Hard Rock International has once again trusted Clair Global Integration (CGI) with the fit out of the audio, video and performance lighting systems for one of its premier entertainment destinations, its first in Canada.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, which opened in 2025, offers guests hotel, gaming and dining options, as well as a classic Hard Rock Café, a bar stage for stripped down performances and, at the heart of its brand, Hard Rock Live, a world class 2,200 capacity live music and entertainment venue.
CGI's services entailed venue-wide control of all AVL systems, audio (distributed and performance PA), video (distributed IPTV video, LED walls), lighting control (performance lighting features) and custom fabrication (performance lighting and rigging).
"This project drew on the strength of collaboration,” begins Jason Hertz, Sr. Project Manager, CGI. “As always, there's a focus on Clair's expertise and local technical support to fully deliver the client vision.
"In close collaboration with local AV integration company Branch Audio Visual, internally at Clair Global, and with our design partners at NV5 and Sceno Plus, we stayed in sync with Hard Rock AV Program Manager Kyle Richford's vision for this space,” adds Sr. CGI Project Manager, Mark Mistal.
"With every new property they open, Hard Rock is consistently looking to elevate their guest experience through the latest innovations and technologies. It's our mission with each new property to continually provide Hard Rock with the latest technology and functionality to allow them to achieve that.”
Installing to Touring Standards
Designed by Sceno Plus, the Hard Rock Live music venue features an L-Acoustics speaker system, ATS-Pro video walls, a Ross Video switcher, a grandMA3 full-size lighting console, and CM motors, all built to touring standards. The stage's custom rigging & fabrication was courtesy of the CGI engineering team in Lititz, PA.
Jason continues, commenting on the symbiotic nature of Hard Rock and Clair Global: "The music venue of any Hard Rock establishment will want to have a state-of-the-art sound system. The nature of their venues is to have a tour-ready rider, worthy of a special grand opening and the kind of touring talent that Hard Rock attracts throughout the year.”
The venue placed a strong emphasis on Canadian artists taking centerstage, with opening week acts including David Foster, Katharine McPhee and Clair Global touring client, Avril Lavigne.
He continues: “It was great to work with Avril’s team, who had flown in from a huge festival the day before to play an intimate set at this venue, utilizing house equipment with ease."
Entertainment from the outset
Upon entry to the property, the exterior aspect was carefully considered, with 1Sound Cannon C6 marine speakers, color-matched to the building, chosen to play music from the moment guests pull up.
CGI’s scope also included the casino areas, which were designed by consultants NV5. CGI handled the distribution of audio and video to back-of-house locations within the Live venue, with the system managed by QSC Q-SYS and featuring JBL Professional loudspeakers.
For the casino distributed audio, CGI Engineer Joe Holcomb tuned, and time aligned all audio zones throughout the casino and ancillary spaces. Here, Hard Rock required robust control of distributed audio and video systems.
The performance audio PA in the Hard Rock Café comprised more L 'Acoustics and Yamaha, the lobby bar stage, known as the Council Oak Stage, utilized further 1Sound speakers, Powersoft amplification, and Midas consoles. Both areas employed Shure for RF. PA tuning in the Hard Rock Café stage was by L' Acoustics’ Andre Pichette, and the Council Oak Stage and exterior speakers were perfected by Lou Marinello of 1Sound.
Mark notes: "We're lucky to have such good engineering, design and project management staff at Clair as well as these strong manufacturer relationships. All their skillsets helped to deliver this project on time, and that's something that Hard Rock and our clients are very cognizant of. At Clair Global, there are no egos doing what we do; we've cultivated a culture of support, and that always shows."
Video and signage designs used a combination of Taylorleds, Novastar, Samsung displays, Tripleplay IPTV, Kiloview, Aja, and Atlona and performance and feature lighting leaned on ETC, Pathway, and Chauvet professional fixtures. Control was again handled by QSC Q-SYS.
A Hospitality Playground
"Hard Rock Ottawa is exactly the kind of hospitality playground we strive to be a part of," Mark continues. "It's versatile enough to go from simple performances, meetings or gatherings to hosting multiple bands performing in each performance space simultaneously, wrapped up in one robust Q-SYS control package. We've blended top-tier audio, video walls, and performance lighting into a single, user-friendly system, and have given Hard Rock AV staff the confidence to run every scenario smoothly."
A unique centerpiece in the Ottawa location is a custom-lit piece of feature lighting in the form of a stunning maple leaf guitar, located in the ceiling of the main entrance. Mark concludes: "CGI handled lighting control and programming to make sure this iconic piece riffs perfectly with the venue vibe in real time."
Following the first few months of performances turning up the rock credentials in Ottawa, including concerts by Tom Cochrane (Red Rider) and Ann Wilson (Heart), this is another well-executed project for Clair Global Integration, as Mark assures: "That's what CGI does in a nutshell: we turn venues into immersive, guest-pleasing hotspots that are ready for rock & roll royalty to perform in."
