Lewis CaliburnBletchley Park, the World War II code breaking heritage site and museum, has enriched its visitor experience with the opening of the Fellowship Auditorium. This purpose-built venue, unveiled in October 2023, is the latest addition to the Milton Keynes site.
The auditorium features 250 seats and is part of a broader development that includes the Diesel House reception area and the Radley Room social space, as well as a new Learning Centre.
The auditorium’s distinctive 180-degree radial seating arrangement presented unique acoustic challenges that required expert attention. L-Acoustics Certified Provider Adlib won the tender to supply the complete audio solution for the space.
Tim Robinson, System Designer at Adlib explains that speech intelligibility was paramount for this installation. “The unique configuration of the space, with seats arranged in a 180-degree arc around the stage, meant that crystal-clear speech reproduction was essential. As primarily a lecture venue, every seat needed perfect intelligibility.”
L-Acoustics Soundvision played a crucial role in the system design process, enabling Adlib to model and verify proposed solutions while providing visualisation tools that helped other trades understand the final implementation.
“Soundvision was invaluable not just for technical modelling, but also for helping everyone involved visualise the end result,” Tim explains. “Being able to show realistic 3D renders to the client and other contractors made a huge difference in communicating our vision for the space and coordinating with other trades who are not used to dealing with professional loudspeaker systems.”
The project presented unique design considerations where the primary objective was to ensure sound would come from directly in front of every listener, rather than being biased towards one ear or another. This led to an innovative approach using a monaural system with a single source.
The installation comprises six horizontally arrayed L-Acoustics A10i Wide constant curvature enclosures providing the requisite 180 degrees of coverage, complemented by two KS21i compact subwoofers. The system is powered by LA4X and LA2Xi amplified controllers, providing precise control and optimal performance across the entire frequency range. The horizontal array configuration, facilitated by A10i-LIFT rigging elements and various linking plates, ensures even coverage throughout the space.
“We knew a fixed-curvature line source would be perfect for this application,” says Tim. “The coverage pattern of the A10i Wide was exactly what we needed, and its compact size meant we could achieve excellent results without overwhelming the space. The adjustable HF pattern control was particularly useful in managing reflections from the ceiling and the optional front screens were specified to minimise the system’s visual impact.”
Users are said to have been highly impressed with the system. While speech intelligibility was the primary focus of the installation, it has reportedly surpassed expectations in both performance and versatility. Its quality has even led internal event managers to plan a conference featuring a live musical performance, confident in the PA system’s capabilities.