Issue 48 AUG 25 web - Flipbook - Page 97
Given the historic and sacred nature of the environment
and the architectural constraints of installing new
technology in a heritage building, the Whitwam AVI
team spent time carefully designing and commissioning
various custom bracketry solutions and RAL colourmatched enclosures for both loudspeakers and cameras to
ensure that the new tech would blend into the historic surroundings. Furthermore, the venue’s limited cable routes
required Whitwam AVI to install multiple equipment
racks throughout the Abbey, some of which needed to be
IP-rated enclosures due to the environmental conditions
in the basement and crypt. Twisted pair and fibre extenders
were utilised in the full system design to link the racks and
minimise cabling, whilst custom-coloured trunking was
installed along the Abbey walls to ensure any cable runs
were neatly contained and discreetly hidden.
coverage throughout the Abbey. For the video side, five
Panasonic AW-UE50 PTZ cameras, also custom
coloured, are installed at key locations throughout
including the high altar, side crossings and at the rear of
the nave to capture all proceedings during Abbey services.
A portable camera offers an additional perspective for
special events such as weddings. Aside from the live
streaming functionality, the Abbey’s organist also benefits
from an improved view of the venue via a 10” Lilliput
video monitor, improving the accuracy of timings for
musical elements of services.
“We have a great relationship with Panasonic, so we are
able to disassemble the camera enclosures to paint them
to the desired RAL colour and reassemble them without
compromising the product warranties,” explains Clarke.
“We also designed, commissioned and painted custommade brackets for both the loudspeakers and the cameras,
allowing us to safely fix the technology without interfering
with the stonework, which is critical in heritage buildings.”
“It was not a straightforward project,” confirms Clarke.
“The evolving scope and natural architectural limitations
at Saint Michael’s posed challenges, but by collaborating
closely with the client, maintaining open communication
and harnessing our own experience in similar venues, we
were able to work around these constraints.”
“We are pleased to see our technologies installed in spaces
as unique as Saint Michael’s Abbey,” comments Alan
Head at Panasonic. “The team at Whitwam AVI
have taken great care to integrate five of our AW-UE50
cameras seamlessly with the surrounding architecture.
Given their skill and expertise, we allow for their in-house
customisation to ensure the integration at the Abbey not
only looks great but also gives the user peace of mind in
terms of system performance and longevity.”
“When working onsite, it was like the Whitwam AVI
team were invisible,” comments Brother Michael on his
experience of the installation project at the Abbey. “We
didn’t even know they were there, and their work was
professional and accurate.”
The audio system, which covers the nave, the high altar
and the side chapels, consists of pairs of Bose MA12
modular column array loudspeakers, ensuring even audio
To ensure accessibility a Sennheiser MobileConnect s
ystem was chosen for its ease of use, allowing hard-
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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