MIAMI BEACH, FL — Audio Video Lighting Innovations designed and installed the sound systems for South Beach-based Gale Hotel, an 87-room resort that restores the Art Deco stylings of two properties originally built in 1941 by architect L. Murray Dixon — the Gale South and Regent Hotel. The audio systems are powered by Lab.gruppen amplifiers.
More details from Lab.gruppen and TC Group Americas (www.tcgroup-americas.com):
Freshly opened for Miami’s prestigious Art Basel Festival in December 2012, The Gale Hotel actually incorporates two iconic examples of Tropical Art Deco style formerly known as the Gale South and Regent Hotel. Built in 1941 by architect, L. Murray Dixon, the two properties thrived for many years, but, as South Beach grew and newer resorts opened, suffered from neglect and were eventually shut down.
Now, thanks to the efforts of Menin Hotels, the landmark properties have been resurrected as a single, opulent, eighty-seven room hotel that balances the vintage luxury of Dixon’s pioneering vision against decidedly contemporary amenities, including sound systems powered exclusively by Lab.gruppen amplifiers.
Those systems were also developed with balance in mind, says audio designer/integrator, James Reed, President of Audio Video Lighting Innovations. “We placed a speaker, literally, every six feet in the hotel’s common areas.” The mandate: “To provide atmosphere, and presence, but without being overpowering.”
In total, eighteen Lab.gruppen E Series 8:2 amplifiers were deployed for systems providing background music in the hallways, lobby, the Dolce Italian Restaurant and The Gale’s rooftop pool, bar and restaurant. “The E Series are good for applications when you don’t need as much power and are really efficient,” Reed continues, citing their auto shutdown feature as particularly useful for areas like the pool bar, where various audio zones are activated at different times of day.
Additionally, two Lab.gruppen C 68:4s and two C 48:4s drive the Turbosound rig in The Rec Room Lounge, The Gale’s 4,000-square foot nightclub, lounge and live music venue. “With the Contractor Series we get four channels of amplification from only two rack spaces, and The Regent’s system really benefits from Lab.gruppen’s clean, high-quality power,” Reed says. “We actually didn’t consider using another amplifier. Lab.gruppen delivers what we specify, and exceed our expectations, so there’s no reason to.”
They also allow The Gale to achieve a balance between offering guests 24/7 service and being environmentally responsible, says Seth Wasserman, who oversaw the implementation of The Gale’s electronic systems. “I do what I can to keep these hotels green; not only because there’s huge cost savings but because it’s the right thing to do. With audio that’s tricky, but the Lab.gruppen’s are very efficient and with the amps, guest entertainment systems and administrative backbone all located in the IT room, we don’t need any extra heat generated. Also, real estate is at a premium, but since each E Series amp takes up just one rack space, we only needed one rack of amplifiers/processing for the entire hotel.”
“As far as sound quality,” he adds: “That speaks for itself – the Lab.gruppen amplifiers wouldn’t be there if they didn’t sound great.”
Located in Miami, Florida, Audio Video Lighting Innovations Inc., founded by James Reed and Michael Callahan, provides design and integration services for a variety of hospitality, healthcare, and educational applications.
Seth Wasserman is an independent, Miami-based consultant, who specializes in the implementation electronic systems in the hospitality industry.
