Set in Atlanta’s historic West Midtown Stockyard, the Bellyard Hotel by Marriott stands as the centerpiece for the new cultural and commercial district, The Interlock. Having opened in 2021, the boutique hotel features modern suites, an upscale bar and French bakery and private spaces for meetings and events in addition to a generous outdoor section, all placing AV at the center of an immersive guest experience.
“The consultants looked for our guidance to fill in the blanks,” said Dan Ford, Systems Director of AV, Basesix Systems, which helped install the extensive audio-visual systems on site. “In this conference room, what size should the displays be? Can we put outdoor speakers or displays in this particular area? If there’s none currently in the design, how does that impact the system?”
Embedded Background Audio Enriches Guest Experience
To start, the team installed a background music system that could control levels and processing for all communal areas from a central location. Despite the original design calling for other products, Basesix recommended JBL Control Series speakers to take advantage of the wide range of models and their ability to integrate into indoor or outdoor spaces.
“We have used HARMAN on very similar projects that we’ve done in the past, so we knew it was a good fit when we started working on the project,” said Ford.
Inside, the spaces sport a mix of JBL Control 18CT and 24CT ceiling speakers, deployed depending on ceiling height. The outdoor area, meanwhile, features JBL Control 24CT speakers in addition to wall-mounted Control 25 speakers chosen for their weatherproof design.
Serving as the hub for the hotel’s extensive audio-visual network, the AMX NX-2200 integrated controller employs both analog and digital formats, allowing it to process data and automation for both modern and legacy audio-visual technology. Finally, the AMX EXB-COM2 serial interface establishes remote connection to the central head-end rack via Ethernet, enabling staff to control the system from different locations.
Basesix also deployed AMX MSD-701 and MSD-1001 touch panels throughout the lobby and conference rooms to allow ease of use among hotel staff. With an interface for room scheduling to audio mixing, the touch panels offer staff an easy and intuitive method to develop immersive experiences on demand, leading to a more flexible system that helps enhance the hotel’s communal spaces and enrich the guest experience overall.
