Versatile AV and cinema system integration at state-of-the-art community space in Shinfield

Shinfield Community Cinema in Reading is a council initiative space, funded by the nearby Shinfield Studios. Opened in October of 2024, the space serves as a multi-purpose community hall and cinema, intended for movie screenings, community events, council meetings and leisure activities. AV and cinema system integration specialists, Tateside were recommended for the project. With a strict deadline and an ambitious goal to provide an easy-to-use yet high-quality technology for multiple uses, Tateside delivered a turnkey service to bring top-of-the-line amenities to Shinfield’s new community hub.

Professional AV and Cinema System Integration in London

“We worked with Shinfield to deliver a complete solution, from system design and implementation through to IT and electrical infrastructure,” explains Jack Cornish, Technical Director at Tateside. “Bringing multiple uses within a single space, it was important to prioritise a robust network infrastructure and powerful control system to make the user experience as seamless as possible, despite the complex technologies working behind the scenes.”

Tateside had an empty shell to work with but needed to overcome lighting, acoustic and timescale challenges to deliver a technical solution fit for a truly multi-purpose venue. As well as serving as a community cinema, the space required video conferencing and live-streaming capabilities for council meetings, as well as options for using the space for event hire, sports and community events or classes. 

Cutting-Edge Cinema Technology and Design

A 4.5-metre-wide custom Screen International microperforated motorised projector screen provides the ‘big screen’ experience, whilst a 16000-lumens laser projector from Epson ensures stunning image quality. “The projector, the screen and even the cinema seating is retractable and can be hidden away in the ceiling or, in the case of the seating, on the wall,” explains Cornish. “If the hall is used for sports or ball games, the tech can be safely stored away.”

The cinema audio is arranged in a trusted 9.1 configuration, with nine wall-mounted compact stainless-steel loudspeakers from the K-array group brand, KGEAR, delivering high-performance audio without disrupting the room’s aesthetics or protruding excessively from the walls. These are paired with a K-array KU315 subwoofer to provide the deep, powerful bass required for a true cinematic experience.

The cinema audio system is powered by Powersoft Dante-enabled amplifiers and optimised through a Trinnov Altitude 16 processor. “The Trinnov processor was a significant investment, but it was a priority for us to ensure the room’s acoustics are properly tuned,” continues Cornish. “With the hard surfaces, the power of the Trinnov processor to deliver a premium cinema sound experience was a game-changer.”

The cinema space also features a QMotion blackout blind system integrated with the overall Lutron lighting ecosystem, allowing the room to shift from daylight to complete darkness for movie screenings at the touch of a button. 

Advanced Video Conferencing and Live Streaming

Beyond cinema, the space can be quickly transformed into a venue for presentations, council meetings, or even live performances. The backbone of this multi-use functionality is based on a Q-SYS system, which handles all the routing for audio, video and control. Sennheiser lapel and handheld microphones provide flexibility for presenters, utilising the cinema’s central loudspeakers for audio playback with pre-configured settings to easily switch to the desired presentation modes. Video distribution and camera routing are managed through BluStream HDMI video-over-IP transmitter and receiver pairs. 

“There’s a top layer of Crestron control, so when a user walks into the room, they can choose the room mode on the Crestron touchpad, either presentation or cinema, and the technology behind the scenes takes care of the rest,” says Cornish. “Video conferencing on Zoom or Teams is brought into the space via the room PC and peripherals to support hybrid meetings or bring virtual audiences into the hall.”

Two PTZ Optics cameras, placed at the front and back of the room, broadcast live video over an NDI network protocol, feeding back to a dedicated PC, which handles all peripheral connections and video conferencing platforms.

A key requirement for the client was to have live-streaming capabilities in the room. For online streaming to platforms such as YouTube, Tateside integrated a YOLOBOX. This device allows video feeds from the NDI system to be streamed out to multiple platforms simultaneously, with easy control via an iPhone or iPad app and picture-in-picture functionality for dynamic broadcasts

“With the cinema use case, lighting was an important part of the project,” explains Cornish. “Using DALI protocols, we preconfigured the Lutron Athena lighting system with various lighting scenes so users can quickly switch modes.” Tateside integrated the Lutron controls within the Crestron system, providing a unified access point for full automation. The lighting system meets safety requirements, with emergency lighting and fire alarm automation ensuring that the room complies with building regulations. 

A Multi-Purpose Hub for the Shinfield Community

Despite the complexity of the system, the user experience is streamlined. Crestron acts as the nerve centre, simplifying control of all AV, lighting and automation, even including motorised window control. Users benefit from full use of the room features from the touchscreen, whether switching between different modes, live-streaming events, controlling the blinds or adjusting the lighting.

“Focusing on the ‘must-haves’ versus the ‘nice-to-haves’ helped us create a high-quality AV ecosystem that met the client’s budget,” continues Cornish. “For example, room brightness and acoustics posed a challenge, so we invested in a high-lumen projector and premium audio processor to bring an immersive cinema experience to the space, but opted for less premium brands for other components to balance the project.”

Shinfield Community Cinema now has the AV and cinema technology required to serve the diverse needs of the local neighbourhood. From family movie screenings to corporate presentations and fitness classes, the room’s integrated audio, video and lighting technologies guarantee the best possible experience for both in-person users and virtual audiences.

Transform your space with expert AV and cinema system integration. Contact Tateside today to discuss your project and discover how our tailored solutions can bring your vision to life.”

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