McDowell Intermediate Middle School Auditorium

McDowell Intermediate Middle School in Erie, Pennsylvania had a large auditorium with relatively aged systems – a situation that we run into often. The fact is that this school needed better audio plus theatrical lighting. Their stage rigging had to be updated, as well, as there were potential safety hazards.

AVL Designs Inc. was contracted to design all the new systems for the auditorium.

 

 

AVL was tasked with replacing the controls, lighting, stage lighting, stage rigging, curtains, and we also designed a state-of-the-art sound system for them. The project included  a new control booth, as well.

 

 

The new sound system was to be a left-center-right blended cluster system, allowing them to mix stereo throughout the seating area with good rendering of the stereo imaging wherever they sit.  This is typically a seven-cluster system where there are three clusters in the middle and two on each side.

 

 

 

This type of configuration provides stereo coverage using a digital matrix to send signals to different parts of the system.  That way, even if you’re sitting on the extreme left side, and something is panned either during an event or prior to an event in terms of its location in the mix, all of the seats feel the same relative to the stage.  Likewise, something that is panned to stage right sounds like it is panned to stage right no matter where you sit in the auditorium.  This is typical of larger performance venues that do imaging in their shows.

 

 

Systems were installed by a variety of contractors.  Edward Simon & Company were given charge of installing the audio. BMI Supply completed the stage rigging. Illuminated Integration put in the lighting systems.  All of it was commissioned.

 

The room did not change visibly.  Though very little altered architecturally, behind-the-scenes things dramatically improved. The sound system, lighting systems, and stage rigging were completely replaced. The owner is extremely pleased with the results.