Rockharbor Costa Mesa

Written By Michael French

Auditorium design and AVL upgrade

Project Overview

Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, CA partnered with ProVision Production Design for a three-phase renovation of its approximately 800-seat worship center. The project included production-system upgrades, a full auditorium redesign, and campus-wide AV network improvements.

ProVision collaborated with church leadership, technical and IT teams, contractors, interior designers to ensure the technology and design supported both production performance and the church’s architectural vision.

Unique Challenges

During the design review, ProVision identified through the CAD drawings that the proposed sightlines to the new LED screens would not meet the client’s expectations. Resolving the issue required a broader architectural redesign, including modifications to the stage and relocation of the rear stage walls. These changes opened the room’s sightlines, improved screen visibility, and created space for additional seating.

The redesign was a major win for the church, but it also added significant coordination and construction work while the worship center remained active. Throughout the several-month renovation, the room was repeatedly returned to a safe, clean, and service-ready condition. Sunday services moved off-site only once, allowing the production equipment to be removed and the auditorium and ceiling to be painted.

PA Design

What began as a PA upgrade evolved into a complete production renovation. Rather than replace Rockharbor’s current-generation EAW system, ProVision strategically redeployed and expanded it.

The existing PA remained functional but was regularly being pushed beyond its ideal operating range. Two additional EAW RSX208L array hangs and higher-output SBX218 subwoofers increased available output, improved coverage consistency, and created a more balanced tonal response throughout the auditorium. Reusing the existing system also allowed the project to expand into video, lighting, infrastructure, and control improvements.

System Highlights

Phase One: Production Upgrades

  • Shure Axient Digital wireless microphones

  • Waves SoundGrid processing

  • Custom drum enclosure

  • Upgraded instrument microphones

Phase Two: Auditorium Redesign

  • Redesigned stage and improved sightlines

  • Two LED lyric displays with Novastar processing

  • Optimized front-of-house mix position

  • Expanded Blackmagic Design video system

  • New equipment racks and custom I/O panels

  • Stage and full-color house lighting

  • CueServer lighting control

  • Expanded EAW PA and upgraded subwoofers

Phase Three: Network and Control

  • Modernized campus-wide AV network

  • Expanded Q-SYS control in auxiliary spaces

  • Touchscreen audio and room control

  • Simplified user interfaces

  • Secure and scalable network foundation

Results

The completed renovation gave Rockharbor a cohesive AVL environment with improved audio coverage, stronger visual presentation, modern lighting, streamlined control, and a scalable campus network—all while preserving the church’s existing technology investment and maintaining nearly uninterrupted Sunday services.

Michael French