used for their channel density and native Milan-AVB compatibility, with DiGiCo mic preamps installed in the grandstand racks to relay audio ambiences and organs, as well as inside the two credenzas at the choir for all stage mics. 20 Schoeps CCM4s were used, with a Sennheiser MEB-114 SW at the altar.
This project saw the first deployment of Sennheiser’s Spectera, offering simplified management of microphones, IEM/IFB signals and control data on a single RF canal, allowing for space optimisation at a reduced installation time.
On the broadcast side, eight Panasonic AW-UE150 cameras were supplied, with three extra cameras for content feedback and onsite streaming. A Panasonic 4K AV-UHS500 live switcher was used with a Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K switcher for remote live production, chosen to enhance and feed the live stream to KTO’s HQ situation on the outskirts of Paris.
Ten 43-in NEC screens were installed behind pillars throughout the nave to allow guests to follow the ceremony in real time.
With the renovation completed, Groupe Novelty was also tasked with delivering the AV complement for the grand reopening of the cathedral, attended by global dignitaries and broadcast around the world.
This setup included projection mapping on the cathedral’s façade, power distribution, lighting, broadcast and staging with a 1,400 sq. m marquee in the square facing the cathedral.
Jacques de La Guillonnière, founding president, Groupe Novelty, said: “We are especially proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to the rebirth of Notre-Dame de Paris. This project, with its immense scope, ranks among the most prestigious we have had the privilege to deliver. It stands as a remarkable demonstration of the complementarity between our companies and the synergy within the group, drawing on individual areas of expertise to successfully carry out a project of such complexity.”
Main photo credit: Hugues de Beauschesne