NEWS

music orchestra

Upcoming: Liverpool High School

Upcoming => Liverpool High School in Syracuse, New York will be AVL Designs Inc.’s first application of Yamaha’s AFC4 electronic acoustic immersive audio system.

As in previous versions, the AFC4 gives the ability to change the apparent room acoustics to simulate a multitude of rooms, such as an opera hall, though in actuality you are in a much smaller room.  

The design project will include their auditorium plus their orchestra / choral & band rehearsal rooms. 

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Reilly Center basketball arena St Bonaventure U

Coming Soon: St. Bonaventure Reilly Center Completion

We are excited to announce that the St. Bonaventure University field house sound system project is nearing completion.  August is the goal. 

St. Bonaventure "Bonnies" basketball game in action.

AVL Designs Inc. was hired to design the new audio system. Installation of the system has been awarded to the Edward Simon & Company* of Pittsburg, PA. 

*You may recall that they were the company who carried out the lightning-speed installation of our sound system design for the  ice arena at the Adirondack Bank Center [home of the Utica Comets NHL team] They did an amazing job!

 More about that extraordinary feat:  Adirondack Bank Center Utica Memorial Ice Arena

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St Bonaventure U

St. Bonaventure University Project Begins

St. Bonaventure University, located in St. Bonaventure, New York, is the site of one of our latest projects, the design of the Reilly Center sports arena’s new sound system.

Aerial view of St. Bonaventure University

St. Bonaventure, a member of the NCAA Atlantic 10 Conference,  is famous for their excellent basketball program.  Built in 1966, the Reilly Center is the third largest basketball arena in Western New York State, with a seating capacity of 5,480.

AVL Designs Inc. has been on site for our preliminary assessment of the facility [“before” depicted here] and plans are now underway. Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses.

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Copyright 2021+ AVL DESIGNS INC.

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Williamsville SOUTH HS after

Williamsville Central School District Reno’s In Review

Early in 2019, Williamsville Central School District issued a request for proposal for renovations in 7 of their schools.

These renovations were to include:

  • auditoriums
  • new large rehearsal spaces added for orchestra, band and choral programs
  • renovation of smaller rehearsal spaces
  • new sound systems for all the auditoriums
  • new sound systems for all of the rehearsal spaces and
  • replacement of stage rigging at four of the schools

AVL has been contracted by Kideney Architects as the acoustical, sound, and stage rigging consultants for each project. The construction phase will be an ongoing process for many months to come.

As various spaces approach completion, we will be posting images of the progress of the projects in the Williamsville schools. We hope you will come back on occasion for updates!

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OVERVIEW:    The overall venture encompasses 7 auditoriums, 9 large rehearsal spaces (band, choral, orchestra), 12 medium rehearsal spaces and multiple individual practice spaces, as well as sound systems in all 7 auditoriums and stage rigging at 4 of the schools.

One of the key elements performed early-on was a field evaluation of all existing spaces.  This included measurements of reverberation, echo, clarity and other acoustical metrics. We also assessed each sound system in all of the auditoriums, providing Williamsville with the assessment of these spaces. 

We then held extensive meetings with the music department staffs at each school to get their input on how things sound, how the spaces currently perform and what they would like to see corrected. 

The new rehearsal spaces were to be designed to have a high level of performance. With that in mind, we needed to develop a baseline for what the district thought was a good sounding, large rehearsal space. As a premise for this, we asked them if they had ever been to  Fredonia College’s Mason Hall, each of which we at AVL Designs Inc. designed a number of years ago.  All of them had performed in that space and they all agreed that Mason Hall was what they considered to be a great sounding space.

So, we utilized the basic acoustical characteristics of that room as the basis for the new rehearsal spaces adjusted for cubic volume and for the specific uses.  Smaller spaces cannot sustain the reverb time of the larger spaces, but they can have similar frequency balance. We are approximating that reverberation characteristic and overhead diffusion on a smaller scale. 

As each area nears completion, we will be updating this post with added photos. The reports that we have been getting back from the district about the ones that they are already using are great!  And there will be more to come as we continue with this large-scale project, closing out over the next 12 months.

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practice room Williamsville Heim MS

Williamsville Central School District

Williamsville Central School District in upstate New York has extensive music programs at all seven of its middle and high schools. A district-wide renovation is underway with varying scopes at each school.

East High School auditorium after renovations.

Williamsville’s East High School Auditorium

AVL Designs Inc. has been contracted for acoustical design, audio, AV, stage rigging and curtains for each school.

Music classrooms are being renovated and many new, large rehearsal spaces are being built.  AVL tested existing schools and, based on meetings with their music teachers, developed preferred conditions.  

Auditoriums are being renovated to varying degrees. Acoustic improvements and sound system enhancements are being rendered for all of the auditoriums. Some are even getting new stage shells and stage rigging.

Williamsville's Heim Middle School music room with cellos in storage.

Williamsville’s Heim Middle School

As various parts of the work come to completion, we will post details and pictures of the work in progress.

Williamsville's South High School auditorium. after redo

Williamsville’s South High School Auditorium

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Central Square High School Auditorium redo

Central Square High School

Central Square High School, located in Central Square, New York City, contracted King & King Architects to head up the renovation of their auditorium. AVL Designs Inc. was hired by King & King to assess the performance systems and design a new system for the school.

Audio and acoustics were the top need for the district. The school has a wide-ranging music and theatrical program, and the space is used for many events each year.

First: Fix the Acoustics

AVL Designs Inc. dealt with the acoustics first, as many acoustic concerts are held in the room. So, in the design, the side walls are canted in segments to provide lateral energy distribution into the seating area. Overhead clouds are curved, to provide a measure of diffusion to overhead reflections. The under-balcony ceiling has diffusive elements, as well, and the rear wall is absorptive to minimize echoes to the stage.

Next: Audio and Lighting

The main sound is built around Danley Sound Labs’ audio main speakers, chosen for their fidelity, pattern control, and frequency range. Drive electronics and amplification are provided by Ashly audio products, and the man house console is an Allen and Heat SQ7. An Ashly Audio NE 800MM is used as a day to day automixer, fully automating small functions. Wireless microphones were selected from Shure using the QLX D series.

The AV system includes a Crestron control system, 298” Diagonal 16:9 screen, and Christie DHD Series projector. Two touchscreens allow control of the video system as well as audio selection between automated and manual controls.

The lighting system is a hybrid using both incandescent dimming and LED fixtures. ETC Source Four, Color Source, Fresnel, and Philips SL bar and Punch Light fixtures were used in the design. The dimming and control are Strand with a Strand Neo Console.

Due to COVID-19, the system has not seen much use, as of yet, but the performance use in the future looks bright.

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Copyright AVL Designs Inc. 2021+

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