Over 100 Robe moving lights were specified for an epic entertainment lighting design that graces the main room of the new club at Ceasar's Palace.
The brief from Hakkasan CEO Neil Moffit to the technical and creative teams involved in Omnia encompassed superlatives like 'awesome' 'breathtaking' and 'mind-blowing', so architectural / interior designers The Rockwell Group and entertainment technology integration specialist Audiotek worked to ensure that his ambitions to create the most outrageously immersive, opulent and simply amazing premium clubbing experience in Las Vegas were met to the max.
The Robe fixtures are part of the lighting scheme delivered by Willie Williams - show designer for some of the most savvy and intelligently visual live artists on the planet - like U2, Robbie Williams, REM, etc. Invited to bring his magic touch and help coordinate the entertainment lighting package to the party by Audiotek's Frank Murray, Omnia is his first venture into club lighting design, a challenge he accepted with some trepidation.
The main room features a massive, jaw-dropping chandelier centerpiece, with eight moving rings, complete with an internally LED-lit crystal sub-chandelier within.
Audiotek, led by Frank, was at the heart of all Omnia's entertainment technology aspects including design, specification, assessment and realization, together with the procurement and commissioning of all equipment.
Having worked with the principals of Hakkasan Worldwide for over 20 years across three continents, Frank and Audiotek had also delivered the show-stopping technical elements that have helped make Hakkasan at the MGM Grand - also in Las Vegas - a leading destination for international clubbers.
Once Willie was committed to the project, he worked closely on imagineering the lighting details with Audiotek's head of lighting Andy Taylor and their engineering director Chris Kmeic. All collaborated and communicated closely and constantly with The Rockwell Group based in New York.
"Bringing someone of Willie's calibre and imagination on the team was an absolute coup," explained Frank. "The space needed to be totally unique from anything else seen before, so Willie brought a completely different perspective and approach along with his characteristic daring and insouciance."
David Chesal from Robe Lighting Inc. was also an integral part of the team, bringing his vast experience of club lighting - which also includes Hakkasan Las Vegas - to the table.
Robe ticked all the boxes, and they chose Pointes, MMX Spots and Robin 300E Spots.
The chandelier fills the main club's 20m domed ceiling and is made up of the eight concentric rings, all rigged with lighting fixtures - including some of the Robes - and projection elements.
Engineered by TAIT, its total weight is nearly 6 tonnes, the largest ring is nearly 10m in diameter and the smallest one is 4m and all of them are fabricated from frosted plastic with a grey interior finish.
The fluid movement is controlled via 21 winches in the grid which run at 1m a second.
A total of 33 x Robe Pointes and 18 x MMX Spots are split between rings four and eight of the chandelier, and they are used to produce all the WOW factors that you would expect from these incredibly dynamic fixtures.
Another 12 x MMX Spots are rigged in the tiered seating above the main room bar, with another four on a truss above the DJ booth.
Twenty four of the Robin300E Spots are positioned on the underside of the mezzanine level around the room, and 16 x Robin 300E Spots and eight Pointes are used to provide lighting in the 'Heart of Omnia' second room. Some of the lighting programming includes a continuity of looks and effects flowing through the two spaces.
"The MMX Spots were chosen primarily for their dual graphics wheels and the fantastic range of aerial and projec