MONTREAL – When Hakkasan Group opened the new Jewel Nightclub at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, local integrator National Technology Associates (NTA) implemented switches from LUMINEX Network Intelligence to build a reliable converged over-IP network solution for all video, lighting, audio and signage devices and even laser in the night spot. .Jewel Nightclub is a 24,000-square-foot, jewel-toned environment replete with innovative technology. Starting at the entry, a massive wall of mirrored LED video screens runs across columns and stairs to accent the architecture of the space and draw attention to the mezzanine level.
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In the main room a grid of concentric oval rings, highlighted by 155 LED tiles and an array of moving heads, encircles a molded art piece called The Oculus that mimics the facets of a stone. The rings descend into four corner pillars of video adding a kinetic and sculptural energy to the club and its dance floor.
An ever-evolving matrix wall serves as the backdrop for the DJ. It has high-output LEDs on one side and 6mm video tiles on the other and is capable of continuous pan and tilt on both axes.
NTA teamed with design firm AudioTek on the project; they had previously worked together on Hakkasan Group’s Omnia nightclub at Caesars Palace.
NTA was introduced to LUMINEX network switches when the company worked on the remodeling of the Center Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. “We had a good experience with LUMINEX, then the much larger-scale Jewel Nightclub contract came along,” says Joe Garcia Miranda, who does audio visual systems design and engineering at NTA.
“Initially, LUMINEX was going to manage the lighting at Jewel. But then the design called for communication across all the entertainment systems using switches, VLAN and routers,” he explains. “So we had an opportunity to use LUMINEX to its full potential. Streamlining the video, lighting, audio and signage with LUMINEX made our lives so much easier.”
Jewel’s production network is a managed VLAN that is redundant, fast and flexible. Garcia Miranda designed and built the backbone of the system using LUMINEX GigaCore 12, 14R and 16Xt switches. He also deployed 18 LUMINEX Ethernet DMX-2 MKII IP/DMX nodes, one DMX-4 MKII IP/DMX node and four DMX-8 MKII IP/DMX nodes.
The LUMINEX gear supports QSC’s Q-sys for streaming audio, AV management/remote control, Art-Net broadcasts, sACN multi-casts, time code clocks, BrightSign digital video signage and even lasers on IP.
”I really liked working with the LUMINEX hardware at Jewel,” says Garcia Miranda. “Everything was intuitive and super easy to use. The ability to have my audio, video, lighting, control and data networks converged without a ton of command line work was a huge time saver. The ability to have simple layer-two features, like VLAN (group) switching on ports, accessible from the front panel also saved me time, and on-site techs can now handle this without an issue.”
Customer support from LUMINEX was also top-notch, he reports. Hugo Larin, National Director/America for LUMINEX, was “there with us all along the way,” says Garcia Miranda. “Everyone definitely went above and beyond to ensure the design was sound and that the system was functioning optimally. It was an awesome experience.”
When Art-Net to sACN convergence was required during the opening crunch, “LUMINEX delivered four new DMX-8s with new firmware on site in no time,” recalls Garcia Miranda. He also found that “the build quality of the hardware just felt better put together than other similar products. I’d easily recommend LUMINEX products to anyone – in fact, I’ve already spec’d LUMINEX switches on my current project design.”
At NTA Nevin Edwards was the Senior Project Manager for Jewel Nightclub.
