Audio Facilitates Niagara Parks Power Station's "Restorative Evolution"
In the heart of Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Niagara Parks Power Station has reemerged as an immersive museum, merging history, technology, and storytelling. To elevate the experience of its two newest exhibits - the Tesla Coil Exhibit and the Niagara Parks Tunnel - an advanced audio solution was necessary. That solution arrived courtesy of 1 SOUND loudspeakers.
The immense, industrial space of the former power plant posed unique acoustical challenges for the museum. To conquer these difficulties, Branch AV was enlisted to design and install a high-performance audio system for both exhibits. With a goal to create an audio setup capable of handling live demonstrations, video projections, ambient experiences, and private events all while providing exceptional sound quality, Branch AV set to work.
For the Tesla Coil Exhibit, the priority was an audio solution that could support hourly presentations, video projections, music playback, and private events. The 1 SOUND Tower LCC44 loudspeakers were selected as the primary left and right speakers, complemented by two Tower LF44 low-frequency extension columns. This configuration offered full-range, high-fidelity sound with exceptional clarity, ideally suited for the museum's dynamic, multi-purpose circumstances.
Cardioid properties of the LCC44 speakers played a pivotal role in obstructing sound from bleed into other exhibit areas or reverberating off the metal alternator structure, providing optimal conditions for presentations within arm's length of the loudspeakers. Meanwhile, the low-frequency columns, LF44, offered balanced, melodic low-end response, boosting music playback and speech clarity.
A Shure Beta 58A wireless microphone was integrated into the setup, enabling museum staff to communicate effectively with visitors amidst potentially loud ambient room noise. Tower speakers were custom-mounted inside the alternator structure by Branch AV, utilizing the LCC44's compact size to ensure clean aesthetics while preserving precision placement. Line array technology eliminated feedback, ensuring no issues for presenters standing directly in front of the speakers.
The Tesla Coil Exhibit posed several difficulties due to the museum's industrial nature - tall ceilings, glass walls, and permanent metal structures created a challenging acoustic environment. Branch AV's solution involved selecting the LCC44 speakers for their rear-cancellation properties and controlled dispersion, effectively minimizing sound bleeding into adjoining areas while retaining visual harmony in the space.
Meanwhile, the Tunnel Exhibit, situated beneath Niagara Falls, demanded an audio design to endure continuous exposure to moisture. IP55-rated speakers from 1 SOUND, including the LCC44 towers and WSUB45 subwoofers, proved to be resilient, ensuring deep, immersive sound quality in the wet environment.
The WSUB45 subwoofers provided low-end response, further enhancing the sensory experience for visitors navigating the tunnel.
Designed not only for exceptional performance but also ease of use, the audio system accommodated the museum staff to manage the system effortlessly, facilitating regular use, including hosting private events. The collaboration between Branch AV and 1 SOUND united to create a user-friendly, yet highly functional audio solution that catered to the museum's vision.
With the installation of 1 SOUND loudspeakers, the Niagara Parks Power Station Museum reaffirmed its status as an interactive, immersive destination, where audio technology competently supports storytelling and enhances the overall visitor experience. Compact, powerful, and adaptable, the Tower LCC44 and LF44 speakers, along with the WSUB45 subwoofers, set a new standard for museum audio, ensuring lasting engagement for visitors as they explore the wonders within the museum.
The advanced audio solution designed by Branch AV for the Tesla Coil Exhibit at the Niagara Parks Power Station Museum not only supports live demonstrations, video projections, and music playback but also offers features such as controlled dispersion, rear-cancellation properties, and cardioid properties to ensure optimal sound quality in various museum events.
In the Tunnel Exhibit, the use of IP55-rated 1 SOUND speakers guarantees not only exceptional sound quality but also technology that can withstand continuous moisture exposure, making it suitable for events and features even in wet environments.
