Synergy AVL Delivers Turnkey Outline Audio Solution for Pusat Insani in Brunei

To mark 80 years of presence in the Sultanate since the discovery of oil in 1929, the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company (BSP) unveiled plans in 2008 to build its largest community development in Brunei. The Pusat Insani project was a multi-million dollar community center that will serve as a link between the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre and Seria Town. The development features function rooms, a gymnasium, a VIP lounge, a learning centre, and other modern amenities; however the key facility will be the centre's Multipurpose Hall which has the capacity to accommodate 1,500 people in a lavish banquet-style seating and will be used to host royal, government, community, and corporate events.

Pusat Insani is designed as a dynamic, forward-looking community center that will add value to the quality of life for the people of Brunei Darussalam. To support this vision, the center's many facilities had to be equipped with the most reliable audio-visual solutions available. Outline's distributor Synergy AVL, a Singapore-based audio-visual consultant and systems integrator was awarded the contract to design, supply, install and commissioning of the sound, stage lighting, video, control, and camera systems for the Multipurpose Hall, Gymnasium, aerobics studio, VIP lounge, and lobby entrance.

Synergy's track record was already well familiar with the client having previously completed a Shell Auditorium in Brunei a few years back. As this was a prestigious client, on this project, Synergy AVL worked closely by consulting with their principals from Outline, LDR, Macostar, DTS Lighting, and Stark in helping to formulate a turnkey system that is unique and will deliver the best possible performance for the various areas. As the AV consultant, Synergy presented a detailed simulation and a full set of drawings for the system schematics, layout, location, and angles of the proposed system to the client, and being a systems integrator, it felt that it would also be the best company to carry out the complex installation works.

The Multipurpose Hall will also be the venue for music concerts and Synergy approached this sound reinforcement criteria by choosing to use the Italian designed and made VLA (vertical line array) system from Outline. The front-of-house system consists of 18 Outline MANTAS, four Outline SUBTECH 218 subwoofers, eight Outline T-Five digital amplifiers, and a single Outline Genius 26 DSP controller. Other equipment includes 6 Outline HARD 115 SP as stage wedges and a pair of Outline MICRA II as booth monitors.

Sound reinforcement in the other facilities has been designed to be unobtrusive yet able to deliver high performance when needed most. In the Gymnasium and Aerobics venue, Synergy has installed four Outline DVS 8 SP powered speakers with low-frequency support from a single Outline LAB 15 SP powered sub. In the VIP Lounge, the system features eight Outline DVS 8 SP speakers.

Headed by senior project manager Chip Chong, the Synergy team completed the project within its given schedule of only six months from the proposal stage, to delivery, installation, and commissioning stage. This was possible because of the very strong support and onsite visits the team received from the manufacturers and suppliers. The prestigious venue was officially opened by general Haji Sir Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei and will be the hallmark of harmony between the oil and gas industry and the community of South Brunei.