News & Insights
VIDEO: The digital future of entertainment venues
Why this matters now
Audiences expect more from a live venue than they did even a few years ago. Premium experiences, immersive sound and lighting, mobile interaction, and frictionless ingress are now part of the competitive picture. At the same time, operators are under pressure to control energy use, improve accessibility, and adapt spaces for many event types. The decisions venue owners make today about networks, audio, video, and control systems will shape what their buildings can host for the next two decades.
What leaders are weighing
Owners and operators are deciding how far to push digital infrastructure when the technology cycle is shorter than the building cycle. They are weighing the cost of robust backbone systems against the temptation to defer investment until specific events require it. There are also tradeoffs between proprietary platforms and open systems, and between in-house operation and managed services. Programming teams want flexibility for tours, sports, civic events, and corporate buyouts. Finance teams want clarity on what each upgrade actually returns. The right answers depend on the venue’s market, its mix of events, and the experience it wants to be known for.
How Salas O’Brien is helping clients respond
Our venue specialists help owners design and upgrade entertainment spaces so the building supports the experience rather than fights it. We bring an integrated view across acoustics, audio, video, lighting, controls, and IT infrastructure, and we help clients make decisions that hold up as technology evolves. Hear Craig Janssen, Rodrigo Ordonez, Robert Rose, David Battershell, Courtney Schoedel, and Dan Schoedel talk through what’s changing in venue design.
Craig Janssen, LEED AP
Craig Janssen helps leaders navigate audience engagement and technology shifts. A theatre space and technology designer for high-attendance venues, Craig has led thousands of group discovery and design meetings touching well over 10 billion in construction dollars for the spaces where people gather to share experiences. He leads the acoustics, theatre, and technology team for Salas O’Brien and serves as a Managing Principal. Contact him at [email protected]
Rodrigo Ordóñez
Rodrigo Ordóñez is an expert in technology for legislative facilities including custom programming for the U. S. Senate and U. S. House of Representatives. Rodrigo understands the needs of federal agencies for classified conversations and is skilled in design, commissioning, and programming audio DSP systems, networks, and AV control systems. Rodrigo is a Principal at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Robert Rose, LEED AP
Robert Rose is a skilled leader of multi-disciplinary teams with over 25 years technical experience in acoustics, auditorium design, and converging entertainment technologies. Robert specializes in high-attendance venues where people come together to share an experience. His focus is leading clients through complex projects with a high level of innovation and coordination. Robert serves as a Principal for Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
David Battershell, RCDD, CTS-D
David Battershell leads teams to design technology for commercially successful entertainment venues, hotels, and sports venues. He understands the pressures clients face with the rapid pace of change and is adept at designing complex systems reliant on the interaction of many systems (IT, AV, security, DAS, and building management systems). David serves as a Vice President at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].
Courtney Schoedel, M.Arch, M.Sc, INCE Bd Cert, LEED AP
Courtney Schoedel is a skilled acoustic consultant able to develop solutions rapidly in a collaborative environment. With extensive expertise in the field of sound isolation and noise/vibration control, Courtney contributes to the academic community by delivering lectures at the University of Texas at Arlington and is active Committee member and former Board Member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering. Courtney holds a Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Building Sciences Architectural Acoustics from RPI. She serves as a Vice President at Salas O’Brien. Contact her at [email protected].
Dan Schoedel, MET, LEED AP
Dan Schoedel is an entertainment lighting designer whose experience bridges theatrical and concert venues, arenas, stadia, and other spaces where people gather to share an experience. A specialist in immersive environments, Dan works at the crossroads where new technologies merge to create innovative experiences. Dan has a Masters in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and serves as an Associate Vice President at Salas O’Brien. Contact him at [email protected].