Microclub on The Roof

The success of this project has enabled the Ian Schrager Group to do what it does best, create a groundbreaking nightclub, even when at risk of not being able to do so due to the history of noise pollution in this location. SH Acoustics had an extremely difficult task of making what was once an audible sound and thumping bass in the apartment two floors above, disappear. It was successful, through its use of acoustic treatments and design for the audio system.

From discovery to completion, the qualities of 1 SOUND loudspeakers and company support, have inspired and empowered the stakeholders in this project every step.

From the demonstration with SH Acoustics and the client, where Ian Schrager Company listened and quickly said: “That would make me stay and have a second drink.”

Although a new brand in the audio industry, 1 SOUND products make no sacrifices when it comes to design, build material, quality of sound, and mechanical practicality for installation. 1 SOUND aspires to support the professional audio industry with tools that are new and unique in the market in order to cultivate creativity and empower the commercial audio industry to work for the betterment of the everyday human experience.

This project is a clear example of that mission, and an example of a built network of designers, integrators, and even clients like hospitality groups excited to do what’s best for a project and take action at the next design challenge.

The initial challenge of this space was that the previous club emitted noise pollution, disturbing residential apartments two floors above. SH Acoustics, led by Principal Consultant, Steve Haas, was hired to take on this challenge, collaborating on an audio design that relied heavily on the controlled-dispersion properties of 1 SOUND loudspeakers, as well as consulting on acoustical treatments within the space to enhance both sound quality and containment in the new design. Essential Communications was brought in to complete the installation.

Essential Communications suggested 1 SOUND loudspeakers be included in the audio design, having known the cardioid capabilities of Tower Columns. 1 SOUND went to the space and did a demonstration for the Ian Schrager Company and SH Acoustics, which resulted in everyone being very pleased with the sound quality and trusting that SH Acoustics and Essential Communications would hit the mark by providing chest-pumping nightclub audio on which world-class DJs will be excited to perform while resolving the sound pollution issue at hand.

The space was primarily built with glass windows as well as columns that were used for the video walls, so the speaker installation had to be strategic. This is where 1 SOUND’s rigging hardware shined, utilising the Tower LCC44 Wall Bracket to be mounted on the side of the columns and mounted near the columns using the LCC44 wall brackets and are capable of swivelling out on a 90° angle.

The design and installation of the club’s unique 1 SOUND audio system was even more strategic due to its architectural design of the walls being primarily glass. That is why for this club’s audio design, SH Acoustics sought 1 SOUND’s cardioid Tower LCC44 columns because of their rear-cancellation of 20 dB and “how clean the sound of their speakers was at high sound levels, while still exhibiting tight control over the vertical spread of sound” as explained by Steve Haas, Principal Consultant of SH Acoustics.

For the dance floor area of the club, where they needed the most SPL, nine Tower LCC44s were used in an immersive configuration and paired with five SUB310s for the bass. Limited for speaker placement space, the LCC44s were mounted to the side of the converted video wall columns, using LCC44 Wall Brackets, that are able to swing out to a maximum 90° angle.

Essential Communications mounted the loudspeakers so they were flush to the edge of the columns and had the desired angles for dance floor coverage. The Towers were the optimal choice because of their cardioid property, which helped lessen the reflections behind the speakers against the glass windows.

The Tower’s dispersion is only 5° of the top of the speaker which helped minimise sound hitting the ceiling while still providing the SPL level that was required. The SUB310s were placed between the booths in the seating area. SH Acoustics tuned the system to sound optimal and eliminated reverberation from finding its way up the building to the neighbouring floors. Multiple DSP presets were implemented to optimise overall level and bass balance for the wide variety of events hosted by the venue.

The DJ booth used a pair of Cannon C6s set on speaker poles as monitors, along with the cardioid CSUB210 inside the DJ booth. For the bar area, Cannon C6s were mounted to the ceiling using C-Clamps, and SUB310s were used for bass.

Essential Communications, SH Acoustics, Ian Schrager Company, and now the returning DJs are very pleased with the 1 SOUND audio system, having music industry publications saying, “New York’s first “micro club” has a macro sound system!” (edm.com)

In addition to the installation of the audio system, Essential Communications’ multidisciplinary team of technologists, designers, and engineers provided the LED video displays on the columns, video processing and distribution, and a lighting control system to operate the sophisticated LED lighting on the ceiling and the dance floor. The audio in combination with the lighting and video in the design, hit the mark for the Ian Schrager Company’s goal to make this an immersive experience for clubgoers and event guests.