Newcastle University’s Stephenson Building has been enhanced with a Renkus-Heinz audio system, elevating the sound experience at one off the university’s most cutting-edge buildings.
Designed to support engineering and science disciplines, the Stephenson Building features a multi-level atrium with an open space for presentations, collaborative learning, and events. Recognising the challenge of achieving a consistent and intelligible audio experience throughout the reverberant space, the University partnered with CUK Group to provide a custom Renkus-Heinz PA system.
The team at Newcastle University, led by AV manager Colin Fahay, identified four zones within the atrium that required coverage. Three zones were designated as priorities due to their proximity to the facility’s presentation areas, while the fourth zone was considered non-essential. The team began with a detailed acoustic analysis of the space, creating an EASE report with Renkus-Heinz to guide the selection and placement of key equipment.
Two IC Live Gen5 series ICL-F-RD loudspeakers were positioned left and right of the videowall to cover the stepped seating area, as well as the under-balcony social learning space on the second floor, and the top-tier social learning areas.
Two ICC24/3-RD Iconyx Compact series steerable loudspeakers were mounted in the main social learning area to ensure coverage across all three fours, using Renkus-Heinz’s beamsteering technology to direct sound where it was needed, minimising reflections.
Fahay commented: “The installed audio solution has exceeded our expectations. It provides clear coverage and intelligibility to all four zones, enabling the audio system to be utilized from any presentation position, not just the designated areas initially identified.”