The MGM Theater at Cotai in Macau, China by Scéno Plus Inc.

Article source: Scéno Plus Inc.

Asia’s first immersive theater experience has been engineered by McLaren Engineering Group, a full-service engineering firm that works from 11 offices worldwide. Based on the design of Scéno Plus of Montreal, Quebec, the theater features a massive video wall with large moving parts that can reconfigure the showroom.

This screen, encompassing nearly 10,000 square feet, has helped make the MGM COTAI in Macau one of the world’s most captivating theater destinations, suitable for dramas, musical theater, fashion shows, talk shows and more. The multi-axis video wall is the world’s most flexible Ultra-HD screen at 28 million pixels.

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

• Architects: Scéno Plus Inc.
• Project: The MGM Theater at Cotai
• Location: Macau, China
• Photography: MGM Resorts International, McLaren Engineering Group
• Commissioned by: MGM Resorts International
• Structural Engineers: Siu Yin and Associates, LTD

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

McLaren Engineering Group engineered the wall system using its in-depth knowledge of theatrical stage machinery, infrastructure and rigging systems. The 2,000-seat venue, with up to 10 configurations, can completely transform to an arena-style theater with its LED wall, giving audiences an unprecedented, multisensory experience.

At 9,700 square feet – the size of three tennis courts – the 4K LED screen contains 12 independent, major axes of large, moving components with on-board video screens. Outside of the video technology, the theater’s stage, forestage seating area and lighting are also mobile, appealing to various theater productions and programs that warrant a complete sensory transformation.

As the video wall design engineer, McLaren Engineering Group provided conceptual sketches, technical specifications, LED layouts and engineering design drawings. The firm also participated in acceptance testing for all the fabricated equipment.

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

“The complex design includes seams between the moving and static LED screens that are just 2 mm (a penny is 1.52 mm thick), which allows for virtually seamless imagery,” says William B. Gorlin, P.E., S.E., vice president and entertainment division chief at McLaren Engineering Group. “The scale of this design has yet to be rivaled. The entire video screen in its widest configuration produces immersive surround imagery, from which pieces and parts can be moved to alter the space.”

McLaren’s intricate engineering design also includes a “midair” engagement system allowing large pivoting wall sections to meet with a third flown section to create an entirely different video image surface, compared with the immersive video surround surface.

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

Image Courtesy © MGM Resorts International

The MGM Theater at COTAI, nestled within Macau’s bustling casino scene, has the capability to host multiple resident shows simultaneously and will help pioneer the usage of “mass virtual reality,” by reflecting audience reactions onto the LED wall. Each unique performance will showcase the theater’s various engineering and architectural feats.

Other global firms involved in this project include the Hong Kong-based Siu Yin Wai & Associates, Ltd. (building structural engineer), Durham, N.C.-based Simulation Technologies, Inc. (technical coordinator), Scéno Plus, of Montreal, Canada (theater consultant), Show Canada Industries, of Laval, Canada (specialty contractor), Gala Paco, of Montreal, Canada (stage lift vendor), Sandman Associates, of High Point, N.C. (lift installation consultant) and the Los Angeles firms Electrosonic (audio/visual engineering) and VER (LED vendor).

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Image Courtesy © McLaren Engineering Group

Tags: China, Macau

Category: Theater

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