SNELLVILLE, GA — To help transform a large retail location in Snellville, GA into an environment suited for its expanding congregation, 12Stone Church turned to Cason Cleveland Productions, which worked with Nashville-based PixelFLEX on the use of that company’s FLEXLite NXG 2.6mm LED video technology.
More details from PixelFLEX (www.pixelflexled.com):
Originally founded in 1987, 12Stone Church has grown to include eight campuses throughout Georgia serving the communities in Gwinnett, Hall, and Barrow counties. In their most recent expansion, the congregation completed a full renovation of a large retail location in Snellville, GA, and in doing so they needed to create a full worship environment. Working with Cason Cleveland Productions, 12Stone Church had a specific vision for the LED video elements in the new auditorium, so together they enlisted the assistance of Nashville-based PixelFLEX and installed FLEXLite NXG 2.6mm LED video technology.
“For our new Snellville campus, we were moving into what used to be a Best Buy retail location, so we really needed to create all of the production elements from scratch for our worship environment,” began Dustin Whitt, Production Ministry Lead. “When looking specifically at the LED video elements, we knew it would be about 16 feet to the first row of the audience, plus we would have wide viewing angles, so we had to have a product with a tight pixel pitch. In looking at all the products available from PixelFLEX, we ultimately chose the 2.6mm FLEXLite NXG and the LED video looks great.”
Offering one of the highest resolution displays on the market, the FLEXLite NXG is designed to meet the demands of any installation or production. With fully front-serviceable panels, the FLEXLite NXG is available in 2.6mm-6.25mm pitch options, plus it includes a 6.25mm IP65 version as well. For optimum performance, FLEXLite NXG tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to help decrease any failures in the field and to ensure perfect color and brightness.
“As we were looking at the various LED video offerings on the market, we had heard about PixelFLEX through other churches using their technology with success,” admitted Cleveland. “It was also important to us that we choose a US-based partner who we knew would be available for support and service throughout the process, and working with PixelFLEX has been a wonderful experience.”
With the decision made to move forward with the FLEXLite NXG LED video technology, Cleveland and Whitt got to work on the installation of the new system. Looking at how they wanted the auditorium to be a reconfigurable space, the decision was made to hang the LED video wall instead of permanently affixing it one location.
“In designing the Snellville auditorium, we wanted the main auditorium to seat approximately 850 members and the stage itself to be about 30’ wide and 18’ deep,” continued Whitt. “Additionally, we wanted the stage design to have a touring aspect to it where we could periodically change the actual configuration so we needed to hang the FLEXLite NXG LED video wall from truss instead of permanently installing it where it could not be moved.”
“How the PixelFLEX technology has been engineered for quick and simple installation was definitely another factor that we took into consideration,” added Cleveland. “Since the FLEXLite NXG would be the only LED video screen in the room, we needed it to be able to use it in various configurations, plus we wanted a technology that we might be able to use in the other campuses as well. Once we were finished with the initial installation of the LED video wall we ended up using 45 panels of the FLEXLite NXG and it looks amazing.”
Now that the FLEXLite NXG LED video was installed in the Snellville auditorium, Whitt could begin programming the variety of high resolution video content to be displayed during the worship services.
“At 12Stone Church, we have a modern worship environment and we use a full complement of content ranging from simple text on a black screen, to dynamic graphics, and even IMAG video during the sermon,” explained Whitt. “One of the things I love most about the FLEXLite NXG is that when we are showing white text on a black background, the background disappears and allows the lighting to carry a visual energy that we simply could not achieve by using projection.”
As the final production elements were put into place, the Snellville campus was opened to the 12Stone Church congregation. Currently holding three services per week, the church is now providing the surrounding community with a state-of-the-art worship environment with an LED video wall backed by the support of PixelFLEX.
“During the construction of any new production environment there are inevitably going to be challenges with getting the complete system ready to go,” said Cleveland. “Throughout the entire process in Snellville, PixelFLEX always had our back to make sure the install was going as planned, and that is what really made all the difference to make this project a complete success.”
“At 12Stone Church, we are a modern worship family with a high-energy service and our goal isn’t to be flashy, but instead to do things with excellence while supporting the message,” concluded Whitt. “From the leadership to the congregation, everyone absolutely loves the new worship environment and the FLEXLite NXG LED video wall is a wonderful addition that truly helps us bring the message to life.”
