IMAGO Art Gallery

When you have a space that is used to exhibit valuable works of art, it’s vital you present that work in the best possible way and, just as importantly, you protect it from all eventualities.

IMAGO art gallery in the heart of London’s art centre was faced with this challenge when it underwent a refurbishment in 2008.

Launched in 2007, IMAGO art gallery aims to be an international point of reference for Italian art.  In addition to showing established artists from the mid eighteenth Century onwards, IMAGO’s main focus will be on contemporary art and will showcase young artists destined for future accolades.

To present its artists’ work in the best possible setting, the gallery was completely refurbished in 2008.  With the refurbishment came a need for new fire and security systems to protect the precious contents and for audio visuals systems to help present them at their best.

Specialist contractor PEL Services Ltd. designed, installed and commissioned state of the art audio visual, fire detection and security systems into this fabulous new contemporary art gallery.

The sophisticated new audio visual systems installed feature the very latest technology but have been designed by PEL to be incredibly easy to use.  A Bose Professional Freespace 3 multi zone, multi floor sound system was installed for superb sound quality together with a Crestron control system for complete flexibility and ease of use.  Each floor of the gallery can play completely different music allowing the gallery space to be utilised to the maximum. 

Music can be played via the five disc CD player installed or using the iPod docking bay -simply drop an iPod into the unit and immediately play music throughout the system direct from it.

In addition to the sound system, a 60″ HD ready plasma screen has been installed in the reception area.  This takes feeds from a variety of sources, including Sky Italia and HD.

IMAGO Art Gallery

The systems – as well as the LED lighting – is controlled using a Crestron system.  A Crestron touch screen control unit is located in the offices on the third floor.  Alternatively, the systems can be operated via the PCs in the gallery which have been installed by PEL with Crestron control software.  An extremely clever piece of software, it is even able to replicate the iPod experience on screen by providing a graphical interface that duplicates the iPod display whilst offering an enhanced view.  The expanded view displays multiple sortable fields such as artist name, song title and CD title on a single screen.

IMAGO Special Assistant Riccardo Bigi explains the decision to install such a state of the art audio visual system: “as well as works of art, we show installations and some come with music.  We also have parties here to launch events and multimedia presentations.  We needed a good quality sound system.”

To protect the valuable contents of the gallery, PEL Services designed, installed and commissioned a fire detection system featuring Hochiki ESP analogue addressable detectors and an Advanced Electronics control panel.  Security on site includes a Menvier intruder alarm system; Paxton Net 2 access control; BPT Video Door Entry with one external unit and five internal handsets; and an extensive CCTV system featuring Mitsubushi front end with 2Tb hard disc drive unit for recording, Gants day / night camera and two external IR cameras.

IMAGO Art Gallery

Quality ran throughout the systems design and installation work carried out by PEL Services and great care was taken to ensure the integrity of the five storey listed Victorian building.  Its listed status meant that PEL had to careful plan the wiring of the new systems to avoid damaging the fabric of the building, using existing apertures to put wiring through wherever possible and, in one instance, even lifting the floor to lay cabling underneath it. 

IMAGO are delighted with the final installation: “We were impressed with PEL from the start” states Riccardo.  “Following the architect’s recommendations, PEL presented to us very well and we had confidence in them.  They have been absolutely excellent and their Project Manager was one of the best contractors we have ever worked with.  They met any request and any needs we had.”

For over 35 years PEL Systems has been a leading UK systems company that designs, supplies, installs and commissions sound, fire, security & communications systems.  For sales information, please contact PEL Services Ltd on 020 8839 2100 or go to www.pel.co.uk.

IMAGO Art Gallery

Zizzi

Restaurant chain Zizzi has appointed PEL Music & Media – a leading in-store media solutions provider – as its music supplier.

Zizzi is a young but rapidly growing company – 100 restaurants in 10 years – with quality Italian based menus.  Following a rebranding exercise to position Zizzi as the sexy local Italian with a broader menu and new look restaurants, the company wanted to change its style of music to fit the stylish new image. Sister company Ask recommended its recently appointed music specialist, PEL Music & Media, as ideal candidates for the task.

With the rebranding exercise nearly finished it was imperative that a new play list was created quickly and PEL Music & Media rose to the challenge.  PEL’s studio programmers worked closely with Zizzi to define the style, tempo and volume required to create the right atmosphere.  The result is a mixture of sexy Latin and Jazz based music that isn’t overtly commercial and is now being enjoyed by customers and staff across all 100 Zizzi restaurants.  To keep the music fresh and exciting, it is reviewed quarterly and recommendations are made by PEL for new music.

