Technological edge in a Traditional Setting

Hackney has an ancient history with the name mentioned in records going backto the 1300s. Hackney is one of the most densely populated boroughs in Londonand one of the most diverse. The council take their duties to serve the Hackneyconstituents very seriously and have invested in updating their Town Hall tomake sure that they are maximising the benefits of cutting edge technologyto meet the needs of the local populace as efficiently and economically as possible.

Hackney Town Hall was built in the 1930s, and the conservation of this iconicbuilding was paramount when modernising and installing solutions relevant toboth today’s technology and the needs of the borough.

Hackney Town Hall is a superb mix of classic design with subtle and relevanttechnology. It balances both the traditionalism and elegance required by importantpublic spaces with cutting edge collaborative solutions that enhance the environment.

Case StudyHackney Town Hall

Project Features● Custom Drop 4m wide Pro ject ion Screen● Chr ist ie High Br ightness DLP Projector● K-Array concealed Loudspeakers and

ampl i f iers● Bespoke Audite l IDN Delegate Unit

inc luding vot ing and voice re inforcement● Crestron Touch Panel Control System● Barco Digital Signage System● Dual 55” HD Displays for Dig i ta l S ignage● Nakymatone Plaster- In Loudspeakers

Division: CommercialLocation : Hackney, LondonProject Duration: 2 4 monthsSystem Specialist : Barrie Lane

w: sm artco m m .co .ukt : 01494 471 912e: info @sm artco m m .co .uk

The Smartcomm SolutionOnly by extensive collaboration with the clientand their Audio-Visual Consultant, Wide AngleConsulting, were Smartcomm able to deliverthe optimal solutions for the various publicareas within Hackney Town Hall. These spaceshave definite requirements, met by customisingsystems where necessary.

Reception: Welcoming FunctionalityWith so many people entering the premises fora multitude of reasons, the Reception area hasto be both informative, easy to use andwelcoming. Smartcomm wall mounted two 55”NEC Displays with Barco digital signage playersto enable staff to display important notices anddirections in real time. Care was taken toensure the installation worked sympatheticallywith the original heritage features of thebuilding.

Ceremony Rooms: Suitable AmbianceFrom Marriage Ceremonies to events; fromRegistering Births to Memorials, the ceremonyrooms must be able to handle a number ofdifferent functions and scenarios seamlesslyand sensitively.

Sennheiser wireless lapel and handheldmicrophones make sure everyone can hear thepresiding Town Hall official and relevantspeaker clearly. Nakymatone invisible in-wallspeakers maintain the aesthetics of the areawhile providing great sound. w: sm artco m m .co .uk

t : 01494 471 912e: info @sm artco m m .co .uk

Important decisions take place within theCouncil Chamber and Smartcomm worked withAuditel to install a customised delegatemicrophone and voting solution. Id cards forthe individual council members have beenproduced and these can be inserted withinvoting units present in every desk. Votes arecounted automatically, accurately and in realtime. An Auditel PC with 19” monitor, mouseand keyboard help control the system andanalyse results.

The Auditel unit on each desk also contains anXLR gooseneck microphone. Pushing a buttonactivates the microphone, allowing thedelegate to speak while simultaneously turningon a red light at the microphone end, soparticipants can see who is speaking. Onlythree microphones can be active at any time,avoiding issues with noise volume and clarity.A traffic l ight speech timer box is alsoconnected, ensuring meetings run on time.

Atrium FlexibilityThe Atrium is also an important part of theTown Hall. Rather than simply an area in whichto wait, the council wanted the flexibility ofbeing able to use this light and airy space formeetings.

Wireless Sennheiser hand held and lapelmicrophones with microphone stand plusElectroVoice PA Loudspeakers, with stands andcarry cases allow this area to be transformedfor meetings or functions as required.

An Ampetronic induction loop system was installedto transmit audio signals directly into hearing aidsvia a magnetic field, which helps clarity for hard-of-hearing users.

The fully loaded Crestron Digital Matrix Switcherin the central rack facil itates the music,communications and lighting that contribute tothe perfect ambience, whatever the occasion. Thecouncil official can control all these at the touchof a button with the desk mounted 7” Crestrontouch panel.

Council Chamber Decisive AdvantageThe impressive Council Chamber can seat up to100 people and requires effective Audio Visualsolutions that are both sympathetic to the Decodesign of the chamber and flexible enough tosupport the various functions and importantdecisions that need to be made.

A ceiling recessed drop own projection screen wascustomised to provide an extra 71 cm drop toallow for the raised ceil ings. To ensure greatvisibility, a high brightness Christie DLP projectorwith long throw projector lens was installed in thepublic gallery. All controlled with Crestron Controlpanels. One of which is discretely placed within ahidden cupboard close to the entrance. AppleiPads have the Crestron App uploaded and can alsobe used to control the lighting and Audio Visualfeeds.

Wall recessed K-Array loudspeakers were installedjut above the wood panelling to offer great audiowith minimal visual impact.