Rockport Center for the Arts
The Rockport Center for the Arts (ART) has been a fixture of Rockport, Texas, since 1969 when a group of artists gathered to share their artistic interests. After more than 53 years and several leased locations, the center found its home in the historic (1890) Bruhl/O’Connor home and moved to the city’s budding museum district.
Hurricane Harvey damaged the building beyond repair in 2017. The destruction, however, did not diminish the vision to create a locale for exhibits, festivals, and fairs.
Out with the Old. In with the New.
The new 14,000-square-foot visual arts and art education complex, an 8,000-square-foot performing arts facility and convention center, a 16,000-square-foot sculpture garden, a rooftop terrace, six learning spaces, and five exhibition areas were designed by Richter Architects. It balances the old and the new with construction techniques and materials chosen focused on strength and durability to withstand future hurricanes or other disasters.
To serve the needs and interests of Rockport and the people from the surrounding area, this campus also features a culinary arts kitchen, conference center and meeting rooms.
A facility this large with such a diverse set of needs requires a robust and powerful network that integrates audiovisual and security systems. Network Cabling Services (NCS) was honored to participate as the technology integrator. NCS was responsible for designing and implementing everything in the building to maintain optimum function, usability, and safety for visitors, employees, and art displays.
Advanced Technologies Connect the Old and The New
The sleek, modern design indicates the forward-thinking attitude of this bustling area and an appreciation for marrying technology with a long-standing culture of creativity and self-expression.
Today’s arts education facilities rely on stable data and communication access. To meet these needs, NCS installed a cabling backbone of 99 Berk-Tek and Leviton Category 6 and 6A cables. The fiber optic cabling with Berk-Tek cables and MaxCell innerduct allows maximum connectivity and information transfer throughout the network. The main distribution frame (MDF) and intermediate distribution frames (IDF) use CPI cabinets and trays to maintain organization and physical security. The campus is served by dedicated fiber optic internet.
Creating an Experience for the Senses
From the sidewalk to the exit, visitors participate in an audiovisual journey.
Visitors can view the sculpture garden from the front of the building and see displayed artwork through the large windows and intriguing rooftop monitors. Monitors were also installed in the garden and foyer to introduce visitors to the inside exhibit areas, classrooms, and the educational kitchen.
Since the complex focuses on teaching, guidance, performing arts training, art displays, events, and meeting rooms, it requires much more than clever lighting and informational monitors or recordings.
Large 65″ Samsung & Sharp display monitors, NEC projectors, Marshall PTZ cameras, and several other pieces of equipment from Crestron Digitalmedia, Biamp, Shure, and Chief, were carefully chosen for their quality and how well it will suit the needs of everyone coming to the facility.
The audio needed to provide dynamic capability and a full range of frequencies with sound coming from all directions, including overhead, to fill the three-dimensional space with astonishing clarity, richness, detail, and depth. To accomplish this, NCS installed LEA Professional Amplifiers such as the 704D, 354D, and 164D models to feed multiple lines of loudspeakers, including Yamaha VXL1W-24’s, Yamaha IS1215W’s, JBL Professional C65P/T-WH’s, JBL Professional Control 26CT’s, JBL Professional Control 85M’s, and Martin Audio CDD5WTX-MAR’s
Safety and Security at the Forefront of the Facility
While the average visitor won’t realize it, the RCA facility is designed to protect visitors from every angle.
A robust video surveillance system covers all exterior and interior areas and access points. This includes multiple Hanwha Wave Network video recorders, panoramic multi-sensor cameras, and Wisenet outdoor dome cameras integrated into the network.
Card readers, door contacts, and motion detectors work together with a Lenel S2 physical security solution for controlled access. A Bosch intrusion detection system provides additional security, which enables a delicate balance between responding to actual security breaches and ignoring false alarm sources.
Balancing today’s technologies with future needs
The new complex promises a new age of creativity, culture, and education. Everyone who contributed to RCA’s re-imagining is proud of their role in providing such an important space to community members and visitors alike.
Contact our team today for more information on the project or how NCS helped create this art center of the future.
