PROMAG Vol 22 no 1 | Page 12

news ESSELEN PARK GETS A NEW LOOK Esselen Park - a vast tract of land owned by Transnet - lies East of Johannesburg. It consists of a multitude of sports fields, conference and training facilities, accommodation and function venues. ton CM Lodestar motors with an Electrosonic SA Control Freak Motor Controller. Mounted on it was a mix of old PAR 64 Cans, high-powered Versa-light RGB Cans, with ADB 650w Profiles finishing off this truss. Another truss bar, also with refurbished PAR 64’s and more Versa-light LED RGB Cans, was added onstage. The large conference hall had seen many years of use and Transnet decided that it needed to be renovated. As part of the refurbishment, Fikile - the building contractors - put out a sub-contract to upgrade the hall’s audio-visual and communications infrastructure too. It was a challenging project; not because of scale, but because of the multitude of trades and concurrent works involved, which dragged it out over 8 months. Of interest was the canopy over the stage and stairs. Malcolm Grift from Delta Consultants came up with the idea of ribs with rows of recessed LED Cans. Finished off in white, it provided a unique way of providing top light and a generous dose of eye candy. The lighting upgrade formed part of the AV scope, which was awarded to AVPRO Audio Visual Systems. Dries Nel, Managing Member of AVPRO, and Bruce Schwartz, Manager of Electrosonic SA’s Lighting Division, had collaborated many times before and relished the challenge. A Robert Juliat Buxie 575w Follow Spot was also supplied. Transnet’s brief to AVPRO was to utilize as much of the old equipment as possible and add the benefits of more modern control and LED based fixtures. The old trussing was removed and sent for powder-coating. The Jands Dimmers came back to Electrosonic SA and were given a onceover. A complete DMX network, including Martin Opto Splitters and a Martin M2PC control desk, was installed for flexible control and ease of use. The house lights were upgraded with Electrosonic SA supplying a Helvar Digidim DALI Router system, coupled to the Crestron DM Control from AVPRO. Renovations at Esselen Park – which was established 70 years ago – will soon be completed, and with up-to-date AV equipment in place, it will be ready to host throngs of conference delegates. Omar Sharfodeen and his crack team spent hours baking in the ceiling while installing the freshly powder-coated, FOH truss carrying two half- Before 10 PROMAG – first quarter 2014 AVPRO is a member of SACIA After