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ADJ powers interactive entertainment at Calgary’s PinPointe Social

When PinPointe Social opened its doors in Calgary, Alberta, it set out to create something beyond a traditional darts venue. Combining next-generation interactive gaming, dining, handcrafted cocktails, and a vibrant nightlife experience, the venue offers guests an immersive social destination where technology and entertainment converge.

Inspired by entertainment venues in Las Vegas, PinPointe Social was created by serial entrepreneur Barry Ehlert. Bringing together audio, video and lighting systems that integrate seamlessly was essential to Ehlert’s vision. The task of designing, supplying, and installing the AVL system fell to Calgary-based Digital Media Integrations, led by Dustin Milne. An extensive ADJ lighting system helps establish the venue’s energetic atmosphere. It also integrates directly with gameplay and transforms the space into a nightclub destination on weekends.

“Leading Edge Construction was the primary general contractor and then they subbed out the electrical to Calibre Electric”, says Milne. “We’re good friends with the guys at both of those companies and have worked with them for a long time on numerous other projects. Calibre brought us in because they understood out of the gate that there was a need for a very technical, extensive layout of AVL equipment, and that’s our speciality.”

“We provided and installed all the audio, video and lighting equipment as well as the network infrastructure”, he continues. “It’s a full sACN network, with five four-port Obsidian nodes and a dedicated DMX universe for each darts suite. We then collaborated with the guys from the venue who developed their own games system which we integrated with the show control system to allow the games to trigger lighting, video and audio cues.”

PinPointe Social features twelve private darts suites equipped with real dart boards and camera-tracked scoring technology, offering guests eight different game modes. Lighting plays a key role in enhancing the action, with every suite fitted with a pair of ADJ Focus Spot 5Z moving head fixtures that respond dynamically to gameplay events.

“We didn’t have tons of ceiling height in this place but still wanted to keep everything as high up as we could”, explains Milne. “The Focus Spot 5Z is pretty small, but it’s still got lots of output. It also has two color wheels, a separate gobo wheel, two prisms and two frost filters, so we can do a lot with just two lights in that suite for lighting cues based on the gameplay.”

Beyond the individual darts suites, Digital Media Integrations also designed a comprehensive lighting system for the venue’s central social space. During the daytime and early evening, the fixtures provide subtle ambient illumination that complements the venue’s aesthetic. Later in the evening, however, the space transforms completely. Under the banner of “NightShift by PinPointe Social”, the venue hosts live DJs every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., turning the central area into a nightlife destination. To mark the transition, Milne and his team programmed a time-coded introductory show sequence featuring synchronized lighting effects and atmospheric haze generated by a pair of ADJ Entourage haze machines.

“I have visited many high-end lounges in Vegas over the years and wanted to bring an experience like that to Calgary where we have one concept by day and a whole other by night”, says Ehlert. “The ADJ fixtures - together with the design Digital Media came up with - delivered that. We have daytime operating presets and then we can trigger the ‘NightShift’, a button DMI programmed that gives us a 6-minute lighting show that’s all synchronized to the video walls and audio track.”

For the main room spots, Milne selected ADJ’s Focus Spot 6Z moving head fixtures, the larger sibling to the Focus Spot 5Z. “For lighting the main area, which becomes the dancefloor late at night, we took a step up to the 6Z” comments Milne. “It’s that bit brighter and adds an extra gobo wheel. Those fixtures allow us to create energy on the dancefloor with piercing beams and sharp pattern projections.”

The main rig also incorporates ADJ Focus Flex L7 moving head wash-beam fixtures. “We make use of the Focus Flex L7 in different ways throughout the venue’s operating day. During the daytime, we have them set on a nice warm white and zoomed in tight to serve as downlighters that add to the atmosphere of the space. At night, we make use of their pixel-mapping capabilities to inject further energy that enhances the DJ sets.”

Working alongside Milne as Lighting Designer and Programmer, Joseph Wolff was responsible for creating a both the daytime scenes and “NightShift” transformation time-coded lightshow. “The venue is designed to host everything from corporate events to birthday parties and group outings, before transitioning into a high-energy club environment later in the evening”, says Wolff. “Built on an Onyx NX2 console with Dylos integration, the system gave me the flexibility to develop layered looks and themes that adapt to the room’s changing energy.”

“The compact size of the Focus Spot 5Z and Focus Spo 6Z fixtures, combined with their fast pan and tilt, made them an ideal choice for the space, allowing for dynamic movement and impactful looks without overwhelming the room”, he furthers. “The Focus Flex L7 washes added color rendering and smooth coverage, helping to tie everything together visually. One of the most rewarding parts of the project was programming the ‘NightShift’ transition. We’re also continuing to build on that experience with additional custom-programmed lighting for bottle service.”

(Photos: ADJ/PinPointe Social)

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