CLIENT
People Creative
LOCATION
Abu Dhabi, UAE
YEAR
2023
PROJECT TYPE
Plenary venue – immersive AV & active acoustics
Scope
Audio and acoustics installation design for high-profile lecture series
Services Provided
- →Audio system design and engineering
- →Active acoustics system integration
- →Voice lift system design
- →Loudspeaker placement modelling
- →Onsite commissioning and tuning
The Brief
We were approached by our client, People Creative, to deliver the audio and acoustic systems for the MBZ Majlis Lecture Hall, constructed to host the Ramadan Lecture Series in Abu Dhabi.
The objective was to create a flexible, discreet audio solution that could provide clear and natural speech reinforcement, support media playback, and enhance acoustic warmth before and after lectures, all while complementing the venue’s refined interior design.
The Challenge
Designing audio for a venue like this is about more than just coverage, it’s about presence, clarity, and subtlety. The space had to sound effortless regardless of where guests were seated, without ever drawing attention to the technology doing the work.
With a tight construction schedule, high aesthetic standards, and a venue designed for quiet focus, we had to build an audio solution that was virtually invisible, extremely responsive, and highly flexible, all while being installed and commissioned under significant time pressure.
Our Approach
We designed three discrete loudspeaker systems to meet the venue’s needs:
- A voice lift system for natural speech reinforcement
- An AV playback system tied to the venue’s LED screens
- An active acoustic system for acoustic enhancement before and after events
By separating these systems, we were able to finely tune each one for its intended purpose, ensuring a tailored experience for every moment of the programme.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Voice Lift System
We developed a near-field reinforcement system using 126 L-Acoustics X4i loudspeakers, custom-mounted into the rear of the sofas throughout the room. These are spread across 70 individual circuits, allowing for precise control of delay, level and EQ per zone.
This level of granularity meant we could deliver highly intelligible, natural-sounding voice reinforcement to each guest while keeping levels low and localised.
AV Loudspeaker System
To support content played on the venue’s LED screens, we deployed a dedicated AV playback system using L-Acoustics Syva speakers with Syva Low subwoofers. Each screen has its own Syva/Syva Low pair, seamlessly integrated into the architecture to maintain visual discretion while delivering full-range, impactful audio.
The system is anchored by dual redundant DiGiCo SD9 mixing consoles, with Qlab playback, Shure Axient Digital wireless mics, and PSM1000 in-ear monitoring.
The control network is fully redundant, with snapshot automation and seamless integration between playback, reinforcement and acoustic control, all managed by a compact, resilient workflow.
Acoustic Design
L-Acoustics Ambience
The room’s acoustics were optimised for lectures, short reverb, and speech-friendly, but this wasn’t suitable for informal conversations before and after events. To solve this, we implemented L-Acoustics Ambience, enabling dynamic acoustic enhancement with a simple mode switch.
Using 20 Schoeps microphones and 42 L-Acoustics 5XT loudspeakers, the system increases reverberation time by approximately 0.5 seconds, encouraging natural interaction among guests before and after each lecture. The Ambience system remains off during the lecture itself.
The Results
The MBZ Majlis Lecture Hall now delivers a quietly powerful listening experience, with crisp, intelligible speech and immersive soundscapes that respond dynamically to the event format. The voice lift ensures every guest hears effortlessly, the AV system supports media-rich content, and the active acoustics create a welcoming environment for social interaction, without compromising focus during lectures.
The entire system was installed, programmed and tuned in an incredibly tight timeframe, helping People Creative deliver a world-class venue on schedule for one of the region’s most prestigious cultural events.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
A huge thanks to Tim, Foggy and Chris from People Creative for inviting us into the project and for successfully managing the ambitious construction schedule. Thanks also to Gabe, Nick, Cliff and the site team from People who kept the project moving along.
Our Team
The Audio systems were designed by Scott Willsallen with support from Joe Callister and Ethan Curry. Luis Miranda designed the room acoustics and worked with Scott in the design of the Ambiance system with support from Fred and Julien from L-Acoustics.
Our Supplier
Thanks to Giulio, Matt, Edo, Will, JR and Vishnu for their efforts in supplying and installing the audio systems for the project on a very short time frame and in some very difficult circumstances.
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