Iconyx Breathes New Life into Eden Resort Courtyard in Pennsylvania

Champagne Sunday brunch in the Eden Courtyard at the Best Western Eden Resort & Suites in Lancaster, Pennsylvania has become a local area tradition, attracting patrons with an ever-changing menu that draws from the region's finest seasonal ingredients. But while the Courtyard is known for its dining and social events, the room's acoustics have long made it a challenge to attract speaking engagements. With its 40'-high glass ceiling, hard stone floor and hard walls, the room's reverberation made intelligibility nearly non-existent.

"This is a gorgeous space and great for social events -- cocktail receptions and so forth," says Stephen Sikking, managing partner, Eden Resort & Suites. "But when a speaker wanted to present something to the entire room, it was very problematic to articulate so that people could hear intelligibly."

Bob Bickelman, senior audio designer with Manheim, Pennsylvania-based Clair Brothers Audio Systems, Inc., agrees. "The reverb time is pretty long," says Bickelman. In addition to a massive water fountain at one end of the room, he says, "There is a rather large vaulted skylight running across the middle of the room that creates some very strange reflections."

To address the room's acoustical challenges, Clair Brothers selected the Renkus-Heinz Iconyx IC24-R-II digitally controlled column loudspeaker system, installing the arrays in the two front corners of the courtyard. The ability to precisely steer the Iconyx array's multiple sonic beams had an immediate impact on the intelligibility factor. "Being able to direct the sound downward and away from the walls was huge," says Bickelman.

Bickelman selected the Iconyx system based on both on price and performance. "We had previous experience with the Iconyx," he explains. "Not long ago I did a synagogue down in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and liked the way they performed and their ease of use. And they certainly cost less than some alternatives."

Using Renkus-Heinz's RHAON CobraNet-based DSP software, individual Iconyx elements can be shaped and aimed with programmable precision, lowering or raising the acoustic center as desired.

The newly installed system at Eden Resort & Suites also includes several Shure wireless microphones and is managed by a Symetrix DSP automixing and processing system with ARC (Adaptive Remote Control) programmable wall panels.

"Iconyx has been a wonderful addition to our courtyard," comments Sikking. "Now we can take a 400- to 500-person room and actually use it for an event that includes speaking engagements. Because of the Iconyx system we are now able to be on individual company lists, social lists, and so forth for speaking events. These speakers have made a dramatic difference."