Designing spaces that engage

Auditoria, in general, were designed to with the primary purpose of communicating a message from the stage to the audience.

In a contemporary worship environment, there is a higher level of engagement between 'stage' and 'audience'. Pastors and worship leaders connect and communicate with the congregation expecting a high level of intimacy and engagement with them, as part of the worship process that brings the entire church closer to God.

Designing spaces that engage both people on stage and in the auditorium require careful planning and collaboration with the design team in the areas of acoustics, hall shaping, sightline, technical, stage and interior design. Each of these factors work together to create a seamless space where a space is able to engage its users to communicate, connect and respond accordingly to different moments in a worship service.

Acoustics :
There is a requirement for strong early reflections generated within the congregation area. This is primarily different from conventional auditoria design when the stage is acoustically reflected into the audience. Strong early reflections within the congregation creates a sense of 'ensemble' when singing and aids in the worship experience by providing a sense of 'envelopment' for each worshipper.

Hall shaping :
Sightline and seating design is important in providing a sense of intimacy and connection both within the congregation and stage areas. It is also important to consider easy access from the balcony to the main floor in order to bring about inclusiveness to multi level halls.

Thrust stages bring the speaker closer to the congregation, improving sightlines and intimacy.

Technical systems :
Technology plays a crucial part in creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the worship experience. Audio systems that are well designed and localised provide audio cues to the congregation. Monitoring systems have improved dramatically over the last decade, allowing musicians and singers to have better control of their mixes.

Environmental projection in addition to image magnification and lyrics to ensure that visual clarity and cues, aiding congregational participation. Multi camera mixing and video servers with appropriate content provide imaging that complement to the worship team's direction and theme.

Intelligent lighting design help to increase intimacy in the auditorium and create an atmosphere that encourage the congregation to focus on worship process.

In order for a worship space to be successful, an integrated design approach, where needs and direction are clearly defined to the consulting team, is crucial early in the design process. The acoustical and technical consultant should be able to provide the necessary advice to the rest of the design team for successful implementation of materials, infrastructure and equipment during the build.