Skating to success

When ETC Solutions and Cablewise AV (CAV) were commissioned to design and install an integrated audio and lighting system for an outdoor community facility, the solution demanded ease-of-use operability. The blueprints for the A$9.3mn (US$6.6mn) project that would transform this barren space into the Duncraig Adventure Hub included a skate park, pump track, outdoor classroom, playground and pathways. Additionally, an outdoor roller disco rink needed to incorporate tightly integrated lighting control and audio systems, allowing it to switch from a public activation zone at the touch of a button.

“Following an open tender, I received a brief in 2023 from the City of Joondalup to design and document power reticulation, events power, audio, AV systems and CCTV camera security, together with functional and decorative lighting throughout the site,” recalls ETC Solutions’ engineer David Cumber. “The client wanted to attract a range of age groups who could enjoy the skate park and the pump track. However, some apprehension existed that the development would draw an audience of predominantly young boys. Research concluded that youth facilities are not inviting to girls, so the resultant roller disco space aimed to draw a demographic of 85% females.”

CAV was approached by Stiles Electrical to assist with the specialised audio and lighting components of the tender. “Despite the degree of specialisation it was a smooth project, which made a welcome change from our normal fitouts in offices and boardrooms,” testifies CAV’s Roberto Scaturro. “I particularly enjoyed the challenges of the design, including the integration of audio and lighting equipment into customised technology poles.”

Four technology towers framing the roller disco rink feature CAV’s own boom box-style coloured circular LED lights, programmed to chase, cascade and strobe. Offering rotational movement, light pattern effects, full RGBW colour mixing and animation, the lighting concept employs two digital moving head LED light projectors and gobo image projection within each tower. Integrated with audio and lighting components, each technology pole is connected by power, data, DMX and loudspeaker cabling to an equipment rack in an adjacent air-conditioned low-voltage room. Suspended between the towers in the centre is a 1.2m-diameter disco ball.

In addition to Cumber, three other ETC Solutions designers worked on this project, initially focusing on the bespoke towers. “The towers were a challenge because few companies can manufacture something like these from a set of drawings,” Cumber explains. “One tower was initially prototyped, and this provided us with an opportunity to integrate the audio and lighting elements as a proof of concept. At that point, we agreed for the remaining three to be manufactured.”

The slim dimensions of the four towers presented limitations for the choice of loudspeakers, which were also required to combine high SPL levels with full-range audio properties. Ultimately, K-array Kayman-KY102 line array speakers were specified. “I engaged with the K-array distributor, Australis Music Group, at a very early stage to make sure that our modelling for the SPL levels was correct and we could create an outdoor nightclub feel,” explains Cumber. “Having used K-array speakers for previous outdoor projects, I felt sufficiently confident in installing this passive model within this application.”

Fixed onto internal custom brackets behind the lights, the 116mm x 1,000mm x 134mm (WxHxD) stainless steel enclosures comprise eight closely spaced 4-inch neodymium woofers. Operating within 120Hz–20kHz (–6dB) with a peak SPL of 138dB, an IP64 rating and a back cover that protects the connectors, these were an ideal choice for the outdoor environment. Like the loudspeakers, the Deluge M800HF and M19x60WFX IP65-rated moving head lights integrated into the towers are weatherproof.

The Kayman arrays are augmented by a pair of K-array Rumble-KU212 12-inch omni subwoofers in enclosed cabinets on either side of the rink. Capable of delivering low frequencies down to 35Hz (–6dB), the steel enclosure of the KU212 is geared towards outdoor environments. The arrays and subwoofers are powered by a Kommander-KA208 8x2,500W DSP amplifier, offering added control over the loudspeakers.

“The audio and lighting system has been synced within the software of the Q-SYS Core 110f processor to host shows according to the time of day and the general theme,” continues Cumber. “The space is equally adaptable to supporting community events, performances, festive themes, art displays and entertainment benefitting from light and sound. Users can manage operations from a fixed touchpanel in a cabinet under the canopy, which is essentially a centralised management area integrating the source inputs including a Shure SLX-D wireless microphone system, data connections for networked audio and a crowdDJ managed service provided by the City of Joondalup.”

Interfacing with the Q-SYS DSP control, a Pharos lighting control system and scheduler syncs the music with the lighting, with peaks in the audio frequencies intensifying lighting effects. Fully automated for regular operations, the platform has been customised for special events via the Q-SYS audio system and wireless interfaces for locally selectable preset scene and colour palette by event organisers and DJs. Audio control can be managed from a fixed Pharos 7-inch touchscreen in a locked cupboard adjacent to the skate park.

With multiple stakeholders providing their design input and various departments requiring signed-off documentation, Scaturro maintains that the City of Joondalup was highly ambitious in its aims. Inevitably, compromises had to be made: “Discussions with others, including programmers, all played a role in the conception of the user-friendly interface. Ease-of-use operations are vital, especially for the service manager receiving calls for what may appear simple to us; an end user just wants to press a button to ensure their event takes off. If it’s not easy to use, we will be receiving calls all the time. A successful job can be measured by the number of calls you receive once operations begin.”

With plugins available for K-array and Pharos, Scaturro maintains that Q-SYS simplified programming. “Should the current system require expansion, we have added futureproofing by integrating two lines of Dante networking,” he explains. “Backed by Nightlife and crowdDJ playlists, the audio and lighting presets are adapted according to the age group or event being staged. Finally, an account manager was contracted to help create customised playlists for the various users.”

Beyond the roller disco, site-wide multizone PA audio is deployed across the skatepark, pump track areas and bowl. Demonstrating consistent coverage, high-output clarity and reliable operation in an outdoor, high-activity environment, Tannoy VLS speakers are powered by Lab Gruppen E Series amplifiers racked in an adjacent air-conditioned unit. Once again, Shure SLX-D wireless microphones are available for public address, and a Nightlife media player provides music streaming.

“You will not find another park in Perth, or possibly Australia, with an audio and lighting system like this,” maintains Scaturro. “We are receiving interest from other venues who have heard about this project, and we are enjoying the positive feedback from end users. Most recently, a DJ who was hosting a skate competition commented that this was the best interface he had operated in a public space because of the audio quality and ease-of-use settings.”

And, if proof was needed, user data confirms that the roller disco has met its objective of attracting an 85% female audience, balancing the facility’s more male-focused skate and bike components.