The Bendigo Building, Nottingham
A Multi-Zone Audio System Elevates the Student Living Experience at Nottingham's Flagship Bendigo Development
Project Snapshot
Client: Bricks Group
Brand / Operator: True Student
Location: Bendigo Building, Nottingham
Scope: Multi-zone commercial audio
The Facility
Located in Nottingham's Creative Quarter, the Bendigo Building represents a £70 million transformation of a former Royal Mail sorting office into a cutting-edge purpose-built student accommodation development. Originally constructed in the late 1960s and vacant for nearly two decades, the site has been completely redeveloped by Bricks Group and contractor GRAHAM.
The 13-storey tower houses 661 bedrooms, comprising 417 studios, 208 cluster apartments, and 36 accessible rooms, and now operates under the true student brand.
The Requirement
A sophisticated commercial audio system was required to enhance the resident experience across multiple communal zones throughout the Bendigo Building's spaces–ranging from the energetic gym and social zone & games den to quieter areas like the private dining room and staff office.
The Challenge
SCCI Alphatrack was tasked to design a reliable, easy-to-use, multi-zone audio system that feels natural in each environment, offering uniform coverage and consistent tonal balance.
The chosen system needed to balance audio quality with aesthetic considerations in spaces featuring both exposed and finished ceilings, while providing intuitive control for staff and residents.
The Technology
SCCI specified discreet, centralised architecture tailored to the building fabric and daily rhythm. Nothing ornamental; just the right components, sized and tuned for each space:
Speaker Infrastructure:
- Sonance PS-P63T Pro Series 6.5" Pendant Speakers deployed in exposed ceiling areas (Festival Zone, Games Den, Gym, Private Dining Room)
- Total speaker count: 66 units across all zones
Audio Headend:
- Yamaha MRX7-D scalable matrix DSP processor with Dante networking
- Yamaha Multi-Channel Amplifier (4 x 280W) plus three Blaze PowerZone Connect 2004 Dante amplifiers for distributed power
- Yamaha 8-way digital controller hub managing zone control panels
User Control:
- Centralised iPad control with custom GUI available for facility management
Network & Infrastructure:
- UniFi Dream Machine Pro and 24-port PoE+ switch providing network backbone
- Cat 6 UTP and 2-core LSZH-rated commercial speaker cabling throughout
- 44U Sanus component rack housing all processing and amplification equipment
The Delivery
The installation encompassed complete first and second fix works, including cable infrastructure, speaker mounting, control panel installation, off-site rack building, on-site commissioning, programming, testing, and staff handover training.
The Outcome & Benefits
The amenity spaces benefit from a unified, even-coverage audio system that’s simple to use, consistent to hear and easy to maintain. Staff can nudge levels or switch sources locally without risking distortion, while students experience music that supports activity rather than competing with it.
Zone Flexibility: Independent control of five distinct areas allows tailored audio experiences.
Aesthetic Integration: Mix of pendant and in-ceiling speakers suits varied interior design.
Uniform coverage: tuned to each room’s acoustics.
User-Friendly Operation: Wall-mounted control panels provide low-friction operation for non-technical users.
Scalable Architecture: Dante-enabled system permits future expansion.
Commercial Reliability: Professional-grade Yamaha and Sonance components ensure long-term performance.
Bendigo isn’t about loud, it’s about right. We tuned for even coverage, natural tone and simple controls, so the audio supports the space rather than shouting over it
Richard Reid, Director of AV, SCCI Alphatrack
Need a premium commercial audio system?
We’ll map zones, specify the right transducers and controls, and deliver a documented system aligned to brand and operations. Talk to us about a tailored deployment:
connect@sccialphatrack.co.uk or +44 (0)1279 630 400
