First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
Project Type: Renovation
Seat Count: 3,400
Opening: 2005
Construction Cost: $10 Million
Architect: Dean and Dean Associates
AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video
FBC of Jackson was faced with a number of challenges as they looked to improve upon the acoustics and technical systems within the space. The existing worship center contained striking architecture that needed to be preserved as part of the renovation.
The Church commissioned Acoustic Dimensions to assist with the design of a new sound system, video projection and productions systems, and to carry out an acoustical study to see what improvements could be made to the room’s acoustics. As part of the technical systems upgrades, the church worked with Dean and Dean Associates to move the audio control booth to a more central position within the seating and integrate two large image magnification screens on the platform. While the sound system in the main sanctuary is completely new, the existing video production equipment was expanded upon to include a second, identical switcher, to allow for separate control of the IMAG and Broadcast feeds. These new sytems were integrated into the existing faciltiy infrastructure that provides connectivity between audio and video production rooms, rehersal rooms, and a truck dock location.
Acoustic Dimensions made a number of acoustical recommendations to reduce the background noise levels from the HVAC sytsems and improve the acoustics of the platform for choir and orchestral support. Because of the sensitivity to the architecture, these recommendations have not yet been implemented.
