Buildings We Work In
Audio visual installation for commercial buildings and high-end homes across London and the South East
We design and install audio visual, sound and lighting systems for churches and houses of worship, public buildings, restaurants and hospitality venues, bars and nightclubs, schools and education, and high-end homes.
Every building has different requirements, so we survey the site and design the system around how the room is used, the people using it and the existing building.
OBAV is SafeContractor approved and ISO [[NUMBER: exact ISO standard to confirm]] accredited, and much of our work comes through main contractors, architects and clients who have used us before.
Audio visual installation across London and the South East
We are based in East Sussex and work across London, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and the wider South East. We also travel further for larger commercial and specialist projects.
Our work ranges from individual rooms through to complete AV installations covering several areas of a building.
That can include sound systems, displays and projection, video conferencing, venue lighting, hearing loops, PA and voice alarm systems, acoustic treatment and the cabling and control behind them.
If you already know which system you need, see our full services.
Audio visual installation across London and the South East
We are based in East Sussex and work across London, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and the wider South East. We also travel further for larger commercial and specialist projects.
Our work ranges from individual rooms through to complete AV installations covering several areas of a building.
That can include sound systems, displays and projection, video conferencing, venue lighting, hearing loops, PA and voice alarm systems, acoustic treatment and the cabling and control behind them.
If you already know which system you need, see our audio visual services.
Churches and houses of worship
We design and install sound, AV and hearing systems for churches and other places of worship.
Speech clarity is often one of the main issues in these buildings. Long reverberation, hard surfaces and the shape of the room all affect how a sound system performs, so simply adding more volume is rarely the answer.
We look at loudspeaker positions, coverage, microphones, hearing loops and control around the building and how it is used.
For listed and historic churches, we also consider cable routes, fixings and equipment positions carefully. Where Church of England projects require faculty approval, we can provide the technical information needed and work alongside the church architect and other advisers.
Our work can include:
- Speech and music systems
- Microphones
- Hearing loops
- Displays and projection
- Streaming
- Control systems
- Acoustic treatment
- Cabling and infrastructure
Public buildings
We install AV systems for town halls, council chambers, meeting rooms, public halls and other civic buildings. These projects can involve conferencing, microphones, displays, sound reinforcement, recording, streaming and hearing assistance within the same room.
We also understand that public-sector projects often come with specifications, tender requirements, fixed programmes and accessibility considerations. Where a building is listed or historic, we can plan the AV installation around the existing fabric and work with the wider project team before installation starts.
Our work can include:
- Council chamber and meeting systems
- Microphones and conferencing
- Displays and projection
- Public address
- Hearing loops
- Recording and streaming
- Control systems
- Acoustic treatment
Restaurants and hospitality
We design sound, AV and lighting systems for restaurants, hotels and other hospitality venues. A good hospitality system needs to work across different parts of the building without every area sounding the same.
We can zone the audio so bars, dining areas, private rooms and outside areas can be controlled separately, and plan lighting and control around the different ways the venue is used. If the room itself is creating too much reverberation or background noise, we can also look at acoustic treatment rather than trying to solve the problem by increasing the volume.
Our work can include:
- Background music
- Zoned audio
- Displays and digital signage
- Venue lighting
- Control systems
- Acoustic treatment
- Private dining and function room AV
- Cabling and networking
For groups with several venues, we can also develop systems that can be repeated across different sites.
Bars and nightclubs
We design and install professional sound, lighting and AV systems for bars, nightclubs and late-night venues.
Coverage is important. The system needs to provide the level required across the venue without some areas becoming excessively loud simply because they are closer to the loudspeakers.
We also take account of DJ positions, dance floors, bars, seating areas and any noise conditions or restrictions that affect the site.
Where the venue needs to stay trading, we can plan disruptive work around closing times or agreed shutdown periods.
Our work can include:
- Professional sound systems
- DJ and performance systems
- Venue lighting
- Moving heads and effects lighting
- Video and displays
- System control
- Acoustic treatment
- Equipment racks and cabling
Schools and education
We install AV, sound and lighting systems for schools, colleges and other education buildings.
The same room may need to work for assemblies, lessons, performances, exams, presentations and sports, so we design the system around the different ways it will be used.
