AUERBACH POLLOCK FRIEDLANDER

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 25, 2005)-- Auerbach Glasow, Architectural Lighting Design and Consulting, San Francisco, announces the completion of their work on the major renovation of the MGM Hotel Casino Theatre for Cirque du Soleil’s new production of KÀ.

The 1,951-seat theatre is the fourth permanent venue in Las Vegas for Cirque du Soleil. The former production space of EFX was taken back to a shell and a completely new theatre and lobby environment was created in its place, accommodating the design and production requirements by Cirque du Soleil. Auerbach Glasow collaborated with Cirque du Soleil, the MGM/Mirage Design Group and Marnell Corrao Associates in the lighting design for the lobby, concessions, entry vestibule and the theatre.

The show takes place within a 50’ deep cavity filled with moving scenic elements and brings together acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and pyrotechnics in a narrative stronger than any other Cirque du Soleil show to date. The show extends well into the audience chamber making the audience feel as if they are in the center of the action.

The lighting for the public spaces supports the dramatic approach of the show’s theming. The lobby is themed to resemble an abandoned structure, the concessions and public restrooms contrast the feeling of the lobby with a modern, industrial feel and the entry vestibule, with a glowing blue light, is made to look like a decontamination chamber. Drawing upon both architectural and theatrical techniques, the lighting of these spaces aids in generating audience excitement from the moment they step through the lobby doors.

KÀ opens February 3, 2005.

FACT SHEET

Auerbach Glasow provided architectural lighting consulting services for the newly renovated MGM Grand Theatre, featuring the production KÀ, Cirque du Soleil’s fourth permanent venue in Las Vegas. Architectural lighting for the public areas and the theatre work lighting were designed in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, the MGM/Mirage Design Group and Marnell Corrao Associates. All architectural lighting loads are fed through the theatrical lighting control system.

Lobby

The Cirque du Soleil experience begins as you enter the lobby. In contrast to the adjacent Casino floor, the lobby presents another world and is themed to resemble an abandoned structure that has been recently re-occupied by the theater denizens. As the audience members pass through the doors from the Casino floor they enter a dark, low-ceiling space with lights the color of glowing embers. Large trees trunks, banded with light, mark the edge of the main lobby where the ceiling soars to expose the full height of a wall which appears to be an inverted ancient ship’s hull. Colored light plays on the surface of this vessel wall. The lobby is also used as a pre-perfomance space for the waiting audience. The tree trunks support an elevated platform where musicians play the strings of a giant harp.

The main lobby lighting uses theatrical instruments by ETC, utilizing color and pattern projectors, to light the floors, metal mesh wall curtains and the stringed harp.
ETC SourceFour Zooms with twin spin pattern projectors were specified for the lighting of the vessel wall.
ETC SourceFour Zooms with colored gels light along the length of the harp strings to create sparkle along the length of the strings.
LSI, Inc. track lighting fixtures with PAR36 narrow spot lamps streak the side walls and accent the vertical panels.
Halogen industrial floods mounted to the exposed structural beams at dimmed settings provide just a “glow” of light.
Surface mounted MR16 monopoints, by BK lighting, at the perimeter wall provide pools of light at the floor.
Bruck warm white LED marker lights recessed in the floor reinforce the shape of the curved glass wall and uplight the glass fins.

Concessions and Public Restrooms

Openings in the vessel wall lead to the concessions counters and public restrooms. In contrast to the lobby, these spaces have a modern, industrial feel and are intended to look as though they were recently inserted into the older looking volume of the lobby.

Metallic painted finishes on the ceiling and walls, stainless steel equipment, and glowing acrylic panels at the ceiling, walls and in the front concessions counter support the modern, industrial design concept.
Simple fluorescent strips with dimming ballasts and T8 lamps were used behind acrylic panels and mounted so as to be visible behind the acrylic.
Colored acrylic panels and colored gels behind white frosted acrylic create a warm salmon pink glow off the metallic finishes.
Prescolite recessed adjustable MR-16 downlights light the concessions counters and serving areas. Colored glass lenses were added to the same fixtures for accent lighting.
Compact fluorescent sconces, by Shaper Lighting and supplied with dimming ballasts, create the sense of glowing portholes leading to the public restrooms.
The public restrooms, intended to feel stark and impersonal, utilize fluorescent lamps mounted above patterned acrylic panels to create a luminous ceiling throughout. At the lavatories, fluorescent lamps backlight acrylic panels to create glowing portholes, a luminous ceiling and a floating mirror effect.

Entry vestibule

To enter the audience chamber from the lobby the audience must pass through a sheet of saturated blue light into a glowing blue entry vestibule. The blue light represents a cleansing as if passing through a modern clean room vestibule.

