Middle Eastern Project References
The following specialist contracts for theatres, conference halls, TV studios and general audio-visual installations have been completed or are under implementation by Glantre Engineering Ltd in the Middle East. Unless otherwise indicated, contracts cover detailed design, supply, installation or supervision, commissioning and training. Project listings are in approximate reverse chronological order. In addition to the contracts described, Glantre has carried out several important cruise ship entertainment contracts as well as numerous electrical and mechanical services contracts. These are described on the Cruise Ships page.
Contract values are only shown where amounts exceed £100,000; the listings below are part of 75 such contracts, of which 17 have values in excess of £1 million. The overall value of the 170 listed entertainment projects and separately listed cruise ship projects exceeds £74 million.
Bahrain - Iran - Iraq - Jordan - Kuwait - Lebanon - Saudi Arabia
Sultanate of Oman - Syria - Turkey - United Arab Emirates
Holiday Inn, Bahrain
Motorised curtain tracks, curtains and stage equipment for contractors, Kontra.
ABC Banking Corporation, Bahrain
Audio visual systems consisting of cine, slide and video projection, sound reinforcement and ancillary equipment for Board Room and Conference Room of Bank Headquarters Building.
Gorgan Cultural Hall
Complete package contract covering stage lighting, sound, communications, film projection and stage engineering systems, stage flooring and drapes for Ministry of Culture and Arts to the design of Theatre Projects Consultants. Systems included 80 channel lighting control, working and emergency lighting, 24 channel sound mixer, 35 counterweight suspension sets, safety curtain, concert acoustic shell, acoustic doors, dual 35/16mm cine projectors and screen. The contract was completed in an exceptionally short period of 22 weeks through use of charter aircraft for equipment delivery with site installation carried out by an expatriate team. A subsequent contract covered technical management of the theatre and training of local technicians.
International Festival and Convention Centre, Tehran
Design, Supply, Supervision and Commissioning of stage lighting and stage engineering systems for a new 1500 seat multi-purpose auditorium. Systems included Strand lighting control console and tracking backup, Strand EC21 dimmers, Spotlight luminaires, Martin moving head luminaires, 24 motorised suspension sets, rigging control system, house curtains, projector and roller screen.
Military Academy, Tehran
Stage lighting, sound, communications and stage engineering systems including 60 channel lighting control, 24 channel sound mixer, 36 suspension sets, motorised curtain tracks and projection screen.
Damavand College, Tehran
Stage lighting, sound, communications, stage engineering, draperies and scenery accessories. Special features included fixed barrel grid with motorised tracks.
Technical Institute, Baghdad
Audio Visual systems including large screen video projection, slide projection, conference microphone, simultaneous interpretation, sound reinforcement systems and stage equipment.
Ministry of Information, Regional TV Studios
HT and LT electrical distribution systems for TV centres, Basrah Mosul, Kirkuk under sub-contract to Rank Audio Visual Ltd.
Civic Theatre, Mosul
Package contract including 80 channel lighting control, 100 luminaires, sound and communications, 20 winch and hemp suspension sets, drapes, motorised film screen and scenery accessories.
University of Mosul
Stage lighting, sound, fire alarm and electrical distribution systems for the Gulbenkian and Agricultural College Halls together with disco lighting system, audio equipment, PA system and exterior lighting for the University Cultural Centre.
Jerash Festival
Supply of stage lighting control and ancillary equipment
Kuwait Society for the Handicapped
Package of film projection, curtains and tracks, lighting and sound under sub-contract to Al-Ghanim for multi-purpose auditorium. Main manufacturers include ADB, Community, Crest, Erneman and Harkness Hall Stage. Contract value £205,000.
Revolving Restaurant, Telecommunications Tower
Design and implementation of steelwork, drive mechanisms and controls for a revolving restaurant platform of 33m outer and 19.8m inner diameter at a level of 150m above ground on new Telecommunications Centre antenna tower in Kuwait City. Drives employ 12 on-board electric gear motors with friction drive onto steel railtracks with variable speed control. Work carried out for Ministry of Public Works under sub-contract to main contractor ICG and to specifications of consultants Electrowatt Engineering Services.
