Kunstsilo Museum Kristiansand, Norway

Located on the small island of Odderøya in the harbour of Kristiansand, the award winning Kunstsilo stands as an example of architectural transformation. The former grain silo from 1935 has been converted into a vibrant cultural hub with multiple exhibition spaces, restaurants, digital art installations, and event areas.

To support both safety and daily operations, OneCo Kristiansand and Scandec Systemer implemented a TOA VX-3000 multi-zone voice alarm and public address system, providing reliable voice evacuation, paging, and background music across 15 zones, including two outdoors. Ceiling speakers are concealed behind acoustic panels, ensuring full coverage while remaining visually unobtrusive.

A multi-zone system designed for flexibility

“The entire system consists of 15 zones, two of which are outdoors. By using zone division, we can route customized messages and different background music to each zone,” says Anders Kristensen, Project Manager for IT and Security, OneCo.

“Together with Scandec, we have designed, engineered, installed, and commissioned a system that meets all of Kunstsilo’s needs.”

Daily use beyond safety announcements

“The most common use is closing announcements — our visitors are informed daily over the speaker system that opening hours are coming to an end. We also use the system for personal messages, such as when a child gets separated from their parents in the exhibitions. We use both pre-recorded messages and live announcements,” explains Marius Jensen, Head of Technical Operations and Security, Kunstsilo.

Dedicated audio zones ensure that each exhibition area can be individually tailored. On upper floors, background music complements specific artistic themes depending on the exhibition. In the rooftop bar and restaurants overlooking the fjord, staff can easily control music directly from an iPad.

VX-3000: The right platform for a complex installation

“The VM 3000 is often the standard choice for typical voice alarm systems. But with so many zones and the need for combined PA and background music, the VX 3000 was clearly the right solution,” says Andreas Bergum, Head of Security Department, Scandec Systemer.

Kunstsilo has become one of Northern Europe's leading centers for art and culture. It hosts the Tangen Collection, the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernism, alongside the Sørlandet Collection and the Christianssands Picture Gallery. The museum also offers international digital art, rotating exhibitions, concerts, lectures, culinary experiences, workshops, and various event spaces.