CLIENT
Northern Beaches Christian School
LOCATION
Sydney, Australia
YEAR
2015
PROJECT TYPE
Education / Permanent Installation
Scope
Design and integration of performance audio systems, video control, and multi-tiered user interfaces for a flexible learning and gathering space
Services Provided
- →Audio system design and commissioning
- →Performance AV system integration
- →Tiered user control interface development
- →LED screen infrastructure coordination
- →Long-term client consultation
The Brief
“Project Barcelona” at Northern Beaches Christian School was conceived as a bold reimagining of school architecture and student interaction, moving away from traditional classrooms towards a centralised, open-plan hub that encourages creativity, performance, and social engagement.
The school’s new quadrangle included flexible learning zones, a café, communal gathering spaces, and a professional-standard performance area. Auditoria were brought in to design an integrated AV system that would serve everything from casual lunchtime gigs to full-school ceremonies, while being operable by both students and staff, regardless of technical expertise.
The Challenge
The space needed to be high-spec yet approachable, able to support amplified performances, presentations, and daily school life without relying on a dedicated technician at all times.
The outdoor nature of the environment also posed environmental and acoustic challenges, especially when it came to delivering consistent coverage across a large open area and protecting sensitive AV infrastructure from the elements.
And as a multi-use campus space, every system had to be robust, versatile, and easy to maintain, with clear operational pathways for different levels of users.
Our Approach
We worked closely with NBCS General Manager Alan Schultz, a long-term collaborator with a clear vision for accessible, future-focused technology in education. Our design prioritised quality, simplicity, and longevity, all within a scalable technical framework.
The outdoor Bandstand at the far end of the quadrangle functions as the main performance zone. We specified a 26-square-metre LED screen, supplied and integrated by Big Screen Projects, capable of accepting multiple input sources, including live camera feeds, student-operated video production systems, and direct laptop connections. The screen, 5mm pixel pitch at 3,000 Nits, is mounted on a custom roller track, allowing it to move downstage for easy servicing.
For audio, we delivered a distributed d&b audiotechnik system, with six Yi-SUBs flown from the bandstand roof in a horizontal array. Sixteen Y-Series loudspeakers ensure full area coverage, supplemented by 10S-D out-fills and 24C column speakers at the opposite end of the space for targeted messaging aligned with the secondary info screen.
To keep the space inclusive and operable by a range of users, we developed a three-tier control system:
- Basic – minimal controls for casual use (e.g. background music or simple announcements)
- Intermediate – up to 16 inputs from stage with EQ and level adjustment for general use
- Advanced – full technical control via DiGiCo SD9 mixing console and portable input rack
This approach ensures that whether it’s a spontaneous student jam session or a formal school event, the AV infrastructure can rise to the occasion.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Audio System
- 6 x d&b Yi-SUBs in flown array
- 16 x d&b Y-Series speakers for distributed coverage
- 2 x d&b 10S-D for out-fill
- 2 x d&b 24C column speakers for the secondary LED screen
Show Control Design
Control & Operation
Tiered user interface:
-
- Basic: No prior experience needed
- Intermediate: 16-input capability with EQ
- Advanced: Full control via DiGiCo SD9 console and stage box
- Fully integrated video routing between multiple sources and destinations
AV & Infrastructure Design
26m² 5mm LED screen (3,000 Nits), movable for maintenance
Inputs from fixed cameras, video production facility, or onstage laptop
The Results
Since completion, Project Barcelona has become a hallmark of what modern educational spaces can be, dynamic, communal, and technologically integrated.
The performance area has supported a wide range of activity, from casual lunchtime performances to school assemblies and concerts, without overwhelming teaching staff or students. The multi-level control strategy has proved especially effective, allowing users to operate the system confidently at the appropriate level.
This project marked our fifth collaboration with NBCS, and it continues to demonstrate what can be achieved when design thinking, education, and technology come together with clarity and purpose.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
Our work with Alan Schultz, NBCS General Manager, began in 2008 and we have delivered 5 projects together over that period. Thanks Alan for keeping us involved.
Our Team
The systems were designed by Scott Willsallen and Luis Miranda. The LED screens and interface was designed by Big Screen Projects.
Our Integrator
Our thanks to Nick Orsatti and his team at Fredon Technologies for supplying and installing the audio systems and video control system. Thanks also to Toby Waley from Big Screen Projects for the LED screens.
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