AV Case Study: Tiger Lane
Get your Megacity food fix at Canberra’s Tiger Lane. The audio solution also needs to have teeth.
11 December 2024
Text:/ Christopher Holder
Tiger Lane is a multi-sensory blast of Far East Megacity in an otherwise buttoned-up and bureaucratic Canberra. The sights, sounds and smells are turned up to the max to transport casual diners and partygoers to the hustle and bustle of the likes of downtown Tokyo, Seoul or Shanghai.
The entrance foyer (or ‘Portal’, as it’s dubbed by the operators) features a huge LED display under the feet of those entering the Canberra Centre’s Northern Quarter. A ‘bus stop’ simulates the streetscape and soundscape of Tokyo. Inside Tiger Lane are a number of highly regarded eateries, a central bar and a collection of seating options.
There’s nothing like it in the city and probably Australia — the level of theming, hype and detail is next level.
DINING OUT
Tiger Lane provides a huge sensory experience and the operators required the audio to be up to the challenge. Not only providing a high-quality background music soundtrack for diners but having more than enough headroom around the central bar to keep up with Friday and Saturday night DJs and parties.
The Tiger Lane fitout embraces the exposed services and ceilings, making it tough for a surfacemount audio solution. Phase Four Electrical was the main contractor on the project, which engaged Sound Advice, the Canberra Centre’s long-time systems integrator, which in turn provided the audio design and installation services. Sound Advice boss, Norman Korte, immediately knew the fitout would suit a Bose Professional pendant loudspeaker solution.
“We’ve worked with the Bose Professional DesignMax pendant product on a number of other projects and found them to sound great and be very easy to install,” comments Norman Korte. “The Gripple connection and wiring is easy to work with, especially if the architect’s brief changes and hang heights need to be altered, which they did in this case.”
SWINGING WITH PENDANTS
The design relies on Bose Professional DM6PE pendants powered by Crown CDi series amps for the bulk of the seating, its two-way 6.5-inch coaxial system providing clarity and even coverage across the dining positions. The DM8PE offers some more sonic heft around the bar area, with matching Bose Professional DM10PE 10-inch pendant subwoofers rounding out the party sound.
The Portal audio, complementing the big-screen LED content, is provided by Bose Professional DesignMax DM8S surface mount units.
Sound Advice painstakingly tuned the entire system via a BSS BLU100 DSP processor to ensure an even, satisfying and cohesive sound experience for all patrons wherever they’re seated or even if they’re using the precinct as a thoroughfare. RDL wallplate volume controllers finish off the system.
SOUNDS LIKE DINNER
Tiger Lane is strategically important to the Canberra Centre, not only as a dining precinct but as a thoroughfare to a luxury hotel, that’s soon to be developed. Tiger Lane client representative, Bela Kover, was enthusiastic about how Tiger Lane has shaped up: “Tiger Lane is designed as an immersive customer experience. Yes, it’s a culinary experience, but that’s only part of it. The visuals and the audio all tie into something more holistic. The Bose Professional pendant loudspeakers help create an environment where you’re immersed in the sights and sounds of an Asian metropolis. It’s exciting. The pendant loudspeakers are discreet, blending into the theming, but sound amazing.”
Bose Professional is distributed in Australia by Wesco Anixter.
System Integrator: Sound Advice
Bose Professional: pro.bose.com
Bose Professional Distribution: Wesco Anixter
RESPONSES