L-Acoustics delivers Mexican day-to-night experience
- Details
Located in the Vidanta Los Cabos resort on the southern-most tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, this is the first project in a $150m investment deal between Grupo Vidanta, Mexico’s leading resort operator and tourism developer, and Hakkasan Group. A day-to-night experience designed by New York architects Rockwell Group, the resort includes four new venues: Omnia Dayclub; and restaurants Casa Calavera, Herringbone, and Shore Bar.
“We have always been firm believers of the sound experience being one of the most important factors of live venues and L-Acoustics has always come out on top for the system of choice, delivering amazing performances event after event,” says James Algate, senior vice president of entertainment at Hakkasan.
“Audiotek has been Hakkasan’s A/V integrator for over a decade and their successes with our other venues [Omnia/Jewel/Hakkasan Nightclubs in Las Vegas and Omnia Day Club in Bali, Indonesia] meant they were the logical choice for this project. Following our initial brief, they came back with an L-Acoustics design to ensure the expectation of the new Dayclub followed the existing reputation of our nightlife venues.”
Omnia Dayclub overlooks the Sea of Cortez and is arranged around a central pool. It features several VIP areas, including VVIP two-storey bungalows with private infinity plunge pools, as well as private cabanas. To deliver the best audio experience with as little noise pollution around the site as possible, the Audiotek team of managing director Frank Murray, technical manager Chris Kmiec and project manager Rob Sherry worked alongside Gerado Gonzalez, head of technical for Hakkasan, to design the system, which they installed alongside local integrator Dextra Electronics.
Comprising four hangs of six Kiva II with two SB15m below each hang, plus a main sub array of six SB28 sited in the front of the DJ Booth, the system packs that nightclub audio punch, but controls spill into surrounding areas.
“As the main hotel pool is located behind the end wall of the Dayclub, with other parts of the hotel complex beyond, this set up means we can keep the sound inside the venue as much as possible,” says Audiotek’s Rob Sherry. “In the six VIP cabanas, we used a single X8, whilst in the VVIP two storey bungalows a single X8 was placed on each level.”
A major feature of the Dayclub is two large, curved columns positioned next to the bar and VVIP bungalows. As fill for the main bar area and the VVIP private pools, three X8 were hung from each column. For DJ monitors, two X12 were installed in stereo, along with a single SB18.
In addition, two Syva, one on each curving column structure, face the beach area to cover the beds located there, chosen not only for their pristine audio quality, but because they are a perfect aesthetic fit with the design of the visually striking columns.
For the main bar drinks/lounge area, two X12 are wall hung, with three SB15 installed beneath the stage. The main dining area is covered by eight 5XT with a further two 5XT for the outside table area. Along the entrance corridor, a further four 5XT are positioned along the walls. The entire system is amplified by two LA8 and ten LA4X amplified controllers.
“The Kiva II system was the perfect choice for this venue,” concludes Algate. “The high SPL against its size fitted in perfectly with the architectural design aesthetic. The Soundvision modelling was excellent for us being able to visualise what the system could achieve and meant that we could be sure we would deliver the audio experience we wanted. We are extremely pleased with the results the system delivers.”
(Jim Evans)
