State University of New York at Cobleskill

AVL Designs Inc. recently completed a multi-faceted project at the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

The project consisted of a renovation of a lecture hall and a gymnasium field house. The lecture hall space is now being used for more multipurpose events including music, standup comedy, small theater presentations and video conferencing.

AVL Designs Inc. was contracted by the architect to provide acoustic design, audio system design, stage rigging, curtains, lighting and controls as well as video presentation capabilities for their new lecture hall.

Before and after photos show you the extent of the renovation, which was substantial. In essence, it was a “full gut” of the space.

The gymnasium/field house had two issues. One was extremely live acoustics making the room unsuitable for many uses. Graduation and other events are performed in the gymnasium and the sound quality was quite poor. The primary reasons for this were twofold. One contributing factor was the acoustical condition of the room and the other was the sound system itself.

The old system suffered from poor intelligibility due to comb filtering. This was a result of a poor design not poor devices. The new design includes Danley loud speakers which are used for both bleachers and general court area audio. A fully distributed system over the court is used for events such as graduation. Acoustical treatment has been added throughout the gymnasium to reduce reverberation time and to minimize first reflection energy from the sound system.

Both spaces were ready for use early this year and have been well received by the clients and their guests.

Broadcast studio - University at Albany [NY]

University At Albany PDP Studios

The Professional Development Program, part of Rockefeller College at the University at Albany, supports and enhances the public policy mission of the State of NY through training, research, and evaluation studies. PDP operates a video studio that creates content to support PDP’s goals and activities.

The prior studio was located off campus in a business office building. Recently the Campus decided to relocate the studios to the U Albany campus, and move it adjacent to U Albany’s media facilities studios. PDP typically serves over 25,000 participants through approximately 3,500 instructional activities on an annual basis. This relocation involved total renovation of some aged existing studios in the U Albany subbasement.

The architect Hyman Hayes Associates contracted AVL Designs Inc. to provide acoustical, audio, video, lighting, and rigging design for the new studios.

SUNY Albany studios video shoot #broadcasting

There are two primary studios each with multiple shooting areas. A combination of ground cycs, green screens, curtain backdrops and photo backdrops support the ability to move a variety of projects through each space daily.

The primary PDP space has five 1080 P broadcast cameras and a tracked lighting grid, making the space very flexible. A white corner cyc, green screen, and curtains provide multiple looks for programs they create. A cloud based on line broadcast system (LTN Global) allows content to be directly aired on major new networks when required.

University at Albany media is next door to PDP with somewhat different tasking. Media is primarily for on campus needs for video, interviews, still photography, and also has an LTN global link to connect to network. Media is a 4K studio.

Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium

Adirondack Bank Center Utica Memorial Center ice rink

Utica Memorial Auditorium (Adirondack Bank Center) is a unique venue and a registered historical landmark. The 5700 seat hockey arena is the home of the Utica Comets. In recent years, the venue has had many upgrades to the building, lighting, video and scoreboard systems. An audio upgrade was also done in 2012, but the results were not satisfactory for the owner.

After numerous attempts to improve the system with tuning and other adjustments, AVL Designs Inc. was contracted [June of 2018] to do an assessment of the system.

While none of the specific equipment was inherently substandard in quality, the implementation was another matter. Intelligibly was poor throughout the seating area. In the room environment (7 seconds reverberation) the speakers were just too far from seating for their acoustic capabilities. The system was under-powered and lacked user interfaces that allow tuning microphones to various voices etc…..

After an initial assessment, AVL Designs Inc. was hired at the end of July to design a new system, bid the system and get it installed in time for the first fall game of 2018, [October 5, 2018.] Not a simple task!

The design phase took four weeks. Site visits were made, testing done, and Lead Designer Geoff Nichols started in 3D CAD analysis software. During design, Danley loudspeakers were selected after an analysis of various options. Due to the tight time frame, Danley was contacted to verify their ability to meet this schedule. Danley made the unusual decision to start production of the products prior to the bid being awarded, fully aware that substitutes could occur and they might not ship these to this job. That decision is what ultimately allowed this to be a successful project that met the time line.

The project went out for bid on August 17 2018. A two week period was allowed for bid returns and the results were in – the low bidder was Edward Simon & Co. LLC of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They bid the project entirely to spec – no substitutions.

Utica Memorial ice arena

Project Completed With 3 Days To Spare!

