River Valley Church
When River Valley Church acquired a brand-new yet unopened 38,000-square-foot casino in Grants Pass, Oregon, it saw an opportunity to create something extraordinary. The vision was to transform the space into a state-of-the-art, 800-seat worship facility that would serve as the flagship campus for the church’s growing multi-site ministry.
To bring that vision to life, River Valley Church partnered with systems integration firm Arrow+Jay, which guided the project from initial concept and feasibility studies through architectural design, technology selection, installation, commissioning, and staff training.
With an emphasis on flexibility, simplicity, and long-term value, the team sought an audio solution capable of delivering exceptional performance while remaining practical for ministry budgets and future expansion.
Solving Unique Acoustical Challenges
The new worship center presented several acoustical challenges. A key architectural goal was creating an open, inviting environment where attendees would immediately feel connected to the worship experience upon entering the building.
To achieve this aesthetic, the sanctuary incorporated extensive glass surfaces and reflective materials throughout the rear of the room. While visually appealing, these design elements often create significant acoustic reflections that can negatively impact intelligibility and listener experience.
Working closely with the Biamp design team and utilizing the VenuePolar design tool within the Ease Focus 3 software, Arrow+Jay developed a loudspeaker design that delivered remarkably precise coverage control throughout the space.
“Through VenuePolar and the work with Biamp, we were able to pull off incredibly even coverage with a relatively small number of boxes that I previously thought would have been impossible,” said Brian Engle of Arrow+Jay.
Working with the Biamp team has been such a blessing ... Biamp found a way to bring equal coverage and unmatched clarity to our gathering space.
MICHAEL BAHNExecutive Pastor
River Valley Church
Precision Coverage From Front Row to Back Wall
Designing the worship center’s sound system required more than simply selecting loudspeakers—it demanded a solution capable of overcoming a unique combination of architectural and acoustical challenges. A traditional line array wasn’t appropriate for the space, nor was a conventional point-source system. Limited mounting height, critical sightline requirements, the inability to deploy delay fills, the need to maintain high gain before feedback (GBF), and extensive glass surfaces throughout the sanctuary all complicated the design.
River Valley Church and Arrow+Jay envisioned an elevated worship experience where every attendee would enjoy the same clear, immersive sound, regardless of where they were seated. Achieving that level of precision required exceptional pattern control that could deliver consistent coverage across the congregation while confidently avoiding reflective surfaces.
Working closely with the Biamp design team and leveraging VenuePolar technology, Arrow+Jay designed a system centered around four Community LVH-906/APB and two LVH-909/APB steerable venue horns. Of particular note is the implementation of an avoidance zone targeting the stage in the FIR steering, which resulted in stunning GBH performance on stage.
The system achieved remarkably even coverage throughout the 800-seat sanctuary using fewer loudspeakers than originally anticipated.
The precise beam-steering capabilities of the LVH-900 loudspeakers allowed the team to tightly focus audio energy where it was needed while minimizing sound directed toward the sanctuary’s expansive glass rear wall.
“We were able to shade that back line so hard and were getting such a tight pattern sonically that reflections off the glass are basically not an issue,” said Engle.
The result is exceptional speech intelligibility and musical performance from the front row to the back wall, with minimal reflections and consistent coverage throughout the seating area. Even the front-of-house mix position, located at the rear of the sanctuary, experiences clear, balanced sound without excessive buildup or distracting echoes. For River Valley Church, the Community LVH-900 system delivered the precise coverage needed to overcome the room’s unique design constraints—making every seat the best seat in the house.
A Sound System Designed for Ministry
In addition to the LVH loudspeaker system, Community IP8-1122/66B and IC6-1082/96B point source loudspeakers provide supplemental coverage throughout the facility, while Community IS8-218B subwoofers deliver the low-frequency impact required for contemporary worship services and special events.
Power and optimization are provided through a network of Community amplified loudspeaker controllers, including the ALC-404D, ALC-1604D, and ALC-3202D. Together, these components create a scalable, high-performance audio platform that delivers exceptional intelligibility for spoken word and powerful musical reproduction for worship experiences of every kind.
Conclusion
Through close collaboration between River Valley Church, Arrow+Jay, and Biamp, the team transformed a challenging architectural space into a world-class worship environment. The resulting system delivers exceptional clarity, even coverage, and remarkable control over room acoustics, ensuring every attendee enjoys the same extraordinary worship experience regardless of where they sit.
By combining innovative loudspeaker technology, expert system design, and a shared commitment to excellence, River Valley Church now has an audio platform capable of supporting its mission for years to come.