A world-class upgrade: the Bramall’s 500k investment
The stunning Elgar Concert Hall stages the University’s biggest celebrations, dazzling concerts and phenomenal performances. With its impressive wooden panelling and state-of-the-art acoustics, it’s an incredibly flexible space.
Now the hall has had a half-million pound investment tech upgrade, bringing its sound and lighting up to a world-class standard – and the University has given a five-year commitment to high- level upgrades at its flagship venue.
Our Live Events Manager, Richard Mitton is thrilled with the new investment. “This makes the Elgar Concert Hall a world-class venue. At a time when there are cuts to art organisations in Birmingham, it’s a real show of faith in what we already do.”
Technology across the board has been upgraded as follows:
Lighting
A new high-efficiency LED lighting system installed with ETC and Chauvet Professional fixtures has replaced the outdated lighting and uses less than a quarter of power in comparison to the legacy incandescent system.
- It gives the flexibility and freedom to play around with colour. It can be tailored to branding and event colour schemes
- New LED lights which highlight and focus on specific areas of the stage or auditorium give a new ability to create atmosphere and mood, as well as having the ability to project custom gobos for event branding
- Additional moving lights have been added for dynamic effects
- Want to create a “catwalk” outside the Great Hall? Looking to accentuate an area within a lecture theatre? We’ve purchased new tube fixtures which create dynamic visual effects and can be moved to different venues.
- Our Events team will be able to control the house lighting via an iPad, enhancing our events delivery
Sound
- The sound system has been upgraded to industry leading manufacture D&B Audiotechnik, giving audience members an immersive, high quality audio experience, wherever they sit in the concert hall
- The sound console has been upgraded to Yamaha DM7 which enables far greater input capacity and flexibility for complex productions
- Upgraded to eight-way Shure Axient radio mic system for clear and reliable wireless presentations. It allows additional channels to be easily added if required for larger events
Audio Visual
- Upgraded main projector making picture quality sharper and brighter
- A 4-way remote camera system has been installed, enabling dynamic and engaging livestreaming and recording of events.
- The camera system has fully independent outputs for housing and streaming options, enabling content to be tailored to both in person and remote audiences, as well as facilitating features like live BSL interpreters.
Silent seminars
We can now host silent seminars – where delegates can meet in a single venue and use headsets to tune into one of six presentations happening onstage simultaneously. We’ve purchased 600 interactive headsets and look forward to using this new technology. Silent seminars help clients reduce costs, and provide a more dynamic and accessible experience. They can be used to support exhibits, keynote presentations, conference breakout spaces and more.
A sustainable upgrade
The contract was won by Southby Productions and 22 Live, industry respected pro-audio providers. Both were vetted for their sustainable practices as part of the decision to bring them onboard. Each company was expected to provide evidence of carrying out sustainable practices during both delivery and the installation – examples include all new equipment arriving as single deliveries; all packaging removed from site for recycling, and there was also an agreement that all crew members had to stay onsite at the Edgbaston Park Hotel to reduce carbon mileage.
It is an exciting journey for the team and the latest kit has already begun to impress.
If you’re interested in hosting your event at the Bramall, get in the touch.
