Project Overview
Scope: Audio · Acoustics · Video · House & Theatrical Lighting · Shared Control
Venue Capacity: 800 seats
Primary Goals:
- Create a shared system supporting both university and church needs
- Design a flexible solution for chapels, concerts, and worship services
- Improve intelligibility, lighting consistency, and production quality
- Deliver simplicity and clarity for both advanced and volunteer users
The William J. Seymour Sanctuary at Vanguard University serves several roles: student chapels, concerts, and events during the week, and full worship services on weekends for a local church partner. Each has different production needs—and different teams. Every group needs right-sized systems that meet their needs and production capability to effectively support the student body and the guest church.
Challenges and Vision
- Shared Ownership: Many groups, one space—each needing custom workflows
- Acoustical Issues: Reflective surfaces and deep coves caused audio intelligibility issues
- Control Simplicity: Volunteers and pros alike needed intuitive workflows
- System Flexibility: Dual control surfaces, multiple user types, and modular use
The Approach
Founded in 1920 and consistently ranked among the top private Christian universities in the Western U.S., Vanguard University is driven by a mission to shape both the minds and the spiritual lives of its students. At the heart of this mission is the William J. Seymour Sanctuary—a key venue for weekly chapels, classes, concerts, and special events. Beyond campus use, the Sanctuary also hosted a local church every weekend, multiplying its ministry reach.
When the university transitioned to a new church tenant, they realized how much they had come to rely on the previous church’s production systems. Without their equipment, the space lacked the baseline audio, video, and lighting infrastructure needed to match its spiritual significance. It was time to invest in a system that met the needs of Vanguard first.
Vantage Pro led the team through the Foresight Design process—starting with a three-day vision and planning workshop involving all stakeholders. A full master plan emerged that accounted for multiple users, varying event types, and long-term adaptability. With a clear roadmap in place, the first implementation phase launched in collaboration with the incoming church tenant. Their existing equipment helped jumpstart the system while maintaining alignment with the broader plan.
Two years later, as the church outgrew the space and transitioned out, Vanguard re-engaged Vantage Pro to complete the buildout. The result is a technically flexible, fully equipped Sanctuary—ready for immersive student chapels, powerful guest speakers, and everyday ease of use for faculty and staff. With a balance of pro-level capability and “easy-mode” operation, the room is now outfitted to support nearly any event on campus, regardless of size or complexity.
Technology Solutions
| System | Details |
| Audio | L-Acoustics A15 + KS21 subs · A&H SQ7 console · Shure ULX-D wireless · Shure PSM 300 IEM · Symetrix DSP · Listen Technologies Assisted Listening System |
| Acoustics | Custom absorption panels + full rear-wall drapery |
| Lighting | Chamsys QuickQ 20 Console · Elation Fuze Pendants House Lighting· Chauvet Ovation F-145 Fresnel · Chauvet P-56fc · Par Cue Server Architectural Controller |
| Video | Absen NX 3.7 25.2’ x 14.2’ LED Wall · Ross NK Router · Streaming-ready infrastructure |
| Control | Lyntec power · Lowell racks · Luxul networking |
“I am so grateful we have Vantage Pro as such a reliable partner to address our needs.”
— Larry Pirkle, Sr Director, Facilities Planning and Construction
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