Listen Builds Solid Assistive Listening Solution for Center for Architecture
The AIA’s search for a new location led them to an old building in the Pearl district of Portland, very close to the city’s downtown core. The Pearl district was an industrial area at one point but is now known for its art galleries, upscale businesses and residences. The chapter set to work designing a space that would be ideal for meetings, education and public gatherings. The main floor of the building, covering approximately 5,000 square feet, was divided into two sections. Half is devoted to a staff area and board meeting space; the other half is set up as an open room that can be used as a gathering place for meeting, educational events, and gallery exhibitions.
As a nonprofit organization, the AIA chapter asked for corporate help wherever possible to keep costs to a minimum. Listen Technologies assisted the AIA with the purchase of an FM assistive listening system for the facility, and system integrator Spectrum Systems Design donated the overall AV system design and integration.
For the “gallery” area, Spectrum Systems Design’s Lindsey McGill installed a Listen LT-800 Stationary FM Transmitter with the LA-122 Universal Antenna Kit. LR-400 Portable Display FM Receivers are available to visitors needing auditory assistance. The LR-400 is an ideal choice as the guests do not need to regularly change channels. “I’ve dealt with Listen many times,” says McGill, “and as always the system installed easily and worked great.”
The “gallery” space in the Center for Architecture is in constant use, says Stevens. “In addition to music, we are doing continuing education in that space for AIA members throughout Oregon,” she says. “An assistive listening system was very important to our plans for using the space. We have events in here that hold anywhere from 20 people up to over 100 (standing room only) for any number of events. The system from Listen Technologies enables our membership and the people we’ve invited to attend, whether it’s a film, lecture or continuing education, to be able to hear properly. We are pleased to have that ability.” Stevens says that as word spreads through the community that auditory assistance is available, more people are likely to attend events at the center.