EBL Ele­fant­e­huus

Originally built in the early 1900s to house giant diesel generators, the EBL Elefantehuus venue in Liestal, Switzerland was dormant for decades before its revival as a cultural destination.

WSDG was entrusted with one of the most demanding tasks: delivering complete internal acoustic treatment to a historically protected structure located less than 20 metres from a hospital. The objective was unambiguous – zero sound leakage.

WSDG began by analysing the space’s original acoustic behaviour. The central hall, with its high ceiling and reflective surfaces, posed challenges of excessive reverberation and lack of clarity. WSDG implemented a multi-layered treatment strategy.

White, single-layer magnesite and bonded wool-wood panels were applied to the walls to deliver mid-frequency absorption, while the edges of the ceiling received specialised treatments to manage sound reflections. The ceiling also incorporated a Helmholtz resonator to control low-frequency build-up, crucial for live music performances.

To complete the sonic environment, WSDG designed a hybrid sound system tailored to Elefantehuus’s multipurpose character. For live performances, they specified an L-Acoustics PA comprising four A10i Focus and four A10i Wide loudspeakers, supported by five LA4X amplifiers and compact yet powerful KS21i subwoofers.

For speech and presentations, low-profile Fohhn DLI-230 steerable-column loudspeakers were deployed to ensure speech intelligibility without visual intrusion. The entire system is managed via a DiGiCo S21 console, offering flexibility for various use cases.

Wireless audio was addressed with a robust Shure ULX-D system, including handhelds, lavaliers, and gooseneck boundary microphones, making the venue ideal for everything from concerts to panel discussions. The result is exceptional clarity and consistent SPL coverage, free from unwanted echoes or distortions.

This hybrid configuration has proven essential, with Elefantehuus already hosting a broad range of events – from jazz concerts to corporate presentations – since opening. WSDG’s work ensures the space remains acoustically consistent regardless of format, while Kilchenmann AG’s expert AV installation guarantees reliable day-to-day operation.

Lighting at EBL Elefantehuus is more than functional – it is theatrical, immersive, and as adaptable as the venue itself. Working closely with Huebscher Gestaltet GmbH and Kilchenmann AG, WSDG supported the design and implementation of a fully flexible, stage-ready lighting system that complements the venue’s hybrid use, from concerts to corporate galas.

Central to the lighting strategy was the request for a system that could deliver creative expression during performances while also supporting clear, professional illumination for presentations and more subdued use cases. To meet these goals, a combination of intelligent moving heads, wash lights, and colour-rich fixtures were specified—all fully programmable and controlled via an Avolites Quartz lighting console.

The core of the lighting rig includes four Cameo OPUS SP5 FC moving heads and eight OPUS S5 units, chosen for their high-speed movement, precision control, and wide colour spectrum. These are supplemented by six Cameo EVOS W7 LED wash lights, offering strong, even coverage with high output, making them perfect for lighting both the stage and audience areas. To further enhance the flexibility of the system, eight Cameo F2 FC fixtures provide soft fill and face lighting, ideal for variety performances or speaker-centric events.

All lighting units are fully addressable and dimmable, allowing for real-time mood shifts during shows or events. The system supports dynamic lighting scenes that can be cued quickly, giving the technical staff the tools they need to create stunning atmospheres across a wide range of formats. According to Dirk Noy of WSDG, “The lights were selected not just for their performance, but for their ability to respond to quick changes. The flexibility is what makes the difference.”

To support immersive shows and theatrical productions, a Martin JEM Compact Hazer Pro was also installed. This fixture introduces a fine atmospheric haze that brings out the beams and textures of the lighting rig, adding drama and depth without overwhelming the space.

The all-white interior—chosen to reflect any colour scheme—works in harmony with the lighting design, enhancing the impact of even the subtlest changes in tone.

The EBL Elefantehuus’s video system is designed to enhance live performances as well as meet the demands of a modern, multi-purpose venue. Though the historic exterior of the building could not be altered, inside, the space has been equipped with an AVoIP-driven system that seamlessly supports corporate events, live streaming, and visual presentations with professional-grade clarity and flexibility.

AV integrators Kilchenmann AG worked with WSDG to ensure that video capabilities would match the venue’s exceptional acoustic standards. The visual centrepiece of the room is an integrated Barco LED wall, composed of 81 XT 2.5-E LED tiles powered by Barco’s Infinipix NP 100 and NM 110 processors. The display is optimised for both live video playback and presentation content, with high brightness and pixel density that delivers excellent visibility from all seating positions, even in varied lighting conditions.

A Barco ClickShare C10 system allows users to wirelessly present content from laptops and mobile devices directly to the LED wall. This brings intuitive, plug-and-play simplicity to events such as corporate meetings, educational talks, or panel discussions—eliminating the need for complex AV setups while maintaining a sleek, professional output.

For video recording and broadcast, three Panasonic AW-UE150 PTZ cameras have been installed to capture events from multiple angles. Controlled remotely, the cameras offer 4K resolution and precise pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities, making them ideal for everything from concerts and theatrical performances to streamed panel debates. These feeds can be used for in-house display, external broadcasting, or archival purposes.

To manage and distribute content throughout the venue, a Crestron DM-NVX-based video over IP system was implemented. This includes DM-NVX-360, DM-NVX-352 (Dante-enabled), and DM-NVX-363C units—enabling the AV team to route video flexibly to displays, LED walls, and future digital signage options. The system is also tied to a Crestron UC-C100-Z conferencing codec, allowing Elefantehuus to offer hybrid and remote conferencing solutions with professional-grade quality.

The result is a space that supports live production and media-rich events with ease, enabling EBL Elefantehuus to function not just as a music venue, but as a technologically sophisticated cultural and corporate hub for the Liestal community.

Transforming EBL Elefantehuus from a forgotten industrial space into a high-performance performance venue was not without its challenges. Chief among them was achieving exceptional acoustic performance within a historically protected building, located just 20 metres from a hospital.

The first major challenge was isolation. Because of the venue’s proximity to the cantonal hospital, even minimal audio transmission could jeopardise the site’s viability. To address this, WSDG implemented a “room-in-room” construction – an entirely decoupled inner shell designed to absorb and contain low-frequency energy. This approach required precise structural planning and close collaboration with Otto Partner Architekten to ensure that the solution respected the building’s heritage while delivering cutting-edge acoustics.

Internally, the space was plagued with sharp architectural angles and highly reflective surfaces – an acoustic minefield. WSDG conducted a thorough analysis and specified a custom acoustic treatment package. White magnesite-bonded wool-wood panels were installed on the walls to provide high mid-frequency absorption, while perforated gypsum panels under the balcony controlled low-mid frequencies. For maximum low-frequency control, a Helmholtz resonator was integrated into the ceiling, taming unwanted boominess and ensuring clear, consistent sound across all types of events.

From a technical standpoint, another hurdle was achieving the venue’s AV flexibility goals without cluttering the clean architectural lines. Kilchenmann AG, under WSDG’s guidance, carried out a seamless AV integration, using discreet speaker placement and concealed cabling. The team also faced the challenge of fitting state-of-the-art video systems and theatre-style lighting rigs within a venue where space is at a premium and aesthetics are critical. Equipment was carefully selected for compact form factors and remote operability to reduce the need for visible controls or intrusive infrastructure.

Coordinating multiple disciplines – architects, acoustic consultants, lighting designers, AV integrators, and a public utility client – also presented logistical complexity. However, clear communication and shared vision among all stakeholders, including Kulturhotel Guggenheim and project lead Wolfgang Hechler, ensured that every technical and operational challenge was addressed with precision.

Ultimately, the project team’s collaborative spirit turned a derelict industrial shell into one of the most acoustically advanced and flexible performance spaces in Switzerland.

What makes this project truly award-worthy is not only the technical excellence it represents, but the collaborative spirit and community impact embedded into every layer of its design.

At the heart of this achievement lies the transformation of a long-neglected industrial site into a thriving cultural hub. Once home to massive diesel generators, the space was reborn through an ambitious vision: to create a venue that could serve the diverse needs of Liestal’s residents – artists, performers, companies, and the wider public – without compromising its historical value or disturbing its environment. The result is a venue that feels both timeless and entirely of the present.

The team achieved the seemingly impossible – zero sound leakage from a 300-capacity venue situated just 20 metres from a hospital. Through smart engineering, including a room-in-room construction, carefully angled balcony design, and advanced absorptive treatments, the venue now delivers pristine acoustics without a trace of external disturbance. These solutions aren’t just technically sound – they’re beautifully integrated into the venue’s visual language, supporting lighting and projection design without compromise.

What also sets EBL Elefantehuus apart is the quality and flexibility of the AV systems, tailored for multifunctional use without overwhelming the space. From wireless presentation systems to theatre-grade lighting, from high-end PTZ cameras for streaming to precise beam-steering loudspeakers for speech, every technology is in place to serve a wide spectrum of events. And yet, it’s all intuitive and user-friendly—designed to empower creativity, not complicate it.

Perhaps most importantly, this project embodies the role AV design can play in community transformation. With its heritage preserved, its technological future secured, and its doors open to all, EBL Elefantehuus isn’t just a great venue – it’s a story of what’s possible when vision, craft, and collaboration come together.