project: Oklahoma Wesleyan University Chapel

location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma

architect: Milton Powell & Partners

Overview

The attractive multi-purpose Chapel Auditorium, designed in Spanish Renaissance architecture, is 17,495 sq. ft. and seats an audience of 850. Encore Design Group provided sound system, lighting system, and rigging system design and consulting services for this facility.

Design Charge

The desire of the architect and owner was to have a space that created and open and free feel. The decorative open truss ceiling accomplished just that. However, with the open ceiling, Encore Design Group was posed with the challenge of designing and specifying low-profile equipment for both lighting and sound systems.

Sound Systems

The main reinforcement system was designed with a combination of low profile main loudspeakers (mounted to ceiling truss), subwoofers concealed in the organ chambers, and rear fill loudspeakers mounted above the gypsum ceiling in the rear of the hall covered with a fabric grille. The front-end of the system is comprised of a 24 channel mixing console, basic processing and recording/playback equipment, and foldback monitor system. Sub-systems to the main sound system include an ADA compliant hearing assist system and feeds to the lobby and restrooms.

Lighting System

The stage lighting system was designed to accommodate live musical concerts in addition to lectures and worship services. A 24/48 channel microprocessor lighting console with moving light capabilities controls both stage and house lighting. Distributed DMX connections are located throughout the facility for the addition of future intelligent lighting and effects devices. As most of the stage lighting is located at the open-air trusses, low profile pars and ellipsoids were specified as well as distributed dimming strips.

Front Lighting Positions

Front lighting for the stage is accomplished with two lighting beams. These two beams consist of standard steel pipe used for lighting welded to the trusses. The distributed dimmer strips are mounted atop each of the wooden trusses. A combination of pars and ellipsoids are utilized for front lighting of the stage. Downlight for the stage is accomplished in a similar fashion on an upstage truss.

Side Lighting Positions

The accommodation for side lighting coves was coordinated with the architect to allow for greater shaping of light. Three lighting coves are located on each side of the stage. The coves contain lighting ladders that currently contain distributed dimming strips for up to 8 lighting instruments in each slot.