Encore Design Group provides consulting and design for a variety of venue styles and applications. Through careful planning and precision design, nearly any outcome that is desired by the client can be achieved. The firm may be retained to provide any combination of the services we provide. Our firm may be retained to provide any combination of the following services:

Layout, sizing, and allotment of spaces within a performing arts facility are absolutely crucial to the success of a facility. Careful consideration to this infrastructure ensures that the spaces are located and sized to allow for a highly efficient facility that will accommodate the technical, performing, and audience requirements such as catwalks, stagehouse, control booths, followspot booths, recording booths, dressing rooms, green rooms, equipment rooms, etc. We also provide sightlines studies and recommendation based on those studies to ensure that both staff and audience has proper, unobstructed views within the space.

Room acoustics is critical in the design of a performing arts facility. The proper shaping, location, and selection of surface finishes within a room can create an environment that is aurally and aesthetically pleasing, while providing proper reflection and control of sound. In conjunction with room acoustics, noise control and sound & vibration control may also be provided.

A sound reinforcement system should be designed to enhance a performance, not distract from it. Coverage that is even and natural sounding to the audience is important for any type of performance or presentation. We use the latest software technologies to ensure proper and even coverage of loudspeakers and system integrations.

Stage and Performance Lighting Systems are critical in the performing arts facility. Since most facilities are not dedicated to just one type of presentation, a high performance system that will provide flexibility to all illumination needs is required including proper control, dimming, distribution, location, and lighting instruments.

Outdoor performance venues require similar technical systems as indoor venues, however, as many of these systems are subject to mother nature, they require special considerations including the provision of appropriate outdoor structure such as trussing. These trusses can provide not only support for the performance lighting, but for backdrops, drapes, and other potential scenic elements as needed.

Our firm exemplifies expertise in all methods of theatrical rigging from conventional counterweight systems to the most sophisticated motorized systems with intelligent control. The rigging system provides hoisting for many stage elements including draperies, scenery, lighting, and orchestra clouds. Consultation, design, and specification of a professional rigging system can be provided with full function and safety in mind.

Most building codes require a fire safety curtain system for legitimate stages. This device is simply a rigid non-combustible curtain that closes automatically in event of a fire to prevent heat, smoke and flames on the stage from reaching the audience. Many factors determine the style and design of a fire curtain system including overall stage dimensions, height of the stagehouse, and construction of the proscenium wall as well as any enhanced code requirements.

A pipe grid system is a versatile and economical method of providing hanging points over a performance space. The pipe grid is used particularly in spaces such as blackbox theatres, television studios, and dance studios. The pipe grid, consisting of a series of intersecting black pipe typically extends the full width and depth of a performing area from which any arrangement of stage lighting, draperies, audio equipment, and scenery may be hung.

Performance facilities today usually find themselves host for many different types of presentations. Our firm provides design and specifications of various types of staging systems to accommodate any type of production. For example, performance halls often require orchestra lifts, pit filler systems, and rotating stages to accommodate a variety of styles and needs.

Draperies in a performance facility not only add aesthetic impact, but provide required function as well. The proper sizing and location of draperies in a stagehouse provides proper sightline masking for both offstage and overstage areas. Other draperies such as cycloramas, scrims, and travelers, provide for various stage effects.

Communication between members of the technical staff, house staff, and performers is critical for a successful performance. A technical communication system can be provided in facilities for clear communication between all parties involved in delivering a performance.

Many performance facilities include the use of projection systems in their repertoire of technical abilities. It is now common for performers to include multi-media elements such as video or other forms of projection in their performances. For these systems to be effective they must be designed with acceptable sight lines, unobtrusive lighting, and proper picture size in addition to being integrated with other control systems.

Video distribution through a closed circuit television system can provide viewing of the performance to all remote areas of a performance facility. Systems can be designed to provide viewing to all public and technical areas including lobbies, lounges, corridors, backstage areas, dressing rooms, and green rooms.

It is not uncommon for live television broadcasts to originate from a performing arts facility. With a broadcast-cabling infrastructure in place a facility can accommodate local and network television and radio interface for broadcast via satellite, microwave, or fiber optic transmission. Such systems may include camera interface panels, cabling to an internal production facility, and/or a broadcast truck interface panel.

Another type of broadcast system is via the internet with both audio and video. With utilization of the proper infrastructure, performance facilities can now broad-cast live performances on the worldwide web. This technology can also make it possible for recipients of live performances to correspond with the facility hosting the performance via email or other web based correspondence.

It is common for larger performance facilities to provide recording capabilities for its users. A comprehensive recording system design can be provided based on consultation and assessment of expected needs and requirements of the client. Design and specifications can be provided to facilitate recording from the most basic to professional quality recordings.