Carrousel du Louvre

Les Salles du Carrousel, located beneath the Louvre in Paris, has undergone a comprehensive technical revitalisation led by Magnum, a Groupe Novelty company.

The project modernised three major event spaces with fully integrated sound, lighting, rigging and network infrastructure designed to support a wide range of events, from conferences to large-scale productions. Built around a high-capacity AV network supporting AVB, Dante and ST2110/IPMX protocols, the installation enables seamless interconnection between spaces while improving operational efficiency.

The result is a future-ready venue offering faster setup times, enhanced safety and flexible technical capabilities within one of Paris’ most architecturally unique event environments.

Magnum approached the audio redesign of Les Salles du Carrousel with a clear objective: deliver consistent, intelligible coverage across highly modular spaces while ensuring the system integrated seamlessly into the venue’s scenography and operational workflow. The choice of a d&b audiotechnik Compact Cardioid Line Array was driven by its ability to combine power, precision and controlled dispersion—an essential requirement in a venue where events range from conferences to gala evenings.

The Nôtre Suite’s geometry and retractable seating demanded a system capable of adapting to multiple room configurations. Magnum deployed seven clusters of CCL12 loudspeakers, supported by six CCL‑SUBs, positioned to maintain uniform SPL distribution regardless of audience layout. The cardioid design significantly reduces rearward energy, minimising low‑frequency spill into adjacent spaces and improving clarity for both speech and music.

A new spine‑leaf AV network built on Netgear and Luminex switches ensures full interoperability between Dante, AVB, AES67 and ST2110/IPMX streams. This allows the audio system to integrate effortlessly with video, paging and control infrastructures. The paging system itself was rebuilt around a Yamaha MRX7‑D matrix and PGM1 microphones, with a custom Magnum‑designed interface that simplifies daily operation for venue staff.

The result is a robust, future‑ready audio environment that delivers premium sound quality while supporting the venue’s demanding event schedule.

For the lighting overhaul, Magnum focused on flexibility, energy efficiency and aesthetic integration. The venue hosts a wide spectrum of events, so the lighting system needed to deliver both creative range and operational simplicity. Magnum selected Robe ESPRITE fixtures as the backbone of the new lighting rig, valuing their output, colour consistency and framing capabilities.

The ESPRITE’s LED engine aligns with Viparis’ sustainability goals, offering significantly reduced power consumption compared to previous-generation discharge fixtures. Their silent operation and refined dimming curves make them equally suited to corporate presentations, exhibitions and high‑end gala evenings.

Magnum designed the lighting system to be fully networked, running over an ArtNet‑enabled infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with the venue’s new AV network. This allows lighting control to be centralised or distributed depending on the event’s needs, and ensures rapid reconfiguration between room setups.

In the Foyer, where the curved wooden ceiling is a defining architectural feature, Magnum ensured that lighting positions and fixture choices respected the space’s visual identity. The result is a lighting environment that enhances the venue’s architectural character while giving designers the tools they need to create dynamic, elegant atmospheres.

Rigging was one of the most transformative aspects of the renovation. Magnum replaced the venue’s legacy infrastructure with a new generation of ASD trusses and GIS LP500 D8+ chain hoists, creating a safer, more efficient and more versatile technical grid.

A total of 44 electric hoists were installed, each equipped with Altimate load monitoring (a solution developed by Teamagine, the R&D department of Groupe Novelty). Real‑time load supervision—visible directly via LED indicators—gives technicians immediate feedback during setup and operation, significantly improving safety and reducing the risk of overloading. This is particularly valuable in a venue where room configurations change frequently and event turnover is rapid.

The motor control system, built around Altimate controllers, allows precise, synchronised lifting operations. This ensures that lighting, audio and scenic elements can be positioned with millimetric accuracy, streamlining both setup and derig workflows.

Magnum also rebuilt the electrical distribution using StageSmarts power units, providing clean, protected and scalable power delivery across all rigging and technical zones. Control rooms were redesigned with improved ergonomics, guardrails and safer access routes, reflecting Magnum’s commitment to technician wellbeing.

The new rigging infrastructure not only enhances safety but also dramatically increases the venue’s creative potential, enabling faster transformations and supporting a wider range of event formats.

The primary challenge was modernising the technical infrastructure of a highly active event venue without compromising its operational continuity or architectural identity.

Each space within Les Salles du Carrousel has unique structural and functional characteristics, requiring tailored solutions while maintaining consistency across the venue.

Another key challenge was designing a system capable of supporting a wide range of event formats, from small conferences to large-scale productions, without requiring extensive reconfiguration.

The integration of multiple technical disciplines, including audio, lighting, rigging, power and network, into a unified system also required careful coordination to ensure seamless interoperability.

Safety was a critical consideration, particularly in relation to rigging and suspended loads, necessitating the implementation of advanced monitoring systems and precise control mechanisms.

Finally, the project needed to align with sustainability objectives, requiring the selection of energy-efficient equipment and long-term operational optimisation.

This project represents a benchmark in the evolution of multipurpose event venues.

Rather than focusing solely on performance, the installation redefines how technical infrastructure can support operational efficiency, safety and flexibility at scale.

The introduction of fully integrated technical room packages significantly reduces setup time for event organisers, enabling faster turnarounds and more efficient use of the venue.

From a technical perspective, the combination of advanced rigging systems, a high-capacity AV network and controlled audio distribution demonstrates a holistic approach to venue design.

The project also stands out for its location and context. Delivering this level of technical transformation beneath the Louvre required careful integration within a unique architectural environment.

By combining engineering, logistics and innovation, Groupe Novelty has created a future-ready event space capable of supporting the evolving demands of the global events industry.