Boston Hynes Convention Center Up to Code with Community R-Series

John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center is one of three convention centers in Boston, located in the city's historic center. Boasting more than 190,000 square feet of all-weather exhibit space, the 23-year-old venue is presently several years into an ongoing, multi-phase renovation project.

Currently, the Hynes Convention Center is completing an upgrade to its audio systems, courtesy of Boston-based Adtech Systems. As Adtech's Charles Crane explains, the project incorporates acoustical treatment and sound system upgrades to bring the exhibit halls up to NFPA72 code standards for voice evacuation and speech intelligibility.

"There are four exhibition halls on two floors," Crane notes. "Halls A and B are on one floor and can be combined; Halls C and D are on another floor and they can also be combined." Occasionally, Crane adds, the entire facility is booked for a large event like MacWorld; on those occasions the system has to have the ability to page in all spaces, creating a need for a fully matrixable environment, where any source can go anywhere.

The new system was designed by Communications Design Associates from Canton, Mass. CDA also performed the needs analysis, and qualified the system, which is based around Community R-Series loudspeakers in Halls A, B and D. Halls A and B used a total of 165 R2-94Z three-way loudspeakers outfitted with TRC400 transformers. A total of 31 R.5-66TZ two-way loudspeakers were deployed in exhibit hall D.

More than 60 Crown CTs amplifiers with PIP modules power the system, with signal processing covered by BSS London DSP. Online monitoring and control of the amps, the London DSP, and even the SurgeX IT power conditioning is handled via HiQnet System Architect software.

Crane credits the defined coverage of the R-Series as a major factor in their selection for the project. "Their radiation patterns fit the bill for coverage," he says. "We wanted proper direct field coverage, and the customer wanted to ensure high speech intelligibility. The consultant modeled it out and they hit a home run in coverage."


Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.