The sheet of blue light is created by mounting a fiber optic narrow beam wall grazer by Glass Illuminations in the ceiling just behind the first set of doors.
The side walls appear to be concrete with a clear acrylic panel spaced 8” away from the wall. Mounted above the ceiling line at the side walls are ColorBlaze fixtures by Color Kinetics utilizing all blue LEDs which fill the void with blue light. The vestibule glows with blue reflected light.
Prescolite recessed adjustable MR16 fixtures with blue glass filters provide pools of light at the entry doors.

Audience Chamber

The audience chamber is dramatic as the stage and house do not have the traditional proscenium separating the two spaces. Scenic elements made up of a post and beam supported catwalk network extends deep into the audience.

Once in the house, the ramp is lighted with Architectural Area Lighting Occulus fixtures above the entry doors.
Architectural MR16 and PAR lamp fixtures are integrated into the post & beam structures for ramp lighting further in the house.
The house lighting system was designed for general, non-themed, lighting and uses Kurt Versen surface mounted halogen downlights customized with a yoke and top relamping feature. The fixtures are mounted to the technical catwalks above the house and have narrow or medium distributions based on throw distances.
ETC PAR’s mounted to the Post & Beam structure and Prescolite recessed adjustable downlights under the control booths supplement the catwalk fixtures to provide uniform lighting.
Bega low voltage halogen step lights are recessed in the walls for egress lighting.
Tivoli warm white LED seat lighting, on dimmers, provides egress lighting during the performance. When used at full output they contribute a lighting layer to the walk in look.

Retail

Adjacent to the lobby, the retail space features a glass wall front that is visible from the Casino floor. The abandoned structure theme continues into the front of the retail space with exposed beams and rough, dark ceilings. Deeper in the store a modern retail space emerges. The lighting creates a dramatic look for the merchandising.

The modern retail space combines glowing surfaces and recessed and track mounted MR16 lamps for merchandise lighting and accent.
Partially visible fluorescent strips behind acrylic wall panels and electroluminescent tape edge lighting the counters provide the “modern” glowing surfaces.
Prescolite recessed adjustable downlights and LSI MR16 track heads light the merchandise and sales counter.
A low voltage cable lighting system by Tech Lighting provides accent lighting on the beams and other architectural features near the front of the space.

