The client came to us while doing a small basement renovation with the goal of having a dedicated theatre room. The goal was to create an environment that was inviting while giving the persona of an intimate screening room.
The client came to us while doing a small basement renovation with the goal of having a dedicated theatre room. The goal was to create an environment that was inviting while giving the persona of an intimate screening room.
We managed this project from the design stage and incorporated some truly unique features, not the least of which is a fully Motorized Bookcase. When a particular book is slid out (Sherlock Holmes “The Adventure of The Engineer’s Thumb”) the book case slowly opens to reveal a passage to another area of the home, slide the book back into place and the Bookcase closes, neatly concealing its secret. Engineered mechanical arms and an actuator assembly custom built by us drive the Bookcase mechanism. A custom built laptop/touch panel stand brings the internet and control right to the client’s fingertips just by swinging the platform into place. This was crucial as the client spends a significant amount of time trading on the markets.
Lighting control is handled through Lutron spacers and scenes are selected by Élan’s Via Valet. A custom trimmed and finished pull out rack houses all the theatre equipment as well as the home’s distributed audio system. Second row sight lines are optimized by a custom built dual riser platform. Seven motorized incliners ensure that every seat in the house is the best, and the bar/concession stand means no one has to miss a minute of action to get refreshments. Star embossed carpet and classic movie posters complete the Hollywood experience and together add a touch of yesteryear to the room.
One of the client’s requests was to be able to press one button and have the system set up for trading on the stock markets. With the push of the dollar sign button, the system comes on to the client’s chosen stock market channel, the laptop is displayed on the screen along side the TV station and the lighting adjusts so that only the pot light directly above the main seat is on. Limited options were available for equipment placement and the client loved the look of a properly finished rack and wanted it prominently featured in the room, for this reason a Middle Atlantic AXS pull out rack system was chosen. The client interface is an Élan Via Valet that provides intuitive control for the entire system and feedback from the front door camera. Ease of use and simplicity was paramount given that the clients spend their winters travelling.
With the amount of carpet, heavy velvet drapes and the multi tiered ceiling, the acoustics were quite good in this room. Double drywall with resilient channel was used during construction, the ceiling and risers were spray foamed to create superior sound absorption and eliminate potential reverberations. Speakers were wall mounted beside and below the screen to give the proscenium a clean look. Two subwoofers fill the theatre with bass; one resides along the front wall and one on the side wall adjacent to the book case. The HVAC work that had to be added was suspended on foam insulation to prevent bass drone throughout the home.
Video calibration was done to ISF standards and audio was calibrated in conjunction with the client to suit their personal tastes. In most cases LCD projectors can produce limited blacks; however, after proper greyscale tracking the picture was breathtaking. The client now has a theatre room that can make money on Wall Street or just sit back and watch the movie Wall Street. Couple that with a hidden passageway Batman would be envious of and you have a fantastic addition to the home.
Winner of Level I SILVER Technical Design award for Large Home Theatre – $45,000 to $72,000 – in CEDIA’s Electronic Lifestyles Awards competition.