Our work includes school halls, sports halls, drama spaces, classrooms, lecture areas and other shared facilities.
We can also plan larger projects around school holidays and fixed handover dates, and are used to working through main contractors and tender processes.
Our work can include:
- Hall and assembly sound systems
- Drama and performance audio
- Stage and venue lighting
- Displays and projection
- Microphones
- Hearing loops
- PA systems
- Control systems
Home cinema systems
We design and install home cinema, media rooms and multi-room audio for larger homes.
Most of this work forms part of a renovation, new build or high-end interior project, where the AV can be planned before walls and ceilings are finished.
Getting involved early means cable routes, speaker positions, equipment locations and room layouts can be agreed with the architect, interior designer and other trades.
Where the client wants the technology kept out of sight, we can also specify architectural and plaster-in speakers and plan equipment around the finished interior.
Our work can include:
- Dedicated cinema rooms
- Media rooms
- Surround sound
- Projection and large-format displays
- Multi-room audio
- Architectural speakers
- Lighting and control
- Acoustic treatment
We also understand that many residential clients prefer their homes and installations to remain private.
View home cinema systems
Designed around the building
The same equipment will not perform the same way in every room. Room size, ceiling height, hard surfaces, background noise, seating positions and how the building is used all affect the design. That is why we survey before we specify larger installations.
For refurbishments and new builds, we can also work with architects, interior designers and main contractors from the design stage so cable routes, equipment positions and other requirements are considered before the finishes go in.
Where the project also requires electrical work, we can work alongside our sister company Lake Electrical.
Experienced across commercial and specialist buildings
We are SafeContractor approved and ISO [[NUMBER: exact ISO standard to confirm]] accredited.
Our engineers are employed by OBAV and have been with us for years. We regularly work directly for clients as well as architects, consultants and main contractors.
Our experience includes listed and historic buildings, public-sector tender work, education projects, hospitality fit-outs and larger specialist audio installations.
Case studies
What clients say
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Why clients choose OBAV
We survey before we specify the system, so the design is based on the building and how it will be used. Our engineers have been with us for years, and wherever possible the same team stays involved from the initial survey through to installation, commissioning and support.
We are used to projects where the AV needs to work alongside architects, main contractors and other trades, including listed buildings, public-sector projects and larger refurbishments.
Where several systems are needed, we can also design the sound, visual, lighting, hearing assistance and control together rather than leaving you to coordinate separate installers.
FAQs
What if my building is not listed here?
Get in touch.
These are the types of buildings we work in most often, but they are not the only projects we take on.
We also work in offices and other commercial buildings where the project suits our experience.
Does the type of building change the AV design?
Yes.
Room size, construction, finishes, background noise and how the building is used all affect the system.
A sound system designed for a restaurant will not necessarily suit a stone church or school sports hall, even if the equipment itself is capable of similar output.
Do you survey the site before quoting
Yes.
For installation work, we visit the building so we can understand the room, existing cabling, access and what the finished system needs to do.
For new builds and refurbishments, we can also start from the architect’s drawings before the building is ready for a full survey.
Do you work with architects and main contractors?
Yes.
A significant part of our work is delivered through architects, consultants, interior designers and main contractors.
We can work from drawings and specifications, provide first-fix requirements and coordinate our installation with the wider programme.
Can OBAV and Lake Electrical work on the same project?
Yes.
Where a project includes both AV and electrical work, OBAV and Lake Electrical can coordinate the two parts of the installation.
This can be particularly useful on larger refurbishments, fit-outs and new-build projects where power, lighting, AV and cabling all need to be planned together.
Talk to us about your building
If you are planning an AV, sound or lighting project, tell us about the building and what you need it to do.
If you are not sure which system you need, get in touch and we can talk through the project with you.
Request a quote. Prefer a chat first? Get in touch, or call and speak to one of us directly.
Old Barn Audio Ltd
Unit 15, Wylands Farm
Powdermill Lane
Battle
East Sussex TN33 0SU
01892 752246
enquiries@oldbarnaudio.co.uk
We work across London, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and the rest of the South East, and travel further across the UK for larger commercial and specialist projects.