The 30,000 square feet of meeting, convention, banquet, trade-show and entertainment space at the Morgantown Event Center is a part of the city’s efforts to revitalize the Wharf District and create a market for conferences and conventions that previously had not existed in the region.  Adjacent to the Waterfront Place Hotel, it is the second largest events facility in the state and is designed to accommodate a variety of event types including concerts, plays, boxing matches, banquets, and conventions and features outdoor terraces, ample pre-function areas, full catering kitchen and support spaces.

Acoustic Dimensions provided design of acoustics, MATV infrastructure, distributed audio for the event center, lobby, meeting rooms, changing/green rooms, conference a/v systems, demountable video projection systems, broadcast eng/cabling and power accommodations for broadcast truck location, control systems for audio, video and lighting. 

Architect: Paradigm Architecture

AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video, Basic Conference Systems, Broadcast Infrastructure

Photo Credit:  Scott Frederick - Guiness Studio

Over the weekend our team came in and  set up computers, unloaded red crates and made sure that we would be fully functional this morning.  While we still have some crates left to unload (and there have been a ton of requests for Allen wrenches today as we put together additional purchases from IKEA) we are surprisingly settled in our individual work areas and community space.

Over the following weeks, the conference rooms will be fitted out and the contractors will finish their punch lists.  Already we are experiencing the benefits of some of the LEED strategies.  With daylight to more than 90% of the workstations, the space feels really great.  Not only that, but the low VOC materials made it easy to move in even as contractors were still finishing the back stairway and first floor.

The best part of the new space is that we all have our own bit of sweat equity—which makes it feel like our own.

In 1999, Vance Breshears began work as the audio designer for the Lotte Hotel - Volcano Fountain Show on the island of Jeju. The island's mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands and a popular vacation spot for Koreans and Japanese. Dominated by Hallasan - a 1,950 meters high volcano, the Volcano Fountain Show is a depiction of the islands creation.  Working with a team of designers that included Bob Joslyn and Chris Brown of Contour Entertainment, the Jeju Volcano Fountain Show, takes place with the help of amazing special effects on a fantastic water screen with colourful rays, fire, holograms, fountains, a fiery dragon and of course sound effects through an audio system designed for explosions!

This year, the Jeju Volcano Show is 10 years old – and still going strong.

Acoustic Dimensions is working with the Omsk Philharmonic Society on the renovation of the Philharmonic Hall which will seat approximately 1,000 people and host a chorus of 165.   The Omsk Philharmonic boasts a wide variety of programs with an active symphony orchestra, Russian folk singing and dancing ensembles, a chamber orchestra, jazz ensembles and a children’s philharmonic.

Nicholas Edwards—who leads our UK office—is providing the acoustic design for the renovation.   Nick assisted Sergey Bannikov with the Omsk Philharmonic; architect, Tsevay Putin; and builder, Rafik Safaryan, of SPK Sibcentrostroy Ltd. in presenting proposals for the renovation to the Governor of the State of Siberia.  Now that the concept has been approved, construction is underway and will be completed by April 2011.

During the site inspection we caught the light streaming in through the wavy glass of the 1960's foyer.  It casts shadows with an artistic quality on the lobby floor of the construction site.  The design team is hoping that this feature can be preserved.

Labor Day Weekend was the kick-off for the San Diego office renovation project!  With our team in Dallas busy getting ready to move into their new facility (just  across the street from the current location), the guys in San Diego have started construction to re-model the Acoustic Dimensions San Diego office location.  Plans include a new HVAC system, upgrades to the infrastructure, new paint and fixtures, new lighting, new furniture and new signage!  

In November this year, the Royal Shakespeare company will open the transformed theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon for everyone to explore. There will be a series of events, exhibitions and tours to welcome you, test the facilities and bring life to the RSC’s new home. In February 2011 the Ensemble returns to present the first full productions on the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatre stages. Acoustic Dimensions is pleased to have worked with the RSC over the past several years to bring this dream to life.  We could not be more thrilled that the project is mere months away from being shown to the public. To be part of these exciting events, visit the RSC Website.

Jason Foster and Russell Reid were at Gateway Church’s new campus this morning testing LED fixtures for wall washes to determine fixture position and mounting technique.  The color washes will allow the church to change the color of the side walls with a cove lighting effect.

The new 4,000-seat worship center is scheduled to open later this year.