Located within walking distance of the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall Expansion, a new resort is becoming the go-to destination for style-obsessed vacationers and convention-goers. The 67-storey Fontainebleau comprises more than 3,600 rooms and suites, a casino, meeting spaces, 36 bars and restaurants including Mother Wolf and Pappi Steak, a world-class spa, the 3,800-seat BleauLive Theater, the LIV nightclub, and 90,000sq-ft of retail space.
Twenty years in the making and at a reported cost of US$3.7bn – making it the second most-expensive resort in Las Vegas – the sleek architectural design and soaring tower make the new space a striking addition to the city’s already remarkable skyline. Early in the construction process, resort staff contacted Richard Reisig, owner of Technology West Group, to design and install the A/V throughout the massive property.
‘It was a struggle during the pandemic to get products from anyone,’ Reisig recalls. ‘We were far down the installation path when we discovered the originally specified amps couldn’t be delivered on time. Everything was on the network already, so we needed network-based amplifiers. There was no going back, so we looked to LEA. It was our first time working with LEA amplifiers, which was very exciting for us, and the project turned out great.’
Technology West installed 297 Dante Connect Series amplifiers, using a combination of Connect Series 354D and Connect Series 704D amplifiers to serve Fontainebleau’s audio needs. With 96kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, the IoT-enabled 4-channel 354D provides 350W/channel, supports Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z selectable by channel, and features Smart Power Bridge technology. The 354Ds serve more than 1,500 Sonance in-ceiling, surface-mount and pendant loudspeakers installed throughout the resort. Similar in features, the 704 offers 700W/channel across four channels for higher wattage needs across the property.
Technology West used LEA’s SharkWare software to configure a base profile and push it out to all the pre-staged LEA amplifiers. SharkWare includes amplifier grouping, offline design, granular user access control levels, locked speaker tunings, and a graphical EQ. SharkWare also allows users to monitor the status of every amplifier connected to the network and the status and performance of individual channels. In addition, the software gives users the ability to view and adjust channel settings such as input settings, signal generator, crossover, EQ, limiter and load monitoring for all Connect Series amplifiers.
As the second most expensive resort in Las Vegas, Fontainebleau sets a new standard of extravagance, inviting guests to indulge in the ultimate Las Vegas experience, where every moment is infused with unparalleled luxury and sophistication. The seamlessly integrated A/V immerses guests in the Art Deco-inspired ambiance. Staff like that they can open a browser and use LEA’s WebUI to ‘pop in’ and verify the status of all the amplifiers property-wide, saving them significant time and simplifying troubleshooting.
‘This resort was kind of unique for us, and LEA checked all the boxes perfectly,’ Reisig says. ‘The integration capabilities of SharkWare were a game changer for this project, turning what used to be a time-consuming task into a simple process and allowing us to focus on making everything sound great.’
