Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers and steerable array systems have been central to a recent sound design project at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba. SH Acoustics of Milford, Connecticut was chosen as acoustic and audio design consultancy, having worked in some of the world’s most challenging acoustic spaces.
SH Acoustics president and principal consultant Steve Haas commented: “What makes this building unique is the open nature of the architecture. The walls and ceilings rarely meet, and there are few if any right angles. There are literally no doors in the galleries. Even the glass exhibit walls are unique, with open, overlapping ‘shards’ instead of a flat surface. To achieve focused sound in the exhibits and galleries and, more importantly, to control it, required a lot of specific audio gear, acoustical treatments, and careful planning and calibration.”
On the choice of Renkus-Heinz equipment, Haas explained: “I have had great success with Renkus-Heinz in similarly challenging spaces, especially their Iconyx arrays. The pattern control and fidelity they offer are ideal for applications like this, which require working closely with architects, engineers and AV designers to deliver the intended sound without bleeding throughout the exhibit galleries.”
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened on 19 September 2014 and was designed by acclaimed architect Antoine Predock and exhibit designer Ralph Appelbaum.
Haas concluded: “It’s quite an ingenious design – one of the most fascinating buildings I’ve ever been in. With both large theatres and small interactive displays in an open acoustic environment, you really have to play with the laws of physics to make it all work together. But with tools like the Renkus-Heinz speakers we’ve come to rely on, it really came together nicely. Everyone is extremely pleased.”
