The culture of a nation resides in the hearts and souls of its people. In Sweden, the municipality of Örebro has established Kulturkvarteret Örebro, a cultural hub aimed at promoting the arts. This five-story building seeks to enrich the lives of children and young people in the area through various artistic endeavors and is heavily frequented by students from the local Örebro University. Its mission is to provide an inclusive public space accessible to all. The center includes the Örebro City Library, Kulturskolan, multiple stages, rehearsal spaces, and a specialized art school offering music, dance, theater, and an art gallery. Genelec, a professional speaker solutions provider, collaborated with integrator JML-System AB to enhance the audio experience for this renowned new project.
Audio Enhancement with Genelec and JML With a focus on seamless integration, extraordinary sound quality, and sustainability, Genelec and JML provided over 80 speakers throughout the building, complementing a range of other smart audiovisual technologies. The main contractor for the project was the Swedish construction company Network Cybernetics Corporation (NCC), which enlisted various subcontractors. The installation itself was carried out by JML, in collaboration with a team of experts, including architect Gert Wingårdh, to achieve the desired outcome.
Quality and Sustainability “It is important to note that we are within an educational space where the rooms are constantly in use—thus, the factor of quality, which directly impacts durability and reliability, could not be overlooked,” explains Johan Ståhlgren, project leader at JML, regarding the decision to install Genelec solutions. “Moreover, given the cultural significance of the building to the local community, sustainability was a key aspect of the project. Genelec excels in both aspects, making them a natural choice.”
Optimized Audio Solutions “Thanks to Genelec’s extensive product portfolio, ensuring the right amplifiers were used in each room was extremely straightforward,” Ståhlgren continues. The Genelec 4000 series was perfectly suited for this installation, with all four different models being utilized. These models offer exceptional performance and customizable audio experiences tailored to the needs of various room sizes and applications. The spaces range from large orchestral halls measuring 120 square meters to smaller studios not exceeding 15-16 meters. Regardless of size, Genelec’s active speaker technology makes the installation of the 4000 series straightforward, eliminating the need for external amplifiers while preserving rack space and reducing wiring. Additionally, Genelec’s design is as excellent as its sound, and each cabinet is available in 120 different RAL colors, making integration into any environment effortless.
Speaker Selection The compact 4010 model, being extremely versatile and easily integrated anywhere, was the most widely used and accounted for nearly half of the total number of speakers. “Due to its form, it is extremely versatile and can be seamlessly integrated anywhere,” explains Ståhlgren. “Therefore, we chose to install two of these models in each of the smaller rooms dedicated to music and conference halls, while the larger studios, conference halls, and rehearsal rooms were better suited for the 4020 models, as they combine the same versatility and precision with enhanced output. Six 4030 models offer exceptional clarity and definition for the library and vocal studios, while the wide 4040 model provides significant power and dynamic range, making it suitable for dance floors where solid audio with ample bass response is essential. We also installed four 8050 studio monitors for the dance floor, which provide abundant power, excellent SPL balancing, dynamic range, and crystal-clear performance.”
Smart and Simple Management One of the key aspects of the project was smart and intuitive management, achieved through the installation of touch bars from another brand, controlling lighting, sound, air conditioning, temperature, and alarms. These touch bars provide a consistent user interface and support plug-and-play options for various equipment, including microphones, guitars, and pianos. When the room is vacant, it automatically turns off and returns to the default setting, saving energy and simplifying the transition for the next user.
Unmatched Design Flexibility “The flexibility of Genelec’s design is unparalleled,” said Ståhlgren. “Given the diverse disciplines and various acoustic requirements of each room, the rear panel compensation switches provide crucial control during installation, simply by touching the switch. This ensures customization of the speakers within the given spaces, offering top-notch audio quality and saving us time.”
Successful Collaboration and Completion The project progressed ambitiously and smoothly, thanks to fruitful collaboration between architects, stakeholders, and Genelec, which provided support in choosing the most suitable models for each room, in various sizes and colors.
“The project planning was well-executed, with regular meetings involving all parties every two weeks to assess progress and address challenges,” emphasizes Ståhlgren. Through collaborative efforts in larger and smaller groups, we successfully resolved any issues that arose. Despite time constraints between the building’s completion and handover to end-users, the project was completed on schedule and within budget. It was an extremely rewarding and fascinating experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing how students and teachers will utilize and embrace this new space.”
