Key Things to Know
- 4Business Oy integrated 57 Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers and six 4000 Series active installation loudspeakers across six floors at GRIP Action Sports Hub in Tampere, Finland.
- Smart IP technology delivers power, audio and control over a single network cable, cutting the amount of cabling routed around ramps, climbing structures and other obstacles.
- The venue includes an Olympic-standard SkatePark, a 15-meter Climbing Centre, a gym, group training spaces, a restaurant, a sauna and observation areas.
- Hard surfaces, uneven walls and constant activity drove the need for flexible placement and precise directivity.
- Staff can tailor audio settings zone by zone to match the activity in each space.
What Was the Project at GRIP Action Sports Hub?
GRIP Action Sports Hub is a newly opened six-floor center in Tampere, Finland for exercise, work and relaxation, and it needed a single audio system that could hold consistent coverage and intelligibility across radically different spaces. The building serves organized groups and solo athletes alike, with dedicated areas for amateur and professional sports plus zones to cool down and observe.
That mix of activity created a demanding project. The venue spans an Olympic-standard SkatePark, a 15-meter-high Climbing Centre, a gym, group training spaces, a restaurant, a sauna and observation areas. AV integration firm 4Business Oy took on the job of delivering clear music and announcements throughout, and the owners chose a Genelec Smart IP solution to do it.
Why Was Consistent Sound Such a Challenge?
Consistent sound was difficult because the building combines hard surfaces, uneven walls and nonstop activity across six floors of sports, hospitality and meeting spaces. Those conditions make coverage and speech intelligibility harder to maintain than in a conventional venue with predictable acoustics.
Coverage sat at the top of the priority list from the start. “We were tasked with delivering high-quality and consistent sound throughout the sports center, with good coverage as a top priority,” says Kimmo Lauttajärvi, sales manager at 4Business Oy. “With hard surfaces, uneven walls and constant activity, we required a powerful loudspeaker solution with flexible placement and precise directivity to ensure music and announcements remained clear.”
Why Did 4Business Oy Choose Genelec?
4Business Oy chose Genelec because both the integrator and the client already trusted the Finnish manufacturer’s quality and reliability. The recommendation built on 4Business Oy’s own track record with the brand across entertainment and hospitality work.
The existing relationship made the decision straightforward. “We regularly rely on Genelec loudspeakers for a range of entertainment and hospitality projects,” Lauttajärvi explains. “The client already trusted the brand’s quality and reliability, so it was a natural choice for this project.” During the design stage, the Genelec team recommended the most suitable product series for the unconventional acoustic spaces, which shaped the final specification.
How Did Smart IP Simplify the Installation?
Smart IP simplified the installation by delivering power, audio and control over a single network cable, which reduced the cabling that would otherwise need to be routed around ramps, climbing structures and other physical obstacles. That single-cable approach mattered in a building where running conventional wiring through active sports zones would have added complexity and time.
The scale of the venue made the benefit clear during planning. “We knew the Smart IP models were particularly well-suited to the scale of this installation due to the ability to deliver power, audio and control over a single network cable,” Lauttajärvi says. Following Genelec’s advice and 4Business Oy’s own experience, the team selected 57 Smart IP loudspeakers and six compact 4000 Series active installation loudspeakers to cover the six-story building.
Thirteen Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers provide powerful, controlled coverage throughout the main SkatePark areas. Courtesy / Genelec
How Was the System Laid Out Floor by Floor?
The system was laid out to match each area’s acoustics and activity level, with higher-output models in the large, noisy spaces and compact units in quieter zones. The design placed 63 loudspeakers total across the building’s sports, hospitality and meeting areas.
The breakdown ran as follows:
- SkatePark (first and second floors): 13 Smart IP 4430 loudspeakers cover the Street, Park, Jump Track and Vert areas, mounted on walls and concrete columns for high output and controlled coverage. Nine ultra-compact 4410 models handle background music in the shop, changing rooms, showroom, office and break room.
- Climbing Centre: Seven 4430 loudspeakers sit on flat wall surfaces and aim toward climbers on the angled walls, with two 4410 units serving background music in the changing rooms.
- Sports Centre: Eight compact 4420 loudspeakers deliver background music and announcements across the gym, and two 4410 models cover the changing rooms. Two 4040 units serve the group exercise studio, while two 4030 models handle the spinning studio.
- Sixth-floor meeting and function facilities: Eight 4420 loudspeakers and two 4030 units provide clear, detailed sound at comfortable listening levels.
- Lobby and circulation areas: Eight Smart IP loudspeakers cover these spaces, with three 4430 models on the first floor and one 4420 on each of the remaining five floors.
Finish choices followed the building’s design. Loudspeakers throughout the SkatePark and Climbing Centre use Genelec’s RAW finish, which features uncoated recycled aluminum cabinets. “The natural finish fits nicely with the building’s industrial aesthetic,” Lauttajärvi adds. The studio loudspeakers use the standard black finish to match the premium look of those spaces.
Why a Mix of Smart IP and 4000 Series Models?
The mix reflected the difference between complex and straightforward spaces, with Smart IP models handling the challenging acoustic environments and 4000 Series units serving the simpler zones. That split let the integrator apply single-cable flexibility where the infrastructure demanded it while using compact active loudspeakers where it didn’t.
Lauttajärvi frames the logic in practical terms. “The 4000 Series models suit the less complex areas, which require precise sound without needing to accommodate the unconventional infrastructure,” he reveals. The result pairs Smart IP’s network-based control across the active sports floors with detailed, compact audio in the studios and meeting rooms.
The six-story GRIP Action Sports Hub combines sports, hospitality, meeting and relaxation spaces. Courtesy / Genelec
What Was the Outcome for GRIP Action?
The outcome met the client’s goals for clarity and consistency while keeping the system manageable for staff to operate day to day. Each area gets clear, consistent sound, and staff can adjust audio settings zone by zone to suit the activity taking place.
The technology also eased what could have been a difficult build and handover. “The scale and architectural variety of the building could easily have made the system complicated to install and operate,” Lauttajärvi says. “Smart IP technology helped simplify both the physical installation and its ongoing management, with the flexibility to adjust each space as needed, while the 4000 Series provided a compact and detailed audio solution for smaller zones.”
For the client, the finished result was what mattered most. “The overall sound quality has exceeded our expectations,” says Janne Sievänen, CEO at GRIP Action Sports Hub. “The Genelec hardware is truly first-class, and combined with the extensive acoustic treatment throughout the building, the result is clear and balanced, even in our largest and most demanding spaces. For us, the most important thing is the end result, and in terms of sound quality, we are more than happy with what has been achieved.”
