In the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip stands as a symbol of community and faith on Peachtree Road, otherwise known as “Jesus Junction”.
The cathedral first opened in 1962 and has since become one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the United States.
Its Gothic Revival architecture stands out against the modern city backdrop and creates an inspiring acoustic setting for the choir and pipe organ.
However, the same could not be said for the cathedral’s ageing audio technology. In need of an upgraded sound system to support weekly services, the cathedral turned to Renkus-Heinz for a modern solution.
With stone walls, high ceilings and hard floors, the Cathedral of St. Philip is a highly reverberant space, making speech intelligibility almost impossible with the existing system.
“The previous sound system had been in place for over twenty years, cobbled together over time with parts that didn’t match,” said James Denmon of Dynamic AV Systems, who led the installation project.
“We were approached by the consultant, Newcomb & Boyd, who had been tasked with delivering an upgraded solution that would optimise clarity and minimise reverberation. The regional representative for Renkus-Heinz, Griffith Sales Associates, pointed them in our direction due to our experience with houses of worship and the ICONYX system.”
In order to design a system that would address these architectural and acoustic challenges, Newcomb & Boyd created an EASE model of the cathedral, allowing them – in conjunction with Dynamic AV Systems – to determine which loudspeakers were best suited to the space.
“We have worked with Renkus-Heinz plenty of times in the past. Knowing that speech intelligibility was the main goal, their ICONYX steerable system was the obvious solution for this venue,” Denmon said.
“At the front of the hall we deployed two IC24-RD Digital Steerable Line Array loudspeaker systems as mains, supported by two IC8-RD arrays for the transepts at the sides,” he continued.
“Through to the back of the room we installed ten IC16-RD columns. The ability to steer sound directly to the audience is a real game-changer for acoustically complex venues such as this cathedral.
Throughout the installation process, the cathedral continued to rely on the existing system for regular services. Despite the added complexity, the Dynamic AV team carefully worked around the legacy equipment, ensuring that worship services proceeded without interruption.
However, when it came to controlling the system, there were some initial network challenges.
“The customer wanted to stick with their existing network provided by their IT company, but this simply wasn’t feasible with the updated solution,” explained Denmon.
Ultimately, Dynamic AV developed a dedicated AV network, utilising Dante for intuitive, user-friendly FOH control.
“We were able to get the system aimed, delayed, and equalized, with the flexibility to adapt for different scenarios. Wherever you are in the room, you can hear at least one of the IC loudspeakers,” said Denmon.
For smaller services or events with fewer than 100 people, staff can easily turn off the back arrays to leave only the front IC24s, removing unnecessary loudspeakers for pristine clarity, while the full system delivers unmatched coverage to the entire congregation.
The interior aesthetic is also a key part of the cathedral’s character, making it an essential aspect of the installation. While the previous system had not taken this into account – messy cables on display and bold loudspeakers – Dynamic AV Systems made sure that the Renkus-Heinz system would minimise visual disruption.
“The loudspeakers were custom-painted in a colour specified by the client to match the stonework,” Denmon revealed.
“Working with the electricians, we also created custom-painted wire molds to run up the stone columns. Some elements now blend in so well that people were asking when the new system would be installed.”
Thanks to the collaboration with Newcomb & Boyd, Renkus-Heinz, and the cathedral’s in-house engineers, Dynamic AV Systems successfully overcame the venue’s architectural and acoustic complexities to deliver a cutting-edge sound system.
“The ICONYX system has dramatically enhanced speech intelligibility for services of all sizes. One parishioner told us that after attending the Cathedral of St. Philip for many years, she could finally understand everything that was being said,” Denmon added.
“It’s hard to claim that any single loudspeaker can suit every room, but Renkus-Heinz’s steerable arrays come very close.”
With the new system in place, the cathedral’s acoustic challenges have been resolved, while the experience for parishioners has been fundamentally enhanced to ensure more connected and immersive worship for years to come.
