For communities such as continuing care facilities, gathering spaces like auditoriums serve as the vital hub for concerts, lectures, movies, and resident events. But poor sound can undermine the experience. Everything from muffled speech to uneven coverage and excessive echo can frustrate performers and listeners alike. When Brethren Village in Lititz, PA, set out to revamp the sound in Wolfe Auditorium, they turned to B&B Integrations, a regional AV integrator known for custom systems tailored to healthcare and community settings.
Over a multi-phase collaboration, B&B designed and deployed a discreet, high-performance system centered on Renkus-Heinz IC Live arrays with digital beam steering. The result: full-range audio, excellent intelligibility, and minimal visual intrusion—all adapted to the acoustical constraints of the space.
The Challenge
When B&B first walked into the auditorium at Brethren Village, several factors became immediately apparent:
- Uneven Coverage & Drop-offs: Some seats struggled to hear clearly, where the farther one sat, the more muddled the sound became.
- Reverberation & Echo: The room’s surfaces (walls, ceiling) reflected sound, causing overlap and blurring of speech, especially in the mid-to-high frequencies.
- Visual Sensitivity: Because the auditorium is part of a residential care facility, aesthetics and unobtrusiveness were important. The sound system could not dominate the space visually or distract from architectural features.
- Multipurpose Use: The room would host music, spoken word, video playback, and community events, meaning the system needed flexibility, punch, and transparency for both speech and music content.
These challenges are not unusual: reflexive surfaces and high ceilings in multi-use halls often degrade intelligibility, and integrators must strike a balance between coverage, fidelity, and visual discretion.
Collaboration & Discovery
From the beginning, B&B approached the project as a partnership with Brethren Village leadership, staff, and even residents. Instead of a one-size-fits-all design, B&B held listening sessions and walk-throughs to understand how the room was currently used and what shortcomings were most felt (e.g., “people in the back can’t understand dialog,” or “subtle music gets lost”).
To shortlist proper speaker solutions, B&B brought in Renkus-Heinz for on-site demos. Different loudspeaker models were trialed, acoustically measured, and compared in situ. Through these demos, the team could assess how various systems performed in the real acoustic environment, not just in a spec sheet or showroom.
After testing, the consensus gravitated toward the IC Live line of digitally steerable arrays. The ability to “aim” sound where it’s needed (and away from reflective surfaces) offered a clear advantage given the room’s reverberant character.
The Technical Solution
The chosen system combined:
- Renkus-Heinz IC Live beam-steerable arrays
- Dual subwoofers for extended low-frequency support
- DSP processing and tuning are configured for the space
- Careful speaker mounting and aiming strategies designed to keep sound off walls and ceilings
What Is Beam Steering & Why It Matters
Beam steering in acoustics is akin to pointing a flashlight; rather than flooding the whole room, you direct the acoustic “beam” intentionally. Renkus-Heinz’s steerable arrays let designers create discrete beams aimed at audience zones, minimizing reflections and echoes from surfaces.
These arrays use individual amplifier/DSP channels per driver, loaded with FIR filters and delay, enabling precise control over beam shapes. The system’s control software (such as OmniBeam in RHAON II) simplifies what would otherwise be mathematically complex tuning.
One of the compelling benefits is minimal architectural intrusion: because the array itself doesn’t need to be physically angled, it can be wall-mounted flush, providing clean sightlines.
In this deployment, the IC Live arrays provided full-range coverage targeted at the seating zones, while the dual subwoofers filled out the low-end frequencies. The overall tuning and DSP ensured that every seat enjoyed consistent frequency response and intelligibility — even in the rear.
Impact & Outcomes
Shortly after the system went live, several improvements became evident:
- Dramatically improved clarity: Speech and vocals became intelligible from front to back, with minimal muddiness even in challenging acoustics.
- More even sound coverage: Listeners no longer had “weak zones” or drop-offs in volume.
- Discreet aesthetics: The arrays melded visually into the architecture rather than dominating it.
- Enhanced multipurpose use: Music, spoken word, movie soundtracks, and community events all benefited. The same system handled them seamlessly.
Staff and residents remarked that the difference was “night and day”. The enhancement of acoustic experience contributes to richer resident engagement and more confident public events.
Alignment with B&B Integrations’ Approach
This project reflects B&B’s philosophy. We don’t see your communications systems needs as a simple, one-time job. We take the time to create a customized solution that will provide you with years of service.
Our specialization in audio/video systems underlines our commitment to integrated, tailored solutions. In this case, B&B’s local presence, listening-first approach, and willingness to demo equipment on-site were key differentiators. The system doesn’t just meet the immediate need, since it’s built to last and adapt.
Lessons & Best Practices for Similar Projects
- Demo in the actual space: room acoustics make a huge difference in real-world performance.
- Beam-steering gives you “steering, not shouting”: use control, not brute force, to overcome reflections.
- Plan for multifunction use: don’t optimize just for speech or music; the most successful systems handle both.
- Respect aesthetics: high-performing audio systems should harmonize with architecture, not clash with it.
- Ongoing support matters: tuning, maintenance, and capability for future tweaks extend system life.
Final Thoughts on Auditorium Sound
The Wolfe Auditorium upgrade at Brethren Village showcases how a thoughtful AV integrator can transform a community space. With precision tools, collaborative design, and advanced beam-steering technology, B&B Integrations delivered a long-term, high-impact solution that respects both performance and place.
If you’re considering an auditorium, lecture hall, worship space, or multipurpose venue—and you want sound you can trust without sacrificing aesthetics. Reach out to B&B Integrations. Start with a consultation with one of their AV solutions engineers, and see how customized integration can bring clarity, coverage, and confidence to your space.
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