A recent redesign of the rooftop club space at Ian Schrager’s the Public Hotel in New York City presents a 360-degree view of lower Manhattan accompanied by video as well as an audio system utilizing a variety of 1 SOUND loudspeakers, including Tower columns with a cardioid design.
The initial challenge of the space was that the previous club emitted noise pollution, disturbing residential apartments two floors above. SH Acoustics, led by principal consultant Steve Haas, was brought in to take on this challenge, collaborating on an audio design that relied heavily on the controlled-dispersion properties of the loudspeakers as well as acoustical treatments within the space to enhance both sound quality and containment in the new design.
Essential Communications, which did the installation, suggested 1 SOUND loudspeakers to be included in the audio design based on the cardioid capabilities of Tower columns. Company representatives went to the space and did a demonstration for the Ian Schrager Company and SH Acoustics that hit the mark in terms of audio quality while resolving the sound pollution issue.
For the dance floor area, where the most SPL is needed, nine Tower LCC44 loudspeakers are deployed in in an immersive configuration and paired with five SUB310 subwoofers. This region of space is predominantly made up of glass windows with columns that were turned into video walls, making loudspeaker placement even more strategic.
The LCC44s are mounted to the side of the video wall columns using their companion brackets that are able to swing out to a maximum 90-degree angle. Essential Communications was able to position the loudspeakers so they’re flush to the edge of the column and have the desired angle for dance floor coverage.
The rear-cancellation properties help lessen reflections behind against the glass windows joined by a dispersion pattern that further minimizes sound hitting the ceiling. The SUB310s are placed between the booths in the seating area. SH Acoustics tuned the system, also eliminating reverberation from finding its way up the building to the neighboring floors. Multiple DSP presets were implemented to optimize overall level and bass-balance for the variety of events hosted by the venue.
Meanwhile, the DJ booth is outfitted with a pair of Cannon C6 loudspeakers on poles to serve as monitors accompanied by a CSUB210 sub inside the booth. More Cannon C6s are deployed in the bar area, mounted to the ceiling using C-clamps.
“This was our first experience working with 1 Sound on a significant project,” says Haas, “and we (and the client) were very pleased at how clean the sound of their speakers were at high sound levels, while still exhibiting tight control over the vertical spread of sound. We look forward to finding other unique opportunities to employ the variety of products offered by 1 SOUND.”
