Best Interiors:
Planet Hollywood Theatre of the Performing Arts: A Standing Ovation for Interior Design
Erica Bailey,
Posted
07/01/2008
Most people know
right away when they arrive in Las Vegas. At night, it's
particularly awe inspiring to see the city lit up like the sun
never set. But the glittery lights aren't just reserved for the
outside. Inside, the lights can be used to make a plain room come
alive with drama and color. In the new Planet Hollywood Theatre of
the Performing Arts, completed spring 2007, the interior design
provides just as much fascination as the performances that happen
on center stage.
Like most theaters, a performance begins and ends with a curtain.
But for this theater, the curtain wasn't the only thing being
raised and lowered. Using an attachment method designed by the
engineers at Cambridge Architectural, Cambridge, Md., 40 stainless
steel metal mesh screens can be raised and lowered with the ease of
a push of a button. This unique design allows for the theater to be
changeable, creating a larger or smaller area depending on the
needs of the theater. The screens vary in size from 10 feet (3 m)
to 12 feet (3.7 m) in width and 13 feet (4 m) to 68 feet (21 m) in
length and hang from 30 feet (9 m) to 56 feet (17 m) above the
finish floor.
Lendall Mains
Architect, Las Vegas, was the architectural firm on the project.
"The inspiration behind using Cambridge's metal mesh in the
interior design was the durability, sheer quality of the mesh and
the 'cool' factor of using metal mesh panels as dividers in the
space," said Lendall W. Mains, AIA, FCSI.
Part of the drama of the space includes the use of LEDs to light
up the panels in various colors. According to Mains, the lighting
"provides a dramatic lighting scheme that can change colors and
sequences and almost seem to dance on the mesh." This stunning
visual effect is meant only for looks; it does not affect the
acoustical properties of the theater-a key factor in design as the
theater's main goal is to house Broadway-style shows for long
periods of time. One of the advantages to the metal mesh was that
it allowed airflow to easily pass through without affecting the
acoustics coming from the stage.
"The effect of the lighting design translucency quality compliment
the space as a whole," Mains said. "The lighting of the mesh screen
was to give the space a dramatic entrance in the audience chamber
prior to the show/performance. During the shows, the lighting of
the mesh screen would dim to bring the audience an intimate
feeling."
Along with acoustical properties, the screens take advantage of
very modern technology. They can be operated with ease from a
touch-screen control system that requires very little training.
Once the metal mesh panels are not needed, one push of a button and
they roll up for concealed storage. This ease of operation allows
the theater to go from a 7,500-seat to 2,800-seat theater to
provide a more intimate setting. "Also, the metal mesh panels could
be used as a screen to project images for upcoming
shows/performances," Mains said. "It could give the future users a
backdrop for their show/performance."
"This approach of
downsizing a theater shows resourcefulness coupled with
creativity," said Design Awards judge Tony Cosentino. "The mesh,
being a translucent appearing product, still achieves the goal with
little or no impact on mechanical or acoustical systems."
Fellow judge Mark Dewalt agreed. "The challenge of demising a
theater into different size venues was brilliantly solved with
metal mesh screens suspended from the ceiling," he said. "Combined
with the lighting, the mesh 'wall' creates a visual barrier but
does not alter the acoustics of the theater."
"The impression of the overall design is an awe-inspiring feeling
when walking into the audience chamber that makes you marvel the
space," Mains said. "The metal mesh panels have surprisingly
achieved more than what we had expected for the space with the help
of the lighting effects and flexibility of raising and lowering the
screens."
Planet Hollywood Theatre of the Performing Arts, Las Vegas
Architect: Lendall Mains Architect, Las Vegas, (702)
437-5621
Design architect: Martinez & Johnson Architecture, Washington,
D.C., www.mjarchitecture.com
General contractor: HOWA Construction, Salt Lake City,
www.howa.com
Metal installer: Reliable Steel Inc., North Las Vegas, (702)
642-8390
Metal mesh system: Cambridge Architectural, Cambridge, Md.,
www.cambridgearchitectural.com
www.cambridgearchitectural.com; www.howa.com; www.mjarchitecture.com