In the 1920s it was a bank, then it was a cinema and later a concert hall before being shuttered in 2018. Designed in the neo-classical architecture style, the venue has stood the test of time and, now under ownership of St Pete native and entrepreneur Kevin Chadwick who oversaw an estimated $1m-plus renovation, the Floridian is open once again.
If you live in St. Petersburg, Florida, you know this 8,600sq-ft building. Its rehabilitation is described by Chadwick as ‘a passion project’, and has allowed it to return as the Floridian Social Club – a lounge, concert venue and event space in the heart of the city’s downtown Central Avenue entertainment district.
What will help future-proof the Floridian is an L-Acoustics Kara PA system, installed by local integrator ESI Production Services. The set-up comprises two hangs of nine Kara boxes per side, and a single flown ARCS Focus centre fill, collectively powered by three LA8 amplified controllers, and three LA12X-driven KS28 subs installed under the stage of the venue’s 800-seat main theatre. Two further LA12X are used to power eight X12 wedge monitors, with one SB18 sub integrated into the system and dedicated to drum kits.
All that stands between the venue’s history as the State Theater and its new incarnation as the Floridian Social Club is the abatement of the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘When the time comes, which Chadwick expects will be in January and properly socially distanced, the Kara will be ready and waiting,’ says ESI Production Services President Erick ‘Otto’ Celeiro.
Celeiro also specified the system, installed by colleague Conrad ‘Deke’ Andrews and calibrated by L-Acoustics Application Engineer Vic Wagner. ‘Kara is the perfect solution for this project,’ Celeiro notes, citing the enclosure’s weight and compact form factor. ‘It sounds fantastic, and it will be able to handle any type of music they can bring in. But, equally important for a landmark building like this, aesthetic concerns were critical. An enormous amount of money was invested to make the venue look great. The PA had to be able to deliver a real punch without being visibly obvious. Kara does just that – delivering unexpected punch for its size.’
He adds that Kara’s weight also addresses any issues around rigging in a 100-year-old building. ‘I consulted an authority on rigging in older buildings and he confirmed that the ceiling could easily withstand nine Kara per side thanks to how light the box is,’ Celeiro says. ‘But above any other factor, Kara was chosen for how it sounds. It’s able to provide excellent fidelity and coverage for the entire room and was ultimately chosen for its performance.’
Chadwick, who says he feels fortunate that the Floridian’s renovation period coincided with the pandemic’s shutdown, agrees that sound quality was the overriding consideration in choosing the L-Acoustics system. ‘The concerts and events that will take place here will range from A to Z – from country to rap – so the sound system has to be able to handle any kind of genre,’ he says. ‘We know Kara can do that because it’s the first choice of so many great musicians. We understand that a venue’s sound system plays a role in attracting artists, and we’re glad that ESI recommended it. In fact, L-Acoustics’ reputation as a leading, ‘rider-friendly’ sound system was a prime consideration in our decision.
‘Everyone is looking forward to when we can all hear live music again,’ he adds. ‘And we feel that we’ve created an environment for performers and audiences here that no other venue of our size, in this market, can offer. And Kara has a lot to do with that.’
