11.03.2024 | Pensacola Christian College unveils stunning Dale Horton Auditorium transformation with All Pro Integrated Systems and Elation lighting

Lighting upgrade transforms multifunctional space from static traditional into dynamic contemporary.

Florida's Pensacola Christian College (PCC) has unveiled the stunning transformation of its Dale Horton Auditorium, thanks to a collaboration with All Pro Integrated Systems and Elation lighting. All Pro Integrated Systems, a Sweetwater company based in Pensacola, spearheaded the project, seamlessly integrating a new LED lighting system that elevates the overall experience for both performers and audiences alike.

Pensacola Christian College is celebrating its 50th year of service in the Florida panhandle. The 3,500-seat Dale Horton Auditorium, a spacious multifunctional space with large lower bowl and upper balcony, is used for theatrical performances and other special events. The venue's existing lighting, dating back to the building's construction in 1986, lacked dynamic capabilities and was in dire need of modernization. All Pro Integrated Systems collaborated closely with PCC to address specific challenges within the venue and provide a modern, dynamic lighting solution.

Replace outdated lighting with new LED technologyAll Pro, who previously carried out an audio upgrade at Dale Horton Auditorium, handled the complete integration and project managed the lighting upgrade from concept to completion. Justin Schwartz, design engineer at All Pro Integrated Systems, played a pivotal role in the project and says the mission was clear: replace outdated conventional fixtures with new automated LED technology, offering dynamic colors, textures, and positioning while addressing specific infrastructure challenges within the venue.

Capture convinces
As an initial step, All Pro conducted a thorough assessment of the space, employing a 3D cloud of data points to capture angles, floor rake, and other essential details. All Pro then created a full pre-visualization presentation in CAPTURE lighting design software to showcase the proposed lighting system, providing a proof of concept that impressed PCC's board of directors and committees, including an aesthetic committee. "For this project, this really helped sell it," Justin says. "It helped the PCC team to understand what they could get out of the new system and once they saw the possibilities, they were ready to move forward. They were excited to see that they'd be able to do things in the room that they had never been able to do before."

KL "Key Light" series
Elation rep firm Freed Sales subsequently provided a large number of fixtures onsite for demo and shootout purposes, which All Pro closely scrutinized together with the PCC team. One of the key fixtures looked at was the KL PROFILE FC ellipsoidal, which was subsequently chosen for its superior performance, particularly its integrated 6 to 50-degree zoom. Justin reflected on the demonstration: "The KL Profile FC beat out any of the competition by a long shot. We put them up in the catwalk and when the technical director saw how easy it was to change the beam angle without having to worry about lens swaps, he was sold. He loved the versatility." He adds that the fixture's color temperature adjustment from 2400K up to 8500K was also a huge selling point. "To find a color temp that works for this room but with full color mixing and all the dynamics, that's something they've never experienced before."

Another light in Elation's KL series, the KL PAR FC, was selected to replace white light Par fixtures above the audience in the venue's lower bowl. Tucked into existing cavities in the ceiling to shine directly down on the lower seating area, the full-spectrum KL Par color changers have turned the lower bowl into an immersive space that extends the onstage atmosphere out into the audience. "The whole area now feels like one space," Justin says, noting that the college also plans to use the dynamic color system for other purposes like at summer camp where kids are divided up based on team color.

Stage lighting
Dale Horton Auditorium includes several over-stage electrics, along with two downstage catwalks, all previously full of traditional lighting with no possibility for dynamic color changes or effect looks. Now, KL Par FC, ARTISTE MONET LED profile moving heads and PALADIN PANEL moving panel wash and effects lights populate the overhead trusses with KL Profile FC working from the downstage truss. New lighting positions were added in the form of a side stage ladder system along with new lights at hard-to-access tormentor positions, both equipped with KL Profile FCs.

Color matching
Populating the downstage truss, a midstage batten and the first catwalk are FUZE WASH 500 full color LED Fresnel moving heads. According to Justin, the PCC team has been impressed with how seamlessly the Fuze Wash 500 color matches to the KL Profile FC and the KL Par FC fixtures, giving them unprecedented control over color and contributing to a more cohesive lighting system. All three fixtures house RGBMA color mixing engines for a perfect color match and Justin adds that they even match well with the Artiste Monet and its white LED engine with SpectraColor CMYRGB array.

"For the PCC team who have only occasionally dealt with color, the amount of control they have over color is really surprising. When they dial in color, they don't have to match fixture to fixture; it all looks the same and has made things much easier for them." Additional to the overhead rig and first catwalk are PRISMA WASH 100 and PRISMA WASH 25 UV wash lights from Magmatic effects, which, Justin says, will prove useful as the venue plans to incorporate more blacklight/UV glow into their events.

Balcony-based lights
The top priority for the venue was to replace outdated lighting but there was also a need for new lighting positions for specific fixtures to achieve better angles on the stage. Justin elaborates, "Due to the steep angle from the first catwalk to the stage thrust, they consistently faced issues with face shadowing. A solution was found in a balcony-based lighting system of LED moving heads, which gives better angles for the stage." The kinetic system allows for easy addition of fixtures as needed, with the entire system easily brought down for maintenance. The moving heads, all in white housings to match the ceiling, are linked to a followspot system, enabling full auto tracking of performers on stage.

Exceeding expectations
Justin acknowledges the support of Freed Sales on the project, Elation's manufacturer representative firm, for their responsiveness, extensive support, and commitment to providing a diverse range of fixtures for client demonstrations. "I cannot say enough good things about them," he says. "They are super responsive and the fact that they had so many fixtures available for the client to demo was just key. They support All Pro like no other company."

The Dale Horton Auditorium has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis and marks another successful chapter in All Pro Integrated Systems' over 40 years of expertise as an audio, video, and lighting systems integrator. Commissioning of the project took place in early November, with over 225 fixtures from Elation integrated into the space.

Justin reports that the PCC team are extremely thrilled with the lighting upgrade, which he says has exceeded their expectations, and expresses his own enthusiasm for the project: "To be honest, it exceeded our expectations as well. This is my first integration project with these fixtures, and I am just a huge fan. The end result is fantastic and we look forward to seeing how the system will enhance their theatrical performances and worship services going forward." All Pro trained PCC personnel on the new system and will continue to maintain the system and assist whenever needed.

Elation gear:
91 x KL Profile FC
84 x KL Par FC
16 x Fuze Wash 500
12 x Paladin Panel
8 x Artiste Monet
8 x Prisma Wash 100
8 x Prisma Wash 25