AUERBACH POLLOCK FRIEDLANDER press release


		AUERBACH GLASOW COMPLETES ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING DESIGN ON KÀ™ AT THE MGM HOTEL CASINO, LAS VEGAS SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 25, 2005)-- Auerbach Glasow, Architectural Lighting Design and Consulting, San Francisco, announces the completion of their work on the major renovation of the MGM Hotel Casino Theatre for Cirque du Soleil’s new production of KÀ. The 1,951-seat theatre is the fourth permanent venue in Las Vegas for Cirque du Soleil. The former production space of EFX was taken back to a shell and a completely new theatre and lobby environment was created in its place, accommodating the design and production requirements by Cirque du Soleil. Auerbach Glasow collaborated with Cirque du Soleil, the MGM/Mirage Design Group and Marnell Corrao Associates in the lighting design for the lobby, concessions, entry vestibule and the theatre. The show takes place within a 50’ deep cavity filled with moving scenic elements and brings together acrobatic performances, martial arts, puppetry, multimedia and pyrotechnics in a narrative stronger than any other Cirque du Soleil show to date. The show extends well into the audience chamber making the audience feel as if they are in the center of the action. The lighting for the public spaces supports the dramatic approach of the show’s theming. The lobby is themed to resemble an abandoned structure, the concessions and public restrooms contrast the feeling of the lobby with a modern, industrial feel and the entry vestibule, with a glowing blue light, is made to look like a decontamination chamber. Drawing upon both architectural and theatrical techniques, the lighting of these spaces aids in generating audience excitement from the moment they step through the lobby doors. KÀ opens February 3, 2005. FACT SHEET Auerbach Glasow provided architectural lighting consulting services for the newly renovated MGM Grand Theatre, featuring the production KÀ, Cirque du Soleil’s fourth permanent venue in Las Vegas. Architectural lighting for the public areas and the theatre work lighting were designed in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, the MGM/Mirage Design Group and Marnell Corrao Associates. All architectural lighting loads are fed through the theatrical lighting control system. Lobby The Cirque du Soleil experience begins as you enter the lobby. In contrast to the adjacent Casino floor, the lobby presents another world and is themed to resemble an abandoned structure that has been recently re-occupied by the theater denizens. As the audience members pass through the doors from the Casino floor they enter a dark, low-ceiling space with lights the color of glowing embers. Large trees trunks, banded with light, mark the edge of the main lobby where the ceiling soars to expose the full height of a wall which appears to be an inverted ancient ship’s hull. Colored light plays on the surface of this vessel wall. The lobby is also used as a pre-perfomance space for the waiting audience. The tree trunks support an elevated platform where musicians play the strings of a giant harp. The main lobby lighting uses theatrical instruments by ETC, utilizing color and pattern projectors, to light the floors, metal mesh wall curtains and the stringed harp. ETC SourceFour Zooms with twin spin pattern projectors were specified for the lighting of the vessel wall. ETC SourceFour Zooms with colored gels light along the length of the harp strings to create sparkle along the length of the strings. LSI, Inc. track lighting fixtures with PAR36 narrow spot lamps streak the side walls and accent the vertical panels. Halogen industrial floods mounted to the exposed structural beams at dimmed settings provide just a “glow” of light. Surface mounted MR16 monopoints, by BK lighting, at the perimeter wall provide pools of light at the floor. Bruck warm white LED marker lights recessed in the floor reinforce the shape of the curved glass wall and uplight the glass fins. Concessions and Public Restrooms Openings in the vessel wall lead to the concessions counters and public restrooms. In contrast to the lobby, these spaces have a modern, industrial feel and are intended to look as though they were recently inserted into the older looking volume of the lobby. Metallic painted finishes on the ceiling and walls, stainless steel equipment, and glowing acrylic panels at the ceiling, walls and in the front concessions counter support the modern, industrial design concept. Simple fluorescent strips with dimming ballasts and T8 lamps were used behind acrylic panels and mounted so as to be visible behind the acrylic. Colored acrylic panels and colored gels behind white frosted acrylic create a warm salmon pink glow off the metallic finishes. Prescolite recessed adjustable MR-16 downlights light the concessions counters and serving areas. Colored glass lenses were added to the same fixtures for accent lighting. Compact fluorescent sconces, by Shaper Lighting and supplied with dimming ballasts, create the sense of glowing portholes leading to the public restrooms. The public restrooms, intended to feel stark and impersonal, utilize fluorescent lamps mounted above patterned acrylic panels to create a luminous ceiling throughout. At the lavatories, fluorescent lamps backlight acrylic panels to create glowing portholes, a luminous ceiling and a floating mirror effect. Entry vestibule To enter the audience chamber from the lobby the audience must pass through a sheet of saturated blue light into a glowing blue entry vestibule. The blue light represents a cleansing as if passing through a modern clean room vestibule. The sheet of blue light is created by mounting a fiber optic narrow beam wall grazer by Glass Illuminations in the ceiling just behind the first set of doors. The side walls appear to be concrete with a clear acrylic panel spaced 8” away from the wall. Mounted above the ceiling line at the side walls are ColorBlaze fixtures by Color Kinetics utilizing all blue LEDs which fill the void with blue light. The vestibule glows with blue reflected light. Prescolite recessed adjustable MR16 fixtures with blue glass filters provide pools of light at the entry doors. Audience Chamber The audience chamber is dramatic as the stage and house do not have the traditional proscenium separating the two spaces. Scenic elements made up of a post and beam supported catwalk network extends deep into the audience. Once in the house, the ramp is lighted with Architectural Area Lighting Occulus fixtures above the entry doors. Architectural MR16 and PAR lamp fixtures are integrated into the post & beam structures for ramp lighting further in the house. The house lighting system was designed for general, non-themed, lighting and uses Kurt Versen surface mounted halogen downlights customized with a yoke and top relamping feature. The fixtures are mounted to the technical catwalks above the house and have narrow or medium distributions based on throw distances. ETC PAR’s mounted to the Post & Beam structure and Prescolite recessed adjustable downlights under the control booths supplement the catwalk fixtures to provide uniform lighting. Bega low voltage halogen step lights are recessed in the walls for egress lighting. Tivoli warm white LED seat lighting, on dimmers, provides egress lighting during the performance. When used at full output they contribute a lighting layer to the walk in look. Retail Adjacent to the lobby, the retail space features a glass wall front that is visible from the Casino floor. The abandoned structure theme continues into the front of the retail space with exposed beams and rough, dark ceilings. Deeper in the store a modern retail space emerges. The lighting creates a dramatic look for the merchandising. The modern retail space combines glowing surfaces and recessed and track mounted MR16 lamps for merchandise lighting and accent. Partially visible fluorescent strips behind acrylic wall panels and electroluminescent tape edge lighting the counters provide the “modern” glowing surfaces. Prescolite recessed adjustable downlights and LSI MR16 track heads light the merchandise and sales counter. A low voltage cable lighting system by Tech Lighting provides accent lighting on the beams and other architectural features near the front of the space. AUERBACH POLLOCK FRIEDLANDER press release