Varia helps Olivet Institutional Baptist Church reach out
Published: WORSHIP
WORLD: The recent sanctuary refit at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland has seen new sound and vision systems installed. The 1,500 seat sanctuary now features HD cameras, a switcher, and large-scale video screens, as well as a new Renkus-Heinz Varia modular point source loudspeaker system.
The sound reinforcement aspect of the project presented some unique challenges, as Tom George, director of installations for installer Eighth Day Sound, explained. ‘Although the exterior of the building has a peaked roof, the sanctuary's ceiling is flat, and relatively low - only around 25 feet in height. So going with a traditional line array would have created line-of-sight issues. Moreover, we were faced with a 400-pound weight restriction, which made the design even more problematic.’
To tackle these issues, Eighth Day opted to use the modular enclosures as it could create a system to deliver the coverage of a traditional line array, but using fewer cabinets, thereby decreasing weight, visual impact, and cost. The flown system consists of six VAX101-7/6, two VAX101-22/69, and two VAX101-22 912 Varia loudspeakers.
‘When we listened to the box, we were convinced,’ said Mr George. ‘Varia met the challenge. It delivered the coverage we needed, along with the power and performance. It looks great, and it sounds great.’
Olivet's recent improvements mark Phase One of its in-depth renovation, with improved lighting and web streaming next on the agenda. Through it all, elevating the live sound experience has been key for the Cleveland church.
‘Olivet wants to reach younger people, they understand that the demographic is changing and a more contemporary worship style is a big part of that,’ explained Mr George. ‘Varia was the perfect solution for this congregation’s message and their music.’