Electrosonic, Inc. has been a key player in the multi-million-dollar renovation of the Museum of Tolerance/Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. Among the improvements made by Electrosonic was the installation of a 308-channel Iosono sound system in the Peltz Theater -- the first theatre installation of its type in the US --, extensive AV support for a new exhibit depicting Simon Wiesenthal's Vienna office and the upgrading of many other exhibits and interactive displays.
Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design was responsible for the interior design concept, which included a major retooling of the 300-seat Peltz Theater. The theater is often used for special events and fundraisers and was stripped to its structure and rebuilt to better meet the Museum of Tolerance's multipurpose needs. Electrosonic supplied design, engineering, fabrication, installation and programming for all of the systems. "The crown jewel of the theater's technology is a 308-channel audio system from Iosono GmbH," reports Electrosonic project manager Steve Calver. "The Peltz is the first theater in the country with an Iosono system. With 308 independent audio channels and five subwoofer channels, which are entirely hidden within the architectural elements of the theater, you get a very encompassing natural sound. The system utilizes waveform synthesis allowing for effects and movement of sound that have never been reproduced before now. Because of the way the sound is distributed every seat in the house is a good one."
While two 35mm film projectors and a Stewart film screen remain in the Peltz Theater, Electrosonic added HD video capabilities to increase its functionality and allow for digital video playback. A Christie 5000 lumen 3-chip HD DLP projector was installed, along with an array of video sources, including Blu-ray DVD players. Valley Theater Services furnished a motorized masking system for the screen to change its frame/aspect ratio as needed.
Electrosonic worked with the architects to incorporate motorized lighting battens from LA ProPoint so the theater's ceiling fixtures can be easily maintained. Electrosonic also provided ETC dimming and control for new architectural TIR LED wall lights whose color can be changed dynamically. Theatrical dimming and all electrical upgrades were provided by ESSCO and the project was managed by Matt Construction.
Chris Conte served as the project design consultant while Les Hill was Electrosonic's salespersons for the Peltz renovation with Stan Gilson and John Groper the primary engineers. Mark Shakarjian was the lead installer, Daric Warneke fabrication manager, and Paul Cutone purchaser. Consultant Dave Revel handled AMX programming; Tanja Johnston, a key design engineer for the Iosono system, was also Iosono's engineering sales and marketing representative.
New in the Museum of Tolerance is a permanent exhibit featuring Simon Wiesenthal's Vienna office, which was brought from Austria and recreated onsite with his furniture, books and mementos. Electrosonic designed, installed and programmed the audio, video and show control system for the exhibit which includes a number of multimedia components.
Within the office is a 16-foot wide Da-Lite motorized screen which displays three-projector (Panasonic PT-D3500U) edge-blended video highlighting Mr. Wiesenthal's life and accomplishments sourced from Electrosonic MS9200 HD video players and an MS9500 video player. Two LCD monitors hang outside the exhibit, above the visitors, and display Closed Caption texting and other graphic reinforcements.
An additional plasma screen, opposite the office exhibit, plays an "Everyday Heroes" video loop which illustrates how Wiesenthal and his colleagues are ordinary people doing heroic work. All of the video in the office exhibit is under Electrosonic ESCAN show control; Electrosonic also furnished Dakota focused audio speakers for the space and partnered with the video content creators to provide all of the HD MPEG2 encoding. Mark Shakarjian was Electrosonic's lead installer for the exhibit.
During the long-term renovation of the Museum of Tolerance Electrosonic has also supplied AV support for numerous exhibits and interactive displays. Electrosonic's brief has included adding visitor Polling Stations with custom programming, converting the Orientation Center to a live news center with multiple plasma displays, and replacing CRT monitors with flat-panel LCDs.
Electrosonic has worked with Sue Burden, The SWC's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, for more than 15 years. Electrosonic also worked on the group's New York City Tolerance Center where it has provided AV systems integration, design and programming.
About Electrosonic
Electrosonic is a worldwide audio-visual company that operates in three ways: as a systems integrator, as a product manufacturer, and as a service provider for AV facilities. Founded in 1964, Electrosonic has always been among the first to apply new technology to create tailored, state-of-the-art solutions that meet the challenges of the professional AV market.
Electrosonic's system integration business has a strong reputation for working on complex projects, both large and small, and has through its 40 year history developed lasting partnerships with customers and suppliers. Electrosonic brings a unique breadth of experience to each project, backed by solid engineering skills, project management and quality production facilities. Beyond complete integrated systems, Electrosonic can provide a wide range of services including consultancy, technical design, maintenance, lamp leasing and operational support.