Zizzi Marketing Manager James Mundy is pleased with the outcome:

“Music is really important for a vibrant atmosphere.  It adds to the look and feel – the ambience – of the place.  PEL was good on the music brief; they came back with really good suggestions and they were very easy to work with.”

PEL Music & Media has been creating in-store media solutions nationwide for more than 30 years, with its latest successful ventures being MusicStore and MediainStore.  MusicStore is a cost-effective Hard Disc unit loaded with an extensive library of tracks that are selected by PEL programmers to reflect a company’s image.  MediainStore takes in-store audio to the next level, providing retailers with a unique, tailor made ‘radio’ service to reinforce their brand.

For sales information please contact PEL Music & Media on 020 8839 2100 or go to www.pelmusic.co.uk.

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McDonalds

PEL Music & Media has been awarded the contract to design, install and commission new sound systems into McDonald’s’ biggest UK franchisee’s restaurants.

Franchisee Pru Naik has 24 McDonald’s restaurants, mainly around West London and Berkshire.  What sets Pru apart is his desire for customers to have a “differential experience”.  His McDonald’s feature stylish dark bamboo and cream colour schemes, flowers on the tables, free wi-fi in every restaurant and now a superb new sound system.

Brand & Communications Manager Rico Pieri investigated the sound options and found Bose to be both quick to respond and helpful.  Bose put Rico in touch with one of its leading Bose Pro-Partners, PEL Music & Media, for the system design and installation.

PEL was asked to design and install a system initially for McDonald’s London Victoria restaurant which was the first to be kitted out as part of the high spec refurb.  The existing sound system hadn’t been changed since 1999, but the restaurant had been refurbished and the layout changed, which affected the overall sound quality.

PEL designed the system using a Bose 4400 Business Music System with digital processing and ambient noise sensing.  The latter was particularly important for a restaurant like Victoria as large customer groups often arrive in one go raising the ambient level to the detriment of the music.  With ambient noise sensing the sound level adjusts automatically, leaving staff free to continue to serve customers rather than continually breaking off to adjust the music volume level.

PEL installed the entire sound system over two nights, enabling the restaurant to operate as normal in the day.

In addition to the equipment installation, PEL also secured the contract to provide the music, creating and regularly updating the play list.  This is supplied on CD at regular intervals and loaded onto the hard drive in the restaurant, although McDonald’s is looking to switch to Broadband for simpler delivery, as recommended by PEL.  The playlist has been cleverly designed by PEL to change throughout the day, starting with mellow, quieter music in the mornings.

McDonald’s are very pleased with the sound system which manages to combine the two key aspects they were looking for – great sound and ease of use – as Pru explains:

“it now feels like one zone of sound rather than pockets.  The ambient noise sensing is also a great feature as it doesn’t require attention from my staff which means they can focus 100% on the customer.”

PEL Music & Media is a division of PEL Services Ltd., one of the UK’s most reliable and respected providers of equipment, installation, maintenance and servicing of quality commercial, music, sound, fire, security and communication systems, with over 30 years experience.

For sales information please contact PEL Music & Media on 020 8839 2100 or go to www.pelmusic.co.uk.

Download McDonalds PDF

Cotswold Leisure

Cotswold Leisure Cirencester has provided an invaluable public sports facility in Cirencester for many years.  But when faced with increased private competition and deteriorating conditions, the Council took the brave decision to start again and a new, modern centre was built next door.  But what support systems need to be in place to ensure the smooth operation of a modern Centre and to make it a safe and secure place?  PEL Services Ltd. explains the challenges faced when supplying, installing and commissioning fire, security, safety and audiovisual systems in such an environment.

Public leisure facilities have come a long way over the past 20 years, partly as a result of a national push to promote the benefits to be had from fitness and sport and partly driven by consumer expectations as to the quality of the overall experience.

Certainly, there is greater public awareness of the health benefits of regular exercise. Mintel research has show a consistent national rise in the number of health and fitness members since 1998 and one in five British adults now attends a health and fitness club; and this is expected to rise.  What’s more, cost is no longer a deciding factor in the majority of cases, with membership of fitness clubs often included in household expenditure, so it’s perceived as a necessity not a luxury.

Aspirations and expectations of customers have also increased.  The cold changing rooms and elastic plaster filled footbaths of many of our childhoods are no longer acceptable.  Customers have become used to seeing and using private sports clubs and gyms which not only offer top notch facilities but in stylish, sophisticated surroundings.  Very little differentiation is given between private and public if public facilities can’t compete at or near to this level, then they remain idle and unused.

