Bearcat Event Center
Designing Consistent Coverage for a Multi-Purpose Event Space
The Bearcat Event Center, opened in 2007, serves as a primary venue for the Dexter Public Schools community. The large, multi-purpose venue with high ceilings and multiple seating orientations required coverage that had to be even across the full floor plan, from athletic events to graduation ceremonies, while maintaining minimal visual impact. After years of use, the existing audio system was reaching the end of its life. Reliability was inconsistent, and coverage was uneven.
Dexter Public Schools partnered with HD Media Systems to design a new system that would prioritize sound quality, long-term durability, efficient power use, and strong output from an unobtrusive footprint. The school also wanted a system that would integrate smoothly with its existing IT infrastructure and provide ease of access and control for school personnel
HD Media Systems selected a combination of compact, high-output K-array solutions to meet the school’s needs:
This system was chosen for its balance of scale, clarity, durability, and low power consumption - important considerations for a school operating a high-use public venue. Key to the installation was designing a rigging solution that would allow twelve groups of four flown GH4 loudspeakers and one KU212 subwoofer to cover the event center evenly.
“Getting the GH4 arrays and subs to share the same hang point took some planning, but the custom fly solution came together cleanly. The final layout gave us the coverage we needed without adding visual weight to the room.” - Darren Jones, HD Media Systems
The system was hardwired using balanced XLR connections and integrated directly into the school’s IT network. This allows staff to access amplifiers, the console and streaming devices remotely from tablets and other networked interfaces.
With engineering guidance and design support from the K-array team, the final layout provided consistent performance throughout the venue while keeping the focus on the activities and the people who use the space. The updated K-array audio system now supports the wide range of events held in the Bearcat Event Center.
See K‑array in action at the Bearcat Event Center. Watch HD Media’s full installation video now.
