Professional loudspeaker specialist Genelec has partnered with the integrator JML-System to elevate the audio experience at a new development – the Kulturkvarteret Örebro (KKV Örebro) in Sweden.
KKV Örebro was created with the mission of fostering culture, and is particularly focused on enriching the lives of children and young people in the area through the arts. Heavily utilised by students of the local Örebro University, the five-storey building is also open for public use.
The centre encompasses the Örebro City Library, Kulturskolan, multiple stages, rehearsal spaces, and an art school specialising in music, dance and theatre, as well as an art gallery.
Genelec and JML provided more than 80 of the 4000 series loudspeakers throughout the building, to complement a host of other audio-visual technology. The primary contractor was Swedish construction company Network Cybernetics Corporation (NCC), which procured the various sub-contractors. The integration was carried out by JML, which collaborated closely with experts including the architect Gert Wingårdh.
“It’s important to remember we are in an educational environment where the rooms are in constant use – so component quality, which directly affects durability and reliability, was a massive consideration,” said Johan Ståhlgren, the project leader from JML, on the decision to implement a Genelec solution. “Due to the cultural significance of the building to the local community, sustainability was a non-negotiable aspect of the project. Genelec excels in both these departments, making them a natural choice.”
“Genelec’s 4000 series was perfectly suited to this installation, with each of the four different models being ideal for the varying rooms,” Ståhlgren continued. “All of them deliver exceptional performance, ensuring an immersive audio experience tailored to the specific needs of the varying room sizes and applications. The rooms range from large orchestral halls of 120m² to small studios that are no bigger than 15-16m². Regardless of the size, Genelec’s active loudspeaker technology makes the 4000 series very easy to install as it removes the need for external amplifiers, thus conserving rack space and reducing cabling. What’s more, Genelec’s signature aesthetic design looks every bit as good as it sounds, and each cabinet is available in 120 different RAL colours, making it easy to blend with any interior.”
“Due to its size, the 4010 is extremely versatile and can be integrated seamlessly anywhere,” said Ståhlgren. “So, we opted for two of these in each of the smaller music rooms and conference rooms, while in the larger studios, conference rooms and rehearsal rooms, the 4020s made more sense – combining the same versatility and precision with a greater output. Six 4030s provide outstanding clarity and definition for the library area and one of the vocal studios, and finally, the large-format 4040 model provides impressive power and dynamic range, making it perfect for the dance studios where robust sound with extended low-frequency response is essential. We also specified four additional 8050 studio loudspeakers for the largest dance studio, which deliver power in abundance with a class-leading balance of extraordinary SPL output, dynamic range and transparent performance.”
“The flexibility of Genelec’s design proved to be invaluable in this case,” said Ståhlgren. “Considering the diverse disciplines and their distinct acoustic requirements in each room, the rear panel room compensation switches offer us significant control with just a flick of a switch during installation. This ensures that the loudspeakers are tailored to their environments, delivering pristine audio quality and saving us valuable time.”
“The project planning was well organised, with regular meetings bringing together all disciplines every second week to assess progress and address challenges,” said Ståhlgren. “Despite the time constraints between the completion of the building and the handover to end-users, the project was completed within the designated timeframe and budget. It’s been a tremendously fulfilling and captivating journey for all involved, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing how students and teachers will utilise and embrace the newly created space.”
