PVAV PROVIDES BLACKLINE FLEXIBILITY FOR BRUNEL'S A

Around three years ago some £9m was earmarked for a phased development of the entire Student Union building at Brunel University in Uxbridge.

This was to include £1.7m refurbishing multipurpose entertainment venue, The Academy and the 350-capacity Locos feeder bar - which needed to be ready in time for Freshers Week in September.

Working alongside main contractors, Overbury's, mechanical engineers TGA, and architects Devereaux, Peter Varey's PVAV successfully tendered for the sound and lighting contract, and as they have so many times in the past, opted for a Martin Audio solution.

'Given the wide variety of the entertainment programme - from Urban and Bhangra nights to comedy, cabaret and cheesey disco, Martin's Blackline range provided all the flexibility I needed,' said Varey, 'with plenty of punch in the bottom end for the hard dance nights.'

Part of the refit included a new raised stage area, with DJ plug-in points and extra mic feeds. Here Varey ingeniously managed to reorientate four of Martin Audio's new AQ215 (2 x 15) subs in the horizontal access and recess them under the stage apron to create the additional rumble.

The PA system has been designed around multiples of Blackline F15's and F12's providing the dancefloor sound. Six of the former and two of the latter are ceiling mounted while coverage for the bar, chillout and peripheral areas is accounted for with the provision of four F8's. Completing the Blackline family, a pair of F10's - a real favourite among the DJ fraternity - provides the reference sound up in the booth.

From his domain the DJ can select either of two DJ stations (or the band system) via the main sound desk and presets in the Soundweb DSP - which is used for system management, routing and gain setting storage.

Students Union Business Development Manager, Craig Lithgow, is delighted with the new 600 capacity venue.

'We have achieved exactly what we wanted, with an impressive sound system and the introduction of lighting, LED strips and air conditioning. For comedy it's brilliant and as far as we are concerned, being able to get another bar servery has made a huge difference to the experience. As a result, we enjoyed the best Freshers Week we've had - with a bar take up by 15%.'

And so as the University approaches its 40th anniversary the Ents committee at last has an entertainment facility which can more than hold its own on the student circuit, and of which it can be proud.

Further information from:

Maureen Hayes, Martin Audio
Tel: +44 (0)1494 535312
Fax: +44 (0)1494 438669

Jerry Gilbert, JGP Public Relations
Tel: +44 (0)1707 258525
Fax: +44 (0)1707 267140