A Genelec loudspeaker system has transformed the members-only Long Room at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in the UK, adding flexibility for hosting a wide range of events.
RH Consulting and RG Jones designed and installed the system supplied by UK distributor Audiologic in the opulent space housed within the ground’s Grade II listed Pavilion.
The Long Room frequently hosts dinners, lunches and wedding receptions and on match days hosts members and acts as a walkway for players heading on to the pitch from their dressing rooms.
With events ranging from lunches and dinners to jazz performances, small conferences and speeches, the audio system had to adapt to changing requirements.
Roland Hemming, project manager at RH Consulting, said: "Prior to the Genelec system, Lord’s was using a combination of in-house and temporary systems, which was very disruptive."
"The Pavilion at Lord’s is a listed building so aesthetics were very important. We were also restricted on where we physically positioned the loudspeakers," added Richard Northwood, design consultant at RH Consulting. "It’s a really busy room, so the audio solution we installed had to ensure everyone could be heard."
Lord’s wanted a system for The Long Room that was able to play high-quality music, but it also had to serve as part of the evacuation system. The system includes redundancy; so that should part of the system fail, the rest carries on. Genelec’s Smart IP loudspeakers are driven individually – offering a high degree of redundancy. The system uses 12 Genelec 4430A Smart IP models in a custom RAL9001 cream colour.
Hemming said: "Another advantage of using this series is that the loudspeakers are run and controlled on a single CAT cable. We were able to cable the system from the basement, which meant that there was little disruption caused."
The loudspeakers are controlled by Genelec’s Smart IP Manager software. RG Jones also installed six 7040A active subwoofers. The Lord’s Estates’ department extended the room’s radiator covers so that these are invisible.
The new Genelec system can be controlled via a touchscreen on the wall, but The Long Room is also equipped with a couple of mobile mixing consoles that can be plugged in – giving the room the flexibility required for bigger events.
Northwood noted: "The sound in The Long Room has gone from being an afterthought, to one of the stand-out features of the Pavilion."