Auracast technology isn’t just for venues such as theatres, cinemas, and concert halls. Now, a new installation proves this: it’s a residential tower in Canada.
The Marlstone is a newly constructed 19-storey tower that houses 291 rental units in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The development has a direct indoor link to Scotia Square, a complex with shopping and dining services.
Suites range from studio pads to two-bedroom apartments, each with bright open spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows. Modern kitchens include energy-efficient appliances and in-suite laundry options.
The building also includes a rooftop terrace with views across the harbour and the city. There is a fitness centre, a music room, and spaces for parties … and pets.
Regular resident events are also planned to help bring the communities together.
It has been built to the LEED Gold Standard, with energy-efficient and environmentally responsible designs.
It has been designed to meet Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are built in, so residents have a home they can feel safe and secure in.
This is a rating system designed to let people know a building’s accessibility and what needs to be improved. The team look at 12 criteria, including wayfinding and signage, trails and pathways, technology and innovation, and emergency systems. Points are allocated for each survey area, with the scores then added up to give a rating.
A certified building has a score of 60%, while a gold standard building has a score of 80% or more.
The Foundation has rated nearly 2,000 sites so far, awarding more than 1,400 certifications, of which just 129 has been certified to meet the gold standard.
Among the innovations at The Marlstone is an AuraGate AuraLoop+ system from Opus Technologies.
This is a hybrid system that uses both Telecoil and Auracast to create a one-to-one assistive listening system. Those needing to hear from it can either turn on the loop on their hearing device, or select the Auracast from their Auracast Assistant app. This means it is compatible with a wide variety of devices including Cochlear, earbuds, headphones and hearing aids.
Its range for a Telecoil is 3 metres, and up to 30 metres for Auracast, although as it is designed to be used for reception desks or information points, most people will be a lot closer.
And the AuraLoop has advanced security protocols to guarantee the confidentiality of the audio signal; connection can be via a QR code.
It can be powered by mains electricity or a battery, and weights 366g. It’s not much bigger than an A4 sheet of paper: 250mm by 185mm by 80mm.
The Marlstone is just one of a number of venues that has been added to the Accessible Hearing Solutions interactive map, which we wrote about here. It features assistive listening installations across the East Coast of Canada, including theatres, libraries, health clinics, non-profit organisations, courthouses, places of worship, recreation centres, municipal buildings, and grocery stores.
There will be an open house event on Thursday, 13 August from 3pm-7pm Atlantic Daylight Time (7pm-11pm BST). For more details, log on to: https://calendly.com/colonnadebridgeport/marlstone-open-house-july-25th-clone
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