e:cue Lighting Control at LIV Nightclub Fountainbleu Miami Beach, FL, USA
February 18, 2009
Focus Lighting's design for LIV Nightclub at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach has helped breathe new life into the historic space originally designed by Morris Lapidus in 1954.
Formerly the Tropigala, a club once frequented by Frank Sinatra, the newly renovated LIV features a cylindrical central space capped by an expansive 80 foot dome. A e:cue media engine 2 and 5 e:cue butler control 870 LED fixtures that illuminate the ceiling. An outer ring of fixtures wash the surface of the historic dome in vibrant colored light, while other fixtures embedded into the acoustic finish of the dome itself create dynamic low resolution video effects in a radial array. The dome in this club is unlike any other club in Miami, the USA, or even the World. The historic 88 foot dome is embedded with a radial array of 585 linear LEDs that create a low-resolution video matrix.
By taking into account the way the patrons move throughout the space, and how the lighting can enhance the atmosphere, Focus Lighting strove to create an emotional experience using light. If we can trigger a memory of a rich sunset or an elegant star-filled night sky, we bring the viewers into the space with familiar images of beauty.
This venture was a wonderful creative opportunity. It brought together experience in architecture, theater, and club design (and the latest in lighting technology), to create something very unique. We want to do more than just put lights in the ceiling. We consider the mood the lighting will create, how the light will change throughout the evening, and how to keep maintenance and cost very low for the owner.
The dome is also ringed with a light cove filled with 300 LED floodlights that wash the entire surface of the dome. It's at once a video screen, color field and matrix of strobes and geometric patterns. It can be energetic and flashy, or it can be subtle and mellow. The Light Jockey has the capability to have the dome be at either one of these extremes or anywhere in between in real-time. The complete system can be controlled over a touch screen running the programmers enterprise action pad in combination with the e:cue faderunit at the dj booth. This allows him to have the lights be in-tune with the music the DJ is playing. It's this in-sync audio/visual combination on this large of a scale that makes the club so powerful and successful.
Besides the dome effect ligting system, e:cue also controls the complete architectural lighting inside the club. The lighting of the VIP areas can be controlled over button stations, which are connected to e:cue connect base devices. By using an incoming dmx signal and the e:cue excite+ everything programmed can be triggered by the house lighting console.
Additionally, LIV has excellent sightlines. It was designed as a voyeuristic see-and-be-seen experience. The glowing grand stairs, the VIP boxes enclosed by backlit frames, and the open central dance floor all add to the sense that everyone in the club is on stage. The opening night of the club hosted the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show After-Party. Parts of the Fashion show were shown on the video screens throughout the party. Many celebrities attended the opening night including Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum, Denise Richards, Seal, Usher, P Diddy, Kim Kardashian, Debbie Harry and more.
Realized by
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Design Architect:
Seed Design
Theatrical Lighting Designer:
SJ Lighting
Lighting Designers:
Focus Lighting Inc.
www.focuslighting.com
Photographer:
Joshua Spitzig
Size of Project in sq. ft. or meter:
30,000 sq. ft.