Part of the Palms’ $600 million expansion, The Pearl was designed specifically for rock music in the style of a traditional large performing arts center theatre, complete with multi-level lobbies and VIP amenities. Auerbach Pollock Friedlander was the theatre designer for the project and advised on the rigging systems design. The firm worked closely with architects Pfeiffer Partners and KGA to develop plans for the stage and backstage facilities, as well as the audience chamber configuration, including all seating and VIP areas for the venue. One of the greatest design challenges facing the project team was fitting the required theatre and support spaces into the limited space within the Palms’ existing hotel towers, and below the new ballroom and the meeting room complex. The result is an unusually intimate, yet comfortable venue with steep sightlines and reduced viewing distances, where no seat is obstructed and no patron is ever more than 120’ away from the event onstage.
In addition to rock concerts, The Pearl regularly hosts televised Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, stand-up comedy, fashion shows and other special events. With the flexibility afforded by a flat floor seating area in front of the stage for extended playing zones for musicians, or, for runways, fight rings and pasaralles, the sightlines to much of that area from the elliptical surround of steeply-raked fixed parterre and loggia seating had to be excellent. Flanking boxes and open VIP suites also have unusually steep sightlines, covering the stage and all events staged out on the flat floor. Rapid changeover of events on the flat floor is accommodated by quick removal of stack seating into adjacent storage. Access for rigging over the flat floor takes a cue from the arena business, where high steel and chain hoists afford riggers great flexibility.
The venue seats as many as 2,500 with a General Admission policy in place. With removable chairs at the lower level, capacity is reduced to 2,115 seats. Upper seating may be closed off in several configurations with a “cut down” drapery panel system using motorized mecho shade banners. In its smallest configuration, the venue is reduced to 1,124 seats.
Blending amenities normally associated with leading performing arts centers and sporting venues, The Pearl brings a unique hybrid approach to patron and performer comfort in a facility that is truly a Rock and Roll Concert Hall.
