Damascus College recently added a new multi-purpose Exam and Gathering space to their Ballarat campus including a comprehensive audiovisual system utilising the latest technologies, capable of being used by both trained and novice staff and students.
Initially contracted to design and create the tender specification, Forefront worked closely with the school’s IT department along with the project architects – Law Architects. After a successful tender period, Forefront was chosen as the AV installer and again worked alongside the project builder and associated trades.
The Main Auditorium is a large 450+ seat space with a 3.5m x 2m LED screen as the AV centre-piece. To further enhance the space’s multi-function aesthetic and versatility is a series of seven permanent lighting bars, housing some 56 x ShowPRO Photon 80 RGB fixtures, complementing the existing architectural lighting system. This allows for the fulfilment of the client brief to provide full-colour wash across the entire space with the ability to focus fixtures onto tables for dinner events, for example.
“We have used the ShowPRO Photon 80 fixtures for a few projects,” commented Matt Wever, FFP’s Sales & Installation Manager. “It’s a good house light option for churches particularly when the ceiling height is low. They have a very good price point especially as a lot of house lights on the market can be quite expensive. The fact that they are RGB offers an alternative to a conventional plain white light fixture. The beam angle is also really good.”
The ShowPRO Photon 80 features a magnetic lens attachment system for easy selection of 25° or 60° beam angles.
The ShowPRO Photon 80’s beam angle was beneficial when FFP installed a dozen into the RCCG City of David church located in Newcastle. The church has a 250-seat room that was easily covered by the Photon 80s making them very cost-effective.
“However, the auditorium at Damascus College is a very large space,” added Matt. “So 56 Photon 80s may sound like a lot but the ability to provide full RGB colour wash across a 500-seat auditorium is hugely beneficial. Also, for the size of the space, the ceiling is not that high so having the 80 degree beam angle on the Photon 80s allowed us to still provide good coverage.”
Additionally, six Showpro LED HP profiles are in place to provide key light for speakers and performers when required.
“The ShowPRO range of theatrical fixtures are great for the work that we do,” said Matt. “Churches can now afford multiple Profile lights without breaking the bank. They’re great in terms of brightness and the range of lenses available means they get a fully functional Profile at a good price point.”