Cotswold District Council already had a number of varied leisure facilities under its control, but its main leisure centre in Cirencester found itself in this difficult position of competing against the private market, but with outdated facilities and a decidedly tired appearance.

In 2005, the Council took the forward thinking decision to demolish its existing leisure centre and replace it with a new centre, on the same site, that would meet the needs of its population for the next few decades.  To ensure these needs were properly identified and met, the council conducted a review of the operation of the existing Cotswold Leisure Cirencester, matched with a demographic analysis of the catchment area and potential participation rates within a 20 minute drive time.

As you would expect, the Council already had detailed demographic figures which showed a high proportion of residents aged over 50, who would require activities and facilities specifically targeted for their age, and a substantial number of residents in professional and technical occupations (43%), whom are known to have an above average participation in fitness activities.

When comparing the demographics and potential participation rates to facilities at the existing Centre, it wasn’t all bad news.  The swimming pools (the most popular facility) and sports halls were sufficient, but there was an under supply of health and fitness which is also the area that represents the greatest potential for income growth.  So the sensible conclusion was to increase the number of health and fitness stations and to design them to a much higher standard of finish than before; this would provide the Centre with a good opportunity to sell gym packages in direct competition to the private sector.  In addition, attention was paid to the design of public areas, such as the reception and foyer, which were underutilising the space they occupied, as well as being uninviting.

Of course, in order to provide these modern sports facilities there has to be support systems in place to ensure the smooth operation of the Centre and make it a safe and secure place for visitors and staff alike.  PEL Services Ltd. has been installing such systems for over 35 years and was awarded the contract to supply, install and commission the fire, security, safety and audio visual systems.

Despite being a 21st Century leisure facility where people go to exercise, relax and unwind, it’s a pretty harsh environment for the electrical equipment!  When you consider that some of these systems are life critical, the challenge of designing and installing them is immense.  How do you cope with hostile environments such as a swimming pool which are not only wet but have corrosive chlorine in the atmosphere?; what’s required to secure a building that is likely to be prone to vandalism?; what considerations need to be given under the Disability Discrimination Act?; how do you provide a music system that is flexible enough to play different tracks in different areas, and remain fully audible!?  All these aspects and more – need to be considered and met.

The consultants on this substantial project were Max Fordham, who outlined the requirements and the design but, with PEL’s extensive experience in this field, allowed the company a large degree of freedom in terms of design, choice of product, etc.  PEL used its extensive product knowledge across the different disciplines to best effect, ensuring the new leisure centre had a combination of tried and tested equipment and systems that were also capable of seeing the centre into the future.

For further information, including details of equipment used, is available in the download version:

Download Cotswold Leisure PDF

inamo

A successful venue serves more than drinks and food. It dispenses atmosphere – relaxed by day, ramping up to effervescent after dark. A key factor in creating this vital ambience is music, making your choice of sound system a truly business-critical decision.

Bose can design a complete, flexible system for foreground and background music throughout your premises.

A solution that’s easy to use, allows full central control and variable programming to suit the time of day or night, blends discreetly with your décor, and delivers the irresistibly rich sound your customers appreciate.

At the new inamo restaurant on Wardour Street in London, which opened in September, audio was high on the list of priorities. Bose Pro Partner, PEL Music & Media, installed a comprehensive Bose sound system, featuring FreeSpace 3 bass modules and FreeSpace 3 flush satellite speakers in the restaurant, basement bar and private hire area.

The multi-zoned Bose system includes multiple iPod® docking stations to allow the restaurant to play different music in the different zones, and to enable guests hiring out either the private room or bar area to bring in their own music. The basement also has the facility to allow a DJ to plug into the sound system allowing the restaurant to further diversify it’s offerings as a venue.

Would Noel Hunwick, co-owner of inamo, recommend Bose and PEL to other companies?

“We are delighted with the quality of the Bose system installed by PEL at inamo. The system is discreet yet provides a wonderful sound which appears as if from nowhere! We very much hope that this marks the beginning of a fruitful ongoing relationship with Bose.”

PEL Music & Media is a division of PEL Services Ltd., one of the UK’s most reliable and respected providers of equipment, installation, maintenance and servicing of quality commercial, music, sound, fire, security and communication systems, with over 30 years experience.

For sales information please contact PEL Music & Media on 020 8839 2100 or go to www.pelmusic.co.uk.

Download Inamo PDF