Wenger Corporation Completes Massive Custom Acoustical Shell Installation at Canada's NAC

OWATONNA, Minn., Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wenger Corporation announces the installation of its largest, most complex acoustical shell at Southam Hall in Ottawa's National Arts Centre (NAC), Canada's home to top theater, dance, orchestra and other performing arts organizations across the country.

The new shell and J.R. Clancy rigging system are part of a massive $225.4 million renovation to multiple areas of the NAC and has been in the works for several years.

Orchestra Shell
The shining star of the project is the beautiful orchestra shell in the NAC's largest venue, the 2,000-seat Southam Hall. The shell will dramatically improve the acoustics, enable the music to better carry to the audience, improve the clarity of the sound, and help the orchestra and visiting artists hear each other on stage more clearly. The shell will also further refresh Southam Hall's appearance. The venue underwent extensive renovations in the summer of 2016 that included new flooring, seating and improved accessibility.

"The connection that the orchestra will feel with the audience and vice versa will be taken to a new level," explains Robin Glosemeyer Petrone, Principal at Threshold Acoustics. "We're moving the orchestra into the room literally and acoustically. These enhancements will make this an extraordinary experience that neither the orchestra nor the audience has had before."

The shell involved more than 18 months of collaboration between Diamond Schmitt Architects, Fisher Dachs Associates, Threshold Acoustics, Wenger and J.R. Clancy.

There are four main components:

• 11 onstage towers that can all be moved anywhere on stage and set up for the orchestra
• Three onstage reflectors that are 10 feet long and 57 feet wide
• One 23 x 62-foot forestage ceiling reflector stored overhead
• Eight forestage towers ranging from 34 to 52 feet tall

Threshold moved the orchestra further into the room and asked Wenger to create a giant reflector that would extend over the space. The reflector makes the sound more immediate for the audience.

"We spent several days in our Minnesota manufacturing facility with the design team to make sure we agreed on the design concept, and made mock ups for them to review," explains Mark Ingalls, Performing Arts Segment Manager at Wenger. "They were amazed that we could design and manufacture these complicated mock ups in such a short period of time. We continued to tweak and improve the custom design until we knew everything was right. The final product was a one-of-a-kind shell that exceeded all expectations."

"The factory visit by the entire design team and owner was a wonderful experience to be able to test many of the assumptions that were made about new approaches to the pivot walls, to the way the finishes were created for the towers," says Peter Rosenbaum, Associate Principal at Fischer Dachs Associates and designer who has worked on the overall renovation since the beginning. "The hands-on session with the engineers ensured the success of the shell and the tight timeline we faced."

Making it Move
The team from J.R. Clancy designed, manufactured and installed the rigging for the massive reflectors, speakers, and scenic elements such as the house curtain. One aspect of the rigging system includes two line shaft hoists suspending the forestage reflector, which have a capacity of 20,000 pounds each. They fly the reflector from a vertical storage position into the play position with minimal effort and manpower required.  

"These are large, unique, entirely automated components that we're able to customize, test and install for venues like the National Arts Centre that have a variety of performance needs," explains Mike Murphy, General Manager of Performing Arts at Wenger Corporation. "Our focus is always on safety, and the rigging systems for the NAC are designed to safely accommodate the requirements of the orchestra shell and easily transition the shell into storage position when not in use."

Install, listen and learn
Acousticians are now testing the shell with a live audience in order to tune it for the best possible sound.

"We'll listen to them while they rehearse and let them find their way into the space," says Scott Pfeiffer, Principal at Threshold. "Now that the reflective surfaces are in place, they'll probably change some of their techniques depending on what they hear from the shell and how they hear each other."

NAC Orchestra Music Director Alexander Shelley is excited for audiences to hear the difference in the improvements.

"My firm belief is that these changes will mirror the stunning achievements made in other parts of the building thus far, creating a radically improved environment while complementing the founding vision, bringing our audiences world class performances in a world class setting," Shelley says. 

"Wenger Corporation is honored to be part of such an extensive renovation, especially in Canada's capital," says Jeff Jollay, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Wenger Corporation. "This project continues to reinforce our company's innovative designs and capabilities for custom projects."

For more information about Wenger and J.R. Clancy, please visit www.wengercorp.com and for more information about the National Arts Centre, please visit https://nac-cna.ca/en.

About Wenger Corporation
Wenger Corporation provides innovative, high-quality products and solutions for music and theatre education, performing arts venues and athletic programs.  Our products include the Wenger, J.R. Clancy and GearBoss brands of equipment.  Products include: theatrical rigging systems; acoustical shells and treatment; acoustical doors and sound-isolating practice rooms; fixed and portable audience seating; and portable and mobile staging systems.  Our furniture line includes: music posture chairs; music stands; conductor's equipment; and a full line of high-density and portable storage solutions for instruments, garments, sheet music and media equipment.  We also offer a complete line of athletic lockers, equipment storage and transport products.  For more information call +1.507.455.4100 or visit www.wengercorp.com.

Whitney B. Winkels | Marketing Communications Manager – Performing Arts | Wenger Corporation 
507.455.4100 ext. 8235 | 800.4WENGER (493.6437)

SOURCE Wenger Corporation

Related Links

http://www.wengercorp.com