InterContinental Hotel San Francisco AV System Modernization
INTRODUCTION
Creation Networks delivered a comprehensive audiovisual technology upgrade for the Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco, transforming its aging audio infrastructure across multiple floors into a modern, centralized, and highly flexible Q-SYS-based system. As the prime contractor, Creation Networks handled the full project scope: design, engineering, custom programming, and professional audio installation.
The project focused on the hotel’s meeting spaces, ballrooms, lobby, and support areas, delivering reliable distributed audio, intuitive control, and seamless integration for high-profile events and daily operations. The result is a scalable platform that supports the hotel’s reputation for exceptional guest and client experiences.
PROJECT NAME
Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco
Location
San Francisco, CA
SIZE
46,000+ SF
CHALLENGE
The hotel’s previous audio system had grown fragmented over years of incremental additions. Multiple independent amplifiers, mixers, and control points created operational complexity, inconsistent sound quality, and limited scalability. Staff struggled with disparate interfaces, and technicians faced time-consuming troubleshooting across floors.
Key challenges included:
- Decentralized audio processing with no unified central control.
- Inefficient distribution of high-quality audio from a main IDF to six additional floors.
- Lack of modern touch-screen control for quick adjustments during events.
- Integration needs for microphones, Bluetooth sources, and future Dante-networked devices.
- Requirement for minimal disruption to hotel operations during the upgrade.
The primary technical hurdle was updating and organizing the audio system while enabling robust central control and reliable distributed audio delivery from the main IDF.
THE SOLUTION
Creation Networks designed and implemented a fully networked Q-SYS ecosystem centered on a powerful Q-SYS Core 510i processor. This allowed centralized management of all audio routing, processing, and control functions, with efficient distribution via Dante networking and PoE+ infrastructure to endpoints across floors.
The team performed complete design and engineering, developed custom Q-SYS programming for intuitive workflows, and executed a phased installation to keep meeting spaces operational. Shure microphones were integrated for superior speech clarity in ballrooms and meeting rooms, paired with Q-SYS DSP for advanced mixing and feedback control.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The deployed solution leveraged industry-leading hardware and software:
Core Processing & Networking
- Q-SYS Core 510i Kit with scripting and UCI deployment licenses.
- Q-SYS Dante 64x64 channel license for seamless networked audio.
- Multiple QIO-L4o (4 Line Outputs) and QIO-ML4i (4 Mic/Line Inputs) peripherals.
- Netgear GSM4248P-100NAS managed PoE+ switches.
- Extensive CAT 6 cabling for reliable connectivity.
Amplification
- Lab.gruppen CS168 multi-channel amplifiers (8 channels × 160W) with built-in DSP, crossovers, and IoT connectivity — deployed in IDF locations for distributed power.
Control Interfaces
- Q-SYS TSC-101-G3 11.6" touch-screen controllers in key locations (Lobby, Luce, Main Ballrooms, etc.).
- TSC-50-G3 high-definition touch-screen controllers in meeting rooms (306–311).
- Custom Q-SYS programming for simplified zone selection, volume control, source routing, and preset recall.
I/O & Connectivity
- DD-BTN44 wall-mounted bi-directional Dante interfaces with Bluetooth audio streaming.
- DD-BN22 Dante networked audio wall plates with multiple XLR mic/line I/O in ballrooms.
- Full integration with Shure wireless and wired microphones for clear, reliable speech reinforcement.
This combination created a flexible, future-proof platform with centralized control from the main IDF while delivering pristine audio to every endpoint.
RESULTS
The upgraded system has delivered measurable improvements for the Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco:
- Operational Efficiency: Staff now control complex audio routing and zoning via intuitive Q-SYS touch panels, dramatically reducing setup time and errors.
- Audio Quality & Consistency: Centralized Q-SYS DSP with Shure microphones ensures clear, intelligible sound across ballrooms and meeting spaces, even at varying occupancy levels.
- Scalability & Reliability: Dante networking and robust IDF-based amplification support easy expansion and minimize single points of failure.
- User Experience: Event coordinