Soul Church

The Soul Church project is a landmark installation that seamlessly blends cutting-edge AV technology with community impact, creating a venue that serves as a spiritual, cultural, and social hub. This purpose-built facility is more than just a place of worship—it is a lifeline for the local community, hosting outreach programs, wellbeing initiatives, educational courses, and live events that enrich thousands of lives.

Soul Church is a multicultural, multi-generational organisation dedicated to serving the people of Norwich. Its new building has been meticulously designed to be highly flexible and future-proof, supporting everything from Sunday services and concerts to food banks and career workshops. The venue’s state-of-the-art AV system ensures that every event—whether a worship service, community gathering, or global live stream—is experienced with unparalleled clarity, immersion, and professionalism.

Solotech delivered a world-class AV installation, overcoming significant technical and logistical challenges to provide a seamless, scalable, and energy-efficient system. Their expert planning, innovative design, and flawless execution ensured that Soul Church received an industry-leading AV solution tailored to its needs. From the L-Acoustics Kara II line array system ensuring crystal-clear sound, to the Chauvet Ovation LED lighting package providing dynamic visual impact, every detail was crafted to elevate both the in-person and broadcast experience.

Soul Church Senior Leader, Gareth Lee, shared: “The brief to Solotech was to allow us to do anything in any space. That was a really tough thing to ask! However, this building is a dream come true for our community. Thanks to Solotech, we now have a world-class facility that not only sounds and looks incredible but is also flexible enough to support everything we do. Their team understood our vision and delivered above and beyond our expectations.”`

To create a dynamic, immersive, and future-proof lighting system, Solotech designed and installed an advanced, fully integrated solution tailored to Soul Church’s needs. The lighting system enhances worship experiences, live performances, and community events by providing flexibility, energy efficiency, and intuitive control.

The installation followed a structured approach:
• Planning & Design – A modular lighting system was developed, incorporating a DMX-controlled infrastructure for seamless operation.
• Infrastructure Setup – A motorised truss system was installed for easy accessibility and adaptability in lighting adjustments.
• Equipment Installation –
– Chauvet Ovation LED Fixtures – Full-colour RGBW house lighting, creating a vibrant and immersive atmosphere.
– Chauvet Rogue R2 Wash & Spot Fixtures – Provide dynamic stage lighting with flexible beam control and smooth color transitions.
– ETC Source Four LED Series 2 Lustr – Ensures consistent, high-quality face lighting for speakers and performers.
– Martin MAC Aura Moving Heads – Enable theatrical and concert-style effects, allowing for customisable scene transitions.
– Elation KL Panel LED Soft Lights – Used for broadcast-quality lighting, enhancing live streaming and recordings.
– Luminex DMX Nodes & Chamsys MagicQ Control System – Provide centralised, user-friendly lighting control.

• Testing & Calibration – The lighting setup was fine-tuned for brightness, color temperature, and focus to achieve optimal clarity and ambiance.

• Zoned house lighting – The Chauvet Ovation fixtures allow adjustable brightness based on audience size, creating an intimate yet scalable experience.
• Dynamic stage lighting – Martin MAC Aura and Chauvet Rogue R2 fixtures deliver powerful, expressive visuals for services and events.
• Broadcast-optimised illumination – Elation KL Panels and ETC Source Four LEDs ensure crisp, well-balanced lighting for video production.
• Seamless control & automation – Chamsys MagicQ and Luminex DMX Nodes provide intuitive, real-time lighting adjustments.
• Energy efficiency & future-proofing – The full LED lighting system significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining high performance.
• This state-of-the-art lighting system transforms Soul Church into a multi-functional, visually striking venue, setting a new benchmark for immersive lighting in worship and community spaces.

The installation followed a structured approach:
• Planning & Design – A networked, distributed audio system was designed to ensure uniform sound coverage in all areas.
• Infrastructure Setup – The team integrated a Dante-enabled digital audio network with Q-SYS Core processing to provide seamless routing and control.
• Equipment Installation;
– L-Acoustics Kara II Line Array System for powerful, immersive sound in the main auditorium.
– L-Acoustics SB18 Subwoofers for deep, well-defined bass.
– Bose FreeSpace FS4CE & Panaray 802 Series IV speakers for distributed audio across communal spaces.
– Allen & Heath dLive S5000 Mixing Console for real-time mixing and precise control.
– Shure ULX-D & Axient Digital Wireless Microphones for crystal-clear, interference-free speech and vocals.
– Sennheiser EW IEM G4 In-Ear Monitoring for high-quality on-stage monitoring.
– Crown DCi Series & L-Acoustics LA4X Amplifiers for efficient, high-fidelity power distribution.

• Testing & Calibration – The team conducted acoustic tuning to optimise clarity and eliminate dead zones.

Use of Audio Technology & Results

• Crystal-clear sound distribution – The L-Acoustics line array system ensures consistent volume and clarity across all seating areas.
• Seamless AV integration – The Dante network and Q-SYS processor allow instantaneous audio routing, supporting multiple zones.
• Scalable, user-friendly control – The Cues system enables one-touch management, making it easy for volunteers to operate.
• Optimised for live & recorded production – High-quality microphones, IEMs, and signal processing enhance both in-person and streamed experiences.
• This state-of-the-art system has transformed Soul Church into a dynamic, acoustically optimised venue, setting a new standard for immersive, high-performance audio in worship spaces.

The installation of Soul Church’s cutting-edge AV system came with several key challenges, each requiring innovative problem-solving and expert coordination.

1. Managing a Complex, Multi-Contractor Installation
With multiple contractors working simultaneously on various aspects of the project, coordination was critical. Solotech implemented a detailed project timeline with regular site meetings and clear communication protocols to ensure seamless collaboration between teams. This prevented delays and kept the AV installation aligned with the broader construction schedule.

2. Designing for Future-Proofing & Flexibility
The church required a modular, scalable system capable of adapting to future technological advancements and event requirements. To address this, Solotech designed a network-based infrastructure, using Dante audio networking, Luminex DMX lighting control, and Q-SYS processing. This allows for easy expansion and reconfiguration without costly overhauls.

3. Ensuring Optimal Acoustics in a Large, Multi-Purpose Space
The auditorium’s open architecture posed acoustic challenges, risking sound dispersion issues and uneven coverage. Solotech overcame this by installing a precision-engineered L-Acoustics Kara II line array system with calibrated tuning, ensuring consistent sound balance across all seating areas. Strategic bass management and acoustic treatment further minimized reflections and reverberation.

4. Efficient Power Management & Energy Sustainability
Operating an extensive audio, lighting, and video system meant high energy demands. Solotech integrated an LED-based lighting system, reducing power consumption while maintaining brightness and color accuracy. Additionally, a Q-SYS power control system allows one-touch activation, eliminating unnecessary energy use when spaces are not in operation.
5. Limited Installation Window

With the AV installation being the final phase of the build, the team had a compressed timeframe to complete the project. SoloTech responded with meticulous pre-planning, pre-programming of control systems, and rapid on-site deployment, ensuring completion on time without compromising quality.

Through technical expertise, seamless collaboration, and forward-thinking design, Solotech successfully delivered a world-class AV system, meeting all challenges while ensuring a future-proof, immersive experience for Soul Church and its community.

Soul Church’s new facility sets a new benchmark for AV excellence in houses of worship, demonstrating how technology and design can transform spaces, empower communities, and inspire connection. With its groundbreaking audio, lighting, and video systems, this project embodies the spirit of the MONDO-DR Awards and is truly deserving of recognition.