Working with the team at NAS New Zealand, the school created an impressive multi-purpose space for drama, music, and dance performances.
Pinehurst Theatre is described as “the heart of creative life” at Pinehurst School
Opened in 2023, it is an impressive, flexible, multi-purpose space for drama, music, and dance performances, and community events. The auditorium seats 344 people, and boasts a large, flexible-use stage.
But Pinehurst Theatre is more than an excellent performance venue—it’s a classroom. Students are given the opportunity to learn about every aspect of production, from running a show backstage, to operating audiovisual equipment.
Seeking an affordable, high-performance system
As a leading private school on Auckland’s North Shore, Pinehurst School had a clear vision for a state-of-the-art, professional and flexible venue that would meet the high expectations and myriad needs of their school community. Having previously received a design with a recommended budget of $1.6 million, which was deemed excessive, Pinehurst School approached Halogen Avenue for solution to their needs.
Rick Senekal from Halogen Avenue said he collaborated closely with Kelvin Colling and Euan MacKenzie of NAS “from the outset” to create “a design that met both performance expectations and budget constraints.
“[NAS’] input ensured the d&b system was deployed effectively within the school’s financial parameters.”
Kelvin Colling, general manager of NAS in New Zealand said they selected a d&b audiotechnik front of house system because “it was clear from the get-go that Pinehurst School did not want any corners cut, and they wanted to get the solution correct and reflect the high-quality standard of assets and experience that the school are proud to represent.
d&b audiotechnik are arguably the world’s most acclaimed manufacturer of loudspeaker and audio solutions, demanded by internationally acclaimed shows such as Harry Potter and Aladdin, and used by global touring artists such as Madonna, Eminem, and Coldplay. It is also the installed brand of choice for iconic venues like the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall in London, and The Berlin State Opera.”
Another advantage is that d&b audiotechnik manufactures complete workflows, right through to components like design and control software and amplifiers. As components are made by one manufacturer, the final workflow is seamless. Each part of the system is compatible and integrates efficiently with the other parts, minimising the risk of errors and improving operational experience.
A flexible set-up
Due to the multipurpose nature of the theatre, Pinehurst School required their new AV system to perform well across multiple applications.
For school assemblies and ceremonies, and external community events, the AV system must deliver clear and intelligible speech to every seat in the house. For drama, music and dance performances, audio should be of a performance quality. The equipment should have minimal visual impact, be able to change configurations with the stage, and distribute tone and volume evenly across the audience.
To solve these challenges, Halogen Avenue and NAS designed a dual-mode system. A user-friendly Kramer Control and touchscreen interface was installed to enable everyday use, requiring minimal technical knowledge. It provides basic functions, and users can easily connect microphones, laptop input and projection. For more elaborate productions, the school can enable full control from the AV booth.
To achieve balanced sound and even coverage, complementary speaker components were chosen, and strategically positioned to ensure high quality, intelligible speech. The system uses both fixed and portable components to balance ease-of-use and efficiency with adaptability. For instance, a fixed rig and lighting bars minimises the need for stage adjustments between uses. However, the loudspeaker system is mounted on beam trolleys, allowing forward and backward movement to account for the portable stage placement.
Mr Colling said accounting for the portable stage was a challenge in the early stages of the design process, as the addition and removal of the structure altered the position of the audience and therefore the area of required audio coverage.
“After an almost sarcastic comment to Rick about the PA moving itself to suit the current setup, he took us seriously and designed a fully automated and engineered track system to move the sound system.
“This meant that we were able to save cost and ensure that the client had the best audio configuration for the given room orientation. When the stage is built in front of the permanent stage area, the sound system moves forward with the press of a button.”
With the inclusion of a dual-mode function and the moveable components, Halogen Avenue and NAS were able to deliver an impressive AV system that met the school’s high expectations, without compromising on equipment quality, for under a third of the budget originally quoted to Pinehurst School.
Written by Naomi Seah, published in School News, New Zealand, Term 4 Issue 2025.
