The Woodlands
United Methodist Church
The Woodlands, Texas
Seat Count: 2,200
Project Completion: December 2001
Architect: Lancaster & Associates
Audio Installation: LD Systems
Video Installation: Wagner Media
Lighting Installation: Stagelight
AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video and
Lighting
The Woodlands United Methodist Church offers two distinctly different worship services every week. The traditional service is a formal worship service in combination with classical and light contemporary music performed by choirs, ensembles, soloists and the congregation. The Harvest is an upbeat, informal worship service with a full praise band and lots of music. Both services are presented back-to-back each week with less than an hour in between for changes in set up.
The 2,200-seat sanctuary at TWUMC is configured in a rectangular shape with the seats slightly angled towards the platform. The acoustic challenge was that the room had to remain live enough to support organ, choir and congregational singing but allow for required amplified sound for the spoken word, soloists and the praise band used in the Harvest service.
This challenge was met by installing a system of fixed absorptive panels on selected walls in the worship center and a loudspeaker system with very good pattern control. A heavy curtain was also recommended to cover the choir loft during the Harvest service to further deaden the sound.
