The Most Difficult Room on Campus Finally Got the Audio System It Deserved

Every university has one room that looks beautiful but performs terribly. At the University of the Fraser Valley, that room was the Gathering Hall. A circular space with no defined front. Hard reflective wood everywhere. Events where elders struggled to hear. Presenters battling feedback. Students sitting in seats that sounded completely different from the row beside them. Music that lost all its impact. A room that fought every microphone and punished anyone trying to run an event inside it.

On paper, the space was meant to bring people together. In reality, the technology was pushing them apart.

The challenge was clear. UFV needed a full audio and video system that could transform one of the hardest architectural spaces on campus into a room that finally supported the people using it. That meant solving acoustics, clarity, accessibility, camera control, projection, user workflow, and visual design without disrupting the architecture.

This project became one of the most complex but rewarding integrations Sapphire has delivered.

Rebuilding the Gathering Hall From the Inside Out

From architectural audio hidden inside wooden ceiling channels to intelligent DSP that adapts to every presenter, to multi camera workflows, projection, and a clean user interface UFV can operate themselves, the Gathering Hall is now one of the most flexible environments on campus.

For the first time, the room sounds the way it was always meant to.

The Challenge: A Circular Room With No Front

The Gathering Hall is used for Indigenous Studies, ceremonies, elders gatherings, music groups, presentations, and community events. Its beauty came with technical drawbacks that made events difficult for years.

Key problems included:

• No defined front of room

• Presenters speaking from any direction

• Hard reflective surfaces

• Inconsistent volume seat to seat

• Elders struggling to hear

• Frequent feedback

• Limited user control

• Events ranging from soft speeches to loud drumming

The previous design used two point source speakers in the corners. They were high quality speakers, but the wrong solution. If you sat near one, you were blasted. If you sat across the room, you struggled to hear. The space created collisions of sound rather than clarity.

The Gathering Hall needed even coverage, not louder speakers.

Acoustic Modeling: Designing the Solution Before Installing

UFV already had a full SketchUp model of the room. Sapphire imported this into Soundvision, the acoustic modeling software from L Acoustics, allowing the team to visualize how sound would behave.

This approach helped:

• Predict reflections

• Identify dead zones

• Optimize angles

• Choose speaker models

• Validate coverage

• Avoid clashes with lighting

Pendant speakers were ruled out due to lighting interference. The system needed something compact, powerful, and visually discreet.

That led Sapphire to the L Acoustics X4i.

Architectural Audio: L Acoustics X4i Hidden in the Wood Channels

The Power of the X4i in a Room Like This

The L Acoustics X4i is a four inch coaxial loudspeaker designed for architectural spaces. It is small enough to hide, yet powerful enough to provide professional clarity and coverage.

UFV’s wood ceiling channels became the perfect structural element to recess these speakers.

Results That Feel Invisible

With multiple X4i units spread throughout the room:

• Every seat now feels like the front row

• Elders can hear clearly

• Presenters sound natural anywhere in the circle

• Music gains depth and warmth

• The system avoids any visual clutter

Even the subwoofers were color matched and integrated in a way that makes them look like part of the structure.

Most people cannot locate the speakers at all. They only feel the result.

Solving Accessibility for Elders and Guests

Because the Gathering Hall is heavily used by Indigenous communities and elders, accessibility was a critical requirement. Clear speech and even sound distribution were essential.

Now:

• No one sits in a “bad” seat

• Speech is intelligible

• Feedback is dramatically reduced

• Listeners with hearing challenges benefit from consistent coverage

This was not just a technical upgrade. It was a cultural responsibility.

Microphone Workflow: Sennheiser Wireless and Intelligent DSP

The room needed a microphone system that could adapt to different presenters, groups, and events without requiring a dedicated technician.

Sapphire integrated Sennheiser wireless systems with advanced DSP programming.

Automatic EQ Based on Microphone Type

The system detects whether a handheld mic or a lavalier is active and loads the correct EQ curve automatically. This reduces feedback and improves clarity.

If an event includes drumming or music, the system can adjust headroom and protection with a single tap.

This makes the system easy for UFV staff to run confidently.

Video System: Multi Camera Flexibility With Roland Switching

The Gathering Hall is equipped with two permanently installed PTZ cameras and the ability to add more. Routing is handled by the Roland V series switcher, chosen for its reliability and simplicity for non technical users.

Dual Independent Projection

Two Grandview electric screens can operate independently or together, enabling:

• Large presentations

• Small circles

• Cultural ceremonies

• Classroom layouts

• Hybrid events

  
  

PTZ Camera Control That Feels Natural

Staff can move cameras, zoom, set presets, and preview shots before sending them live. The interface shows which camera is active through a red bounding box, creating clarity and confidence in every event.

Empowering UFV to Control Their Own System

UFV wanted a system they could operate independently. Their team programs their own touch panels, stores presets, and manages settings without needing a technician onsite.

This reduces long term support costs and keeps the system flexible for changing needs.

Hearing the Room for the First Time

When Sapphire ran the first listening test, the reaction was immediate.

• Music wrapped the room evenly

• Speech felt warm and forward

• Reflections became controlled

• The room supported people instead of fighting them

  
  

For the first time, the Gathering Hall performed as beautifully as it looked.

Honoring Existing Hardware and Saving Budget

Sapphire reused many components UFV already owned, protecting their investment. Funds were directed where they mattered most: architectural audio, DSP, camera workflows, projection, and a modern interface.

This created a premium system without unnecessary costs.

Conclusion: A Room Designed for Its People

The Gathering Hall now supports elders, presenters, drummers, teachers, students, community members, and visitors with clarity and confidence.

Technology is no longer the barrier. Technology is now the bridge.

Ready to Transform Your Space?

If your campus, organization, or institution has a room that looks beautiful but performs poorly, or if you want to elevate the way people gather, hear, and connect, our team at Sapphire can help you design a system that respects your architecture while transforming the experience inside it.

Visit Sapphire.ca to start your AV project with us.Your room deserves to work as beautifully as it looks.