Edward Simon & Co. LLC has a reputation for high quality, on-time delivery with extensive expertise in sound. This project was no exception. A crew of 5 hit the site in late-September and had the entire system operational in 10 days, three days before the first game!

The new system consists of 32 Danley loudspeakers, Danley Amplifiers, QSC Q sys DSP, Midas Console, Shure QLXD Wireless systems, and other support equipment. The system met all expectations and provided high intelligibility speech and impactful music to all 5700 seats.

Genesee Community College >> Richard C. Call Arena

Athletic complex at SUNY Genesee Community College

AVL Designs Inc. has just completed its design project for the New Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY.

AVL designed multiple audio systems for this new sports complex. The 4-faceted complex includes a field house, fitness center, exhibit space and an outdoor stadium with press box.

Their field house has many uses and required different audio systems to meet each specific need. The Genesee Community College field house hosts sporting events, conventions, LGI [large group instruction] seminars, fashion shows, concerts, social events such as dances, graduation ceremonies and more.

Each of the four field house audio systems orients the room differently for these functions.

X20 Xaviars on the Hudson

When you are in the architectural acoustical design business, as we are, much of your work cannot be SEEN but is HEARD. You cannot photograph it. You just have to be there.

We appreciated being part of the design team hired to make X20 Xaviars on the Hudson a dining experience worthy of the sumptuous food for which they are famous. From the amazing redo of an historic warehouse on the Hudson [Highland Associates, architects] to master chef Peter X. Kelly’s perfectly prepared cuisine, everything had to be “just-so.”

The X20 Xaviars On The Hudson Architectural Acoustical Design Project

Starting with an all glass exterior we knew it would be a challenge. Our acoustical skills were tasked to create just the right atmosphere for the diners to enjoy. Not loud, not strident, but pleasant even when busy. (*which it always is …….)

It’s done in stealthy ways using materials that are almost invisible to the decor.

About The Master Chef & Owner Peter X. Kelly

Xaviar’s master chef and owner of X20 Xaviars, Peter X. Kelly: Peter X. Kelly is known as “the man who brought sophisticated New American Cuisine to the Hudson Valley” Starting his restaurant career at the young age of 14 as a dish washer he moved on to a position as a banquet waiter while finishing high school. Those two experiences were the humble beginnings of Peter learning the ins and outs of the hospitality business. At age 23 was given the opportunity to take over a country club restaurant where, unexpectedly, a disagreement with the chef [over, of all things, how to make beer batter] resulted in the chef leaving and Peter stepping into that role! There is much more to this fascinating story. Find out how he became a chef among champions. You can read the whole amazing story here=> The Peter X. Kelly Story

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AVL’s part in this endeavor was to help acoustically design each room for the sound to be just as delightful as the stunning architecture and great food. Music and conversation were to be pleasant, not disruptive. Above all, nothing could be introduced that would interfere with the beautiful surroundings and great view. Our work had to be stealthy – invisible!

Mission accomplished! X20 Xaviars continues to be a top of the line dining experience – a perfect night on the town!

ETC Gives AVL Designer Stan Jordan A Super-Star Welcome!

Stan Jordan, AVL Designs’ expert stage rigging and lighting designer, was guest-of-honor at ETC’s (Electronic Theater Controls) Middleton, Wisconsin headquarters last month. ETC is a global leader in the manufacture of theatrical rigging and lighting control technology.

ETC’s Impressive Headquarters

Upon his arrival at ETC’s theatrically themed headquarters building, Stan was given a whirlwind tour of the center of operations and both of their pristine factories.

As you see in the photo (Stan is on the far right) their headquarters is designed to resemble a vintage theater marquee which was all set with their “Welcome” sign for AVL’s Stan Jordan!

Stan spent much of his time with their rigging and lighting experts getting updates on their many systems and, in his own words, “eating great food and lots of good cheese! It is the Cheesehead State, you know!”

While he was there, Stan met with key leaders, engineers plus research & development personnel at ETC to discuss current and soon-to-come trends pertaining to motorized rigging and lighting systems including system commissioning, life-safety concerns, programming and structural implications.

NEWS

Project Completed With 3 Days To Spare!

The X20 Xaviars On The Hudson Architectural Acoustical Design Project

About The Master Chef & Owner Peter X. Kelly

ETC’s Impressive Headquarters