Project Highlight: First Unitarian Church of Victoria
A space can mean a lot more to an organization when it can be used in different ways. For the First Unitarian Church of Victoria in Victoria, BC, the sanctuary isn't just where Sunday services take place. It is also used for performances, community events, presentations, and rentals.
With so many different activities taking place in the same room, the AV system needs to be able to change with them. It needs to provide the production capabilities needed for larger events while remaining simple enough for church staff and outside groups to use.
Evolution AV has been working with the church since 2021, building, upgrading, and maintaining an AV system that makes the sanctuary easier to use while expanding what the space can offer. Our team made use of some of the church's existing equipment where it made sense, and built a new system designed to support their needs now and in the future.
A System Designed for Different Uses
A multi-use space has different needs depending on who’s using it. One of the biggest priorities our team had was making sure the AV equipment was flexible and intuitive for the different kinds of events happening day to day.
The system needs to provide enough control for complex events with live music, multiple audio sources, cameras, and streaming, but the church shouldn't need a full production team in the booth to run a weekly service. On the other hand, external users shouldn't need to know how to operate a digital mixing console or worry about changing crucial settings when the space is rented out. However, having a member of the church attend each event isn’t always practical.
That’s why our team implemented specialty programming to create a solution for this exact situation. The system now has two modes: operator and renter mode.
Operator mode gives access to the full system in the production booth, including the mixing console and more advanced production controls.
Renter mode provides access to the equipment needed for a typical event without needing to enter the booth. Guests use a simplified control system via a touch panel mounted in the main hall to operate the microphones, cameras, video, and other basic functions. They can also connect a computer for video conferencing, broadcasting, streaming, or recording.
While renter mode is activated, the system bypasses the large mixing console to instead use Biamp and Extron controllers. These handle the audio processing, source mixing, and feedback suppression, keeping the production booth locked and the more complex equipment out of the hands of those who don't need it.
By making the space easier for outside groups to operate, the AV system helps support the church's rental program, creating an additional source of revenue.
Audio Designed for the Space
A prior consultant did extensive acoustic testing during the pre-construction stage and installed acoustic treatment throughout the space. Our team was able to utilize the large acoustic cloud hanging from the ceiling as a mounting location for multiple loudspeakers, allowing for sound distribution directly above the audience.
The audio system was carefully tuned for the acoustics of the space and is designed to support everything from spoken presentations and services to live performances. Multiple input locations throughout the sanctuary provide connections for microphones and instruments, while stage monitors give performers the audio they need during events. The system includes wireless handheld mics, dedicated choir, piano, and drum mics, and extra vocal and instrument mics depending on what’s needed.
These options give the church the flexibility to change the setup depending on what is happening in the room. A service may only require a few microphones and basic audio processing, while a live event can use the additional instrument inputs, stage monitors and full mixing capabilities.
Production Level Video Capabilities
The video system gives the church even more flexibility.
Four PTZ cameras are positioned throughout the room, giving the church multiple views of the space. The cameras can be controlled remotely and positioned for different parts of an event, whether that means focusing on a speaker at the podium, a choir, a musician, or another performer within the room. In the booth, a PC combines the camera feeds with presentation content for live streaming and recording.
The sanctuary also has a large projection screen and digital displays installed throughout, with a video distribution system that can send content to specific rooms. This ensures guests can see the content regardless of where they are within the church. It can also connect to platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, giving the church options for hybrid events and remote participation.
With the cameras, streaming capabilities, and production equipment, the space essentially becomes a small production studio that can be used by both the church and external groups.
Supporting the System Over Time
The work at First Unitarian Church of Victoria didn't end when the new AV system was installed. For a multi-use space with a system this complex, ongoing support is just as important.
Evolution AV has continued working with the church since 2021, supporting the system and making changes as the needs of the space evolve. Over the years, our team has helped with additional equipment and programming, provided maintenance and support, and taken care of service calls when something needs troubleshooting or repair.
Having a team familiar with the space and the technology means the church has a resource they can turn to whenever they need it.
Getting More from the Space
The best AV system isn't necessarily the one with the most controls. It's the one that gives the right people the right controls.
For the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, the sanctuary does more than support weekly services. By making the AV system easy for guests to use, the church now has a bookable, well-designed space with professional AV capabilities, giving them an additional revenue stream through rentals. It turned the room into a flexible space that can be used by the church, the community, and outside groups.
This project is a great example of how the right AV system can help an organization get more value from the spaces it already has.
Whether you are looking to make a community space more flexible, improve the technology in an existing production venue, or create new opportunities for permanent rentals, Evolution AV can help design a system around how your space is actually used. Contact our team to learn how we can help you get more out of your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A multi-use AV system needs to support different types of events and users without requiring a completely different setup each time. Features such as flexible audio inputs, multiple microphones, automated controls, cameras, streaming and simplified user interfaces can allow the same space to support everything from regular services to performances, presentations and rentals.
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Yes. AV systems can be designed with different levels of control depending on who is using the space. At First Unitarian Church of Victoria, Renter Mode gives users access to basic AV functions through a simplified touchpanel, while keeping the more complex production equipment in the booth inaccessible.
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A professionally equipped, easy-to-use space can be more attractive to outside groups looking for a venue for events, presentations, performances or meetings. By making the AV system simple for renters to operate, organizations can offer more than just the physical space and create additional opportunities to generate revenue through rentals.
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Live performance spaces can benefit from a variety of microphones, instrument inputs, stage monitors and a digital mixing system. A flexible system can support everything from vocals and presentations to instruments such as piano and drums without requiring the room to be permanently configured for one type of event.
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The acoustics of a room affect how clearly people can hear speech, music and other audio. Acoustic treatment and appropriate loudspeaker and microphone selection can help improve intelligibility and system performance. At First Unitarian Church of Victoria, acoustic testing and treatment were incorporated into the design, and the existing acoustic cloud was used as a mounting location for the loudspeakers.
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AV systems often need to evolve as an organization's needs change. Ongoing maintenance, service, programming and system upgrades can help keep the technology reliable and allow new equipment or functionality to be added over time. For First Unitarian Church of Victoria, Evolution AV has continued to provide support, service and upgrades since beginning work with the church in 2021.