Stage and auditorium machinery and rigging systems for the reconstruction of Kuwait's principal conference and performance venue under contract to the Ministry of Public Works. The auditorium utilises twelve screwjack lifts to permit appropriate seating configurations and sightlines to be achieved for a wide range of functions including a flat floor set-up for exhibition or banqueting. Seating is mounted on moveable wagons with air-castor drive to permit rapid reconfiguration. Four large lifts with rack and pinion drive, a revolve wagon and compensating elevators are provided on-stage for production purposes while a scissor-type dock leveller facilitates offloading from trucks or containers directly onto the stage. Rigging by J R Clancy Inc includes 61 variable speed motorised sets with counterweight assistance under computer control along with 12 point hoists and fixed speed motorised sets for specific applications. The contract included a safety curtain, projection screens, acoustic doors, tracks, draperies, rostra, scenic equipment, concert shell, lighting bridge and ladders along with an extensive range of stage equipment and fittings. Principal consultants are PACE-SSH-KEO consortium with John Wyckham Associates and Next Stage as Theatre Consultants.
Le Grande Theatre, Beirut
Design studies in association with Philips Projects for reconstruction of a city centre site into an arts and leisure complex which incorporates an 800 seat theatre, rehearsal studios, restaurant and nightclub.
NSS Auditorium, Sidon
Supply of complete stage lighting, rigging, sound and communications package to the specifications of Theatre Projects Consultants. Systems include M24 lighting control 120 dimmers, luminaires, 30 single purchase counterweight suspension sets, safety curtain, projection screen, tracks and drapes, Soundcraft Series 500 mixer with complete sound system, paging, show relay, ring intercom, stage manager's desk and accessories. Contract included detailed working drawings, supervision and training courses.
Beirut University College
Stage lighting, sound and communications, stage engineering and draperies for Irwin Hall to design of Theatre Projects Consultants. Systems included 80 channel lighting control, 16 winch and hemp suspension sets, sound reinforcement and communications consisting of ring intercom, show relay and paging.
Um Al Qura University, Makkah
Stage engineering, lighting, sound, communications and video systems for multi-purpose University Hall. Lighting is based on Strand products with MX48 control, LD90 dimmers and Cantata luminaires while audio/video systems include equipment from Barco, BSS, Crest, Drawmer, JBL, JVC, Tannoy and Techpro. Scope includes acoustical consultancy studies in association with Adrian James Associates. Works carried out under sub-contract to Salem Agencies and Services and valued at £400,000.
Apicorp Headquarters, Damman
Extensive architectural dimming network with energy management facilities installed throughout this major new building. The Delmatic system provides programmable control of the building lighting systems from a central computer. Consultants Buro Happold. Work carried out under sub-contract to Saudi Binladin and valued at £265,000.
Kingdom Academy, Riyadh
Design and supply of all entertainment systems for the main auditorium. Equipment includes JBL and Community sound reinforcement system, video projection, Strand Lighting dimmers and fixtures, and integrated control system by Crestron. Work carried out under sub-contract to Saudi Specialist Construction Ltd and valued at £168,000.
Le Meridien, Jeddah
Hotel ballroom and conference facility using Crestron Controls, Barcodata projectors, Strand Lighting LD90 dimmers and architectural controls, Clay Paky Golden Scan automated fixtures, EAW loudspeakers and Yamaha mixers. Work carried out under sub-contract to Rajab & Silsilah and valued at £260,000.
Contracts in the Sultanate are handled by local associate company, Glantre Oman LLC.
Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat
Television studio track grid, luminaires, controls, dimmers and electrical installation under sub-contract to local company MJT.
Astronomical Observatory, Beit Al-Barakah
Hemispherical dome structure with stepping motors for control of platform rotation and viewing slot shutters under contract to Diwan of Royal Court Affairs.
Concert Hall for HM Sultan Qaboos, Beit Al-Barakah
Complete systems package including high quality sound system with multi-track recording, communications, stage lighting, rigging and scissor type forestage lift.
Cultural Centre, Salalah
Stage engineering systems and complete furnishings under contract to Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Contract included steelwork for roof trusses, grid, galleries and catladders, safety curtain, counterweight rigging, curtain tracks and audience seating as well as general furnishings, custom joinery and Works of Art for the complete centre.
Intercontinental Hotel, Muscat
Low current hotel systems for major refurbishment project. Scope included Philips central sound and television distribution with guestroom bedhead panels and TV receivers.
Oman Technical and Industrial College, Muscat
Stage lighting, sound, communications, projection and rigging systems for 1000 seat multi-purpose auditorium to design of Consultants Huckle and Partners, under sub-contract to Al-Hamad Contracting Company.
Beit Al-Falaj Museum, Muscat
Architectural lighting, dimming audio-visual and control systems for the Sultanate of Oman's Armed Forces Museum in the refurbished Beit Al Falaj Fort dating from circa 1845.
Cabinet Building for HM Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
The contract covered Cabinet Room conference, sound and recording systems and Lecture Theatre systems comprising sound reinforcement, 10 winch suspension sets, curtains and tracks, projection screen, stage lighting and control, cine, video and slide projection.
Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra
Rehearsal Hall, stage lighting and control together with Soundcraft Series 600 audio mixing console with full sound reinforcement and recording systems.
Royal Oman Police School of Music, Muscat
Sound mixing and reinforcement systems for practice room and complete sound recording studio including sophisticated digital and analogue recording equipment by Harrison and Studer.
Al-Bustan Palace Hotel and Conference Centre, Muscat
Three major sub-contracts for hotel and conference systems, stage engineering and stage lighting. Theatre systems for the 700 seat Oman Auditorium included an hydraulically powered orchestra lift, safety curtain, 27 counterweight suspension sets, stage galleries and ladders, variable proscenium, projection screen, stage drapes and tracks, cyclorama, concert acoustic shell, rostra, stage flooring, auditorium lighting bridges, motorised flaps, chandelier hoists, access equipment and scenery accessories. Stage lighting included an 80 channel control system and dimmers, auditorium and TV lighting dimmers, luminaires, accessories, worklights and facilities panels. Conference systems for the Oman Auditorium, Special Conference Hall and four additional meeting rooms provided facilities for sound mixing and reinforcement, conference microphone, voting and display, simultaneous interpretation, voice logging, communications, cine, video and slide projection. In addition, hotel systems included an 850 extension PABX, MATV and in-house movie, sound, paging and emergency paging, hotel computer system with software, CCTV, pocket paging, bathroom alarm, information display and intercoms. The contracts, valued at £6.5 million, were carried out in partnership with Philips.
Other Contracts
Smaller projects in the Sultanate include:
American British Academy - Lighting, sound
Al Husn Palace - Lighting
Oman Equestrian Federation - Public address, seating
Oman Children's Museum - Lighting, sound
Palace Office, Qurum - Sound, conference
Chamber of Commerce, Muscat - Sound, conference
Royal Reception, Muscat - PA and communications
National Theatre Complex, Damascus
Sound systems for two auditoria, together with 35/16mm Erneman dual gauge film projection system.
Istanbul Congress Centre
Design, supply and commissioning of stage rigging and machinery systems including 17 single purchase counterweight sets, 8 motorised hoists, tracks, drapes, large format projection screen and concert acoustic shell. Work carried out for Istanbul Municipality under contract to general contractor, Kayalar.
Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Istanbul
Complete theatre systems package in partnership with local company, Nefan Ticaret. To accommodate the conflicting acoustical requirements for speech and classical musical, the Hall is equipped with an Electronic Reflected Energy System (ERES) designed by Jaffe Associates, USA, to permit its acoustic characteristics to be adjusted electronically. Stage engineering includes double purchase counterweight and winch operated suspension sets together with a roller type safety curtain, projection screens, drapes and tracks. Stage lighting with an 180 channel Gemini control desk, electro-acoustic, communications, conference, simultaneous translation, 35/16mm film, video and slide projection systems were provided.
BTRK Television Centre
Installation of studio lighting control, dimmers, luminaires, electrical distribution, suspension system and cyclorama.
Womens Union Building, Abu Dhabi
Design, supply and installation of sound, lighting, projection and stage curtains for 300 seat auditorium. Stage lighting includes 72 ways of Strand LD90 dimmers, wired bars, 64 assorted Strand luminaires and 2 CSI followspots. Projection systems include a dual guage 35/16mm Ernemann film projector and Barco LCD video data projector. Sound reinforcement includes Soundcraft mixer, Carver amplifiers and Community loudspeakers.
Chamber of Commerce Building, Dubai
Sub-contract to Al-Ghandi Establishment for extensive audio visual systems for auditorium, conference room, several meeting rooms and exhibition hall at the Chamber's new head office. Audio systems cover sound reinforcement, PA, conference microphone management, simultaneous interpretation and communications. Video includes large screen projection, editing, replay and MATV network. Other equipment consists of stage rigging, curtains and tracks, lighting, film and slide projection while full electrical installation is provided. Consultants - Nikken Sekkei, Japan.
Officers Club Theatre, Abu Dhabi
Systems package for 600 seat fully equipped theatre. Rigging systems include 34 counterweight and 4 electrically operated rigging sets. Stage equipment also covers safety curtain, revolve, screwjack orchestra lift, projection screen, tracks, drapes and cyclorama. Lighting control is 200 channel Impact with dimmer racks and luminaires. Sound, communication, film and slide projection systems are included together with complete AV equipment for a lecture theatre.
InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi
Design, installation and commissioning of high specification conference microphone and sound reinforcement systems in Hotel Ballroom for Arabian Gulf Co-operative Council Heads of State Summit Conference.
Municipality Building, Abu Dhabi
Supply and installation of projection equipment under sub-contract to Philips.