Technomad Delivers Outdoor Audio Solution to Union University for Tornado Recovery Project

Oct. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- Union University in Jackson, Tennessee is approaching the final stages of a widespread rebuilding project following a devastating storm that saw a tornado tear through the heart of campus.  The campus most recently opened the doors of its large new student commons building, in time for the Fall 2010 semester.

Technomad, a leader in advanced loudspeakers and audio systems since 1995, supplied the outdoor background music systems for two patio areas connected to the new Bowld Student Commons Building.  Here, students can gather to socialize and listen to music of their choosing.  Technomad PowerChiton amplifiers provide stereo inputs for iPods, mp3 players and CD players, with four Technomad Vernal weatherproof loudspeakers on each patio to playback high-quality audio with pristine musical reproduction.

The Bowld Student Commons Building was just one part of a lengthy rebuilding process.
The F-4 tornado struck the bulk of the residence complexes, academic halls and the previous student commons building, leaving $40 million in damages in its wake.  

“It was as if a bomb had detonated in the middle of our campus,” said Josh Simmons, Media Support Specialist at Union University.  “No one was killed and classes resumed two weeks later in local churches and businesses, but the damage was very severe.  Housing for 1200 students in 17 residence halls was destroyed, and four academic buildings suffered extensive damage.

Two competing contractors worked around the clock to rebuild, with new residence halls and repaired academic buildings up and running six months later.  The new buildings have been built to Hurricane Strength standards and include “Safe Rooms” built to tornado shelter standards.

The new Student Commons Building was completed at the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester.  Technomad Vernal weatherproof loudspeakers are mounted in the open air rafters, providing high-quality background music to students as they lounge and socialize beneath natural gas grills and Pergolas.  The PowerChiton amplifiers juice the entire system.

“Technomad offered a comprehensive weatherproof audio system with great audio quality, which is exactly what we needed to withstand the outdoor environment,” said Simmons.  “Our staff desired to keep the operation of the patio systems simple.  We looked a lot of options, but ultimately, the PowerChiton amplifiers together with the Technomad Vernal speakers were the perfect choice.  Our system has turned out better than I could have ever expected.”

The indoor areas feature a wide variety of AV equipment in multiple rooms.  Simmons and his team installed four 37-inch LCD TVs in a video gaming room, along with four gaming consoles.  Five other TVs ranging from 37-to-47 inches are divided between a Billiards room, private viewing rooms equipped with BluRay players, and a common TV Lounge.  Two classrooms in the building have been equipped with Panasonic projectors, Document cameras and DVD playback systems, and Interwrite panels and computers.  A main gathering room has also been outfitted with a 6500 lumens Panasonic HD projector, a Yamaha mixer, Shure wireless microphones and a Tascam CD player and iPod dock.

Technomad’s PowerChiton range of compact, durable and weatherproof NEMA power amplifier modules unite a high-performance, passively-cooled amplifier with an IP66 rated, low-profile enclosure.  The powerful combination offers system designers and installers a flexible solution for the many challenges of distributed outdoor audio system design.  The PowerChiton also offers standard balanced line-in connections, or optional wireless, Ethernet Audio over IP, or analog twisted-pair/Cat5 modules to integrate into any infrastructure.

Technomad’s Vernal ultra-compact (9.1″ x 6.1″ x 6.1″), all-environment loudspeakers are ideal for fixed installations, distributed audio systems and compact sound reinforcement applications.

ABOUT TECHNOMAD
Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries.  The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers eight models ranging in power from the 60-watt Vernal 15 to the 800-watt Chicago 15/12 subwoofer.  In 2000, Technomad introduced its range of complete Turnkey PA systems that have turned previous complex integration jobs into simple, one-line orders.  In 2007, the company introduced two non-loudspeaker products to its inventory:  The Schedulon automatic mp3 player and recording system, and the PowerChiton series of compact weatherproof amplifier modules.  Please contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

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