ICE Design was responsible for the implementation of a new bespoke sound system and integrated control system for the Debating Chamber in the NZ Parliament. The team provided comprehensive services from project inception in 2006 right through to the extensive commissioning period during late 2008.
ICE Design initially undertook a comprehensive audit of systems and procedure, and subsequently developed and designed new audio and control systems that properly met the specific needs of the Parliament.
Working closely with heritage consultant and the project architect, we developed a range of bespoke loudspeaker types that simultaneously addressed strong architectural and acoustic requirements. In response for the need for ultra-high, robust speech intelligibility in the strongly reverberant nature of chamber with its high ceiling, ICE developed a large-format 4 way beam-steered loudspeaker array. That loudspeaker was successfully prototyped and six were constructed for the project by Acoustic Technologies Pty Ltd under the guidance of ICE Design.
Working with Chris Cullinane of Futureworks in Wellington, a sophisticated control system was designed and implemented to allow for single and dual operator modes. It was necessary to modify the control room to suite the equipment and operational needs and in resposne, ICE Design provided the acoustic design and layout of the room.
The design processes included a comprehensive market review of microphones (undertaken in conjunction with Radio New Zealand) and signal processing and transport using ICE measurement facilities and critical listening.
A major requirement of the system was to provide clarity and separation of voices in the feeds to the Hansard recording system. ICE Design’s extensive experience with signal processing ensured that the parliament’s requirements were fulfilled.