An American landmark to generations of theatregoers, the Art Deco Radio City Music Hall – home of the famed “Rockettes” – was in need of a thorough functional overhaul. Its owners asked the design team to replace equipment that was originally designed in 1932 with lighting and rigging systems up to modern standards.

But they also wanted to maintain the historic appearance of the glamorous theatre. In a phased effort that shut the hall only briefly between productions, FDA upgraded lighting, hydraulics, video technology, and HDTV capability to help bring more of Radio City Music Hall to the world.

Whereas the original stage lighting system was almost 70 years old, the new system is among the most advanced available. It has substantially reduced labor costs. This new system is capable of controlling over 4,000 devices by using an ethernet to distribute digital multiplex and other digital data throughout the theatre.

Work was completed over the Summer of 1999. Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular is back. And now the hall has the capacity and equipment to expand its program offerings significantly in the new century.