The main hall at Radius, a 55,000 square-foot venue in Chicago that’s scalable in capacity from 2,500 to 3,800, was recently outfiited with a new sound reinforcement system incorporating d&b audiotechnik KSL loudspeakers installed by Brown Note Productions of Thornton, CO.
Located in Chicago’s East Pilsen neighborhood just south of The Loop, Radius includes a VIP mezzanine level, artist lounge, four artist rooms with full amenities, an open-air artist compound area, production offices, and RV/truck parking with direct access to the stage for load-in and out. Previously a steel factory, the space has been transformed into a modern artistic venue, showcasing mural work by local and international artists and equipped with light fixtures to highlight the uniqueness of the venue.
“The original spec was for a d&b J-Series as the project started four years before the SL-Series was available,” explains Ryan Knutson of Brown Note Productions. “KSL was the natural progression for the venue’s future sound reinforcement needs. As we went down the road with the J-Series, the clear replacement would be KSL as it fit the size and sound qualities needed to cover the venue throughout.” Brown Note also deployed d&b Y-Series point source loudspeakers for additional fill coverage needs, providing appropriate SPL output and consistent voicing.
Knutson said the client attended a system demonstration at the Mission Ballroom in Denver (also a Brown Note KSL project) as part of the decision making process. Once the direction was determined, Brown Note utilized d&b ArrayCalc for modeling, helping to determine optimum deployment.
“The d&b KSL loudspeaker system was essential – from the start, we wanted the sound to be a major differentiator for Radius and this system was the driving force,” states owner Nick Karounos. “With this system and the venue acoustics, we’ve essentially addressed a major complaint of other venues that were a theatre first and then retrofitted into a concert venue.”
Radius will entertain most every style of music, from rock to electronic and everything in between. The venue is set up to handle most touring shows and since the pandemic, has shifted to small socially distanced experiential events, private events and corporate events.
The specific componoents in the new system include 11 KSL loudspeakers (7 KSL8, 4 KSL12) per side for a total of 22, 10 SL-GSUB subwoofers, tour Y10p loudspeakers for front fills, two Y10p bar area fills, two more Y10p for under balcony fills, and five 10S-D loudspeakers for the mezzanine and VIP area, The loudspeakers are driven by 17 D80 amplifiers and three D20 amplifiers working with two DS10 audio network bridges.
The venue, which initially opened this past February and is awaiting its reopening due to the pandemic, utilizes the open floor plan of the building to produce an exploratory experience for guests, where they can flow between the various areas, hold photo ops, and change viewpoints at the mezzanine level. In addition, Cermak Hall, another space within the venue that’s set to come online in 2021, will be a 10,000 square-foot multi-purpose event space with a stage, its own entrance and a capacity for up to 1,350.
