CHINA: Shenzhen University has standardised the audio infrastructure across its new Arts Complex with the installation of L-Acoustics sound systems in four distinct performance venues, creating a unified sonic experience while addressing the unique acoustic and architectural requirements of each space. The project was designed and delivered by Rightway Audio Consultants (Racpro), L-Acoustics’ distributor and Certified Provider for Greater China.

Opened as part of the university’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2023, the 128,000-square-metre Arts Complex comprises a 1,000-seat grand theatre, a 500-seat theatre, a 266-seat experimental theatre and a 245-seat concert hall, alongside dance and art studios, music practice rooms and recording suites. The venues collectively support a broad range of activities, from lectures and graduation ceremonies to symphony concerts, theatrical performances and rehearsals.

The project’s objective was to equip each venue with a professional-grade sound reinforcement system tailored to its specific application while maintaining a consistent sonic character across the entire complex. According to Racpro, achieving this balance required close integration between the audio systems, the buildings’ architectural design and the acoustic characteristics of each performance space.

“One of the core challenges of this project involved resolving the tensions between the four venues’ sound systems, architectural acoustics and interior aesthetics,” said Ou Xiangjun, Senior System Engineer at Racpro. “We needed to achieve a deep integration of technology and art.”

The two largest venues presented particular architectural challenges, requiring the loudspeaker systems to be concealed within the buildings’ acoustic treatments without compromising performance. In contrast, the experimental theatre was intentionally designed with the sound system on display, allowing it to serve not only as a performance venue but also as a teaching resource for students studying sound design.

“The systems also had to deliver the high fidelity and dynamic range expected of top-tier performances, while being adaptable and durable,” Xiangjun continued. “Educational environments can be demanding, and we had to ensure that our final deployment was sensitive to the university’s long-term operational needs.”

To optimise every installation, Racpro carried out multiple rounds of acoustic modelling using L-Acoustics Soundvision, refining loudspeaker positioning, rigging geometry, delay settings and coverage patterns before installation commenced.

“We didn’t want to rely on experience or rule of thumb for spaces like this,” said Xiangjun. “Running Soundvision again and again enabled us to see exactly how the sound field would behave in every room, and predict the SPL, speech intelligibility and frequency response in every seat. That gave us a closed loop from design through to installation, which is exactly what a project with this little margin for rework requires.”

The 1,000-seat Grand Theatre features left and right arrays of three A15i Wide loudspeakers alongside a centre cluster of two A15i Wide, all concealed within the venue’s architectural treatment. A left and right pair of X12 handle in-fill duty to remove any audible gap between main and front coverage, five 5XT loudspeakers reinforce the stage lip at near field, and six X8i loudspeakers cover the under-balcony seating. The surrounding tiers are completed by twelves X8 on the first layer and six X8 on the second, closing out coverage with no dead spots. Two KS28 and two KS21i subwoofers supply the low end for large-scale productions.

The adjoining 500-seat theatre follows a similar design philosophy, employing left and right hangs of three A15i Wide and a centre hang of two A15i Wide forming the main PA, again concealed within the building structure to preserve the room’s clean lines. A single X12 per side handles in-fill, six 5XT loudspeakers cover the front-fill, and two KS28 subwoofers supply the low end. Coverage continues with four X8 under the balcony, eight X8 across the first surround tier and six X8 on the second. This thoughtfully crafted deployment assures consistent coverage and intelligibility for performances as well as day-to-day teaching activities.

For the 266-seat experimental theatre, which has been designed as a laboratory for creative experimentation, Racpro specified left and right arrays of five Kiva II loudspeakers, each of which have been suspended above SB15 enclosures; with the design decision allowing team Racpro to extend the array’s low-frequency response without adding a separate subwoofer hang. This is complemented by an X12 centre loudspeaker and a pair of ground-stacked SB18 IIi subwoofers. With the system intentionally left visible, the venue also functions as a practical learning environment for students exploring sound system design and deployment.

And finally, the 245-seat concert hall adopts a simpler configuration centred around four flown X12 loudspeakers, selected for their controlled directivity and balanced tonal performance. Recognising that the venue is frequently operated by faculty members and students rather than dedicated audio engineers, Racpro also delivered comprehensive operator training together with a series of preset system scenes to simplify day-to-day operation.

“We achieved this through precise acoustic simulation and customised system integration, and we’re delighted with the outcome,” concluded Xiangjun. “It’s been an honour to deliver a system this comprehensive and reliable for Shenzhen University, and we’re proud that it will help further the goals of tomorrow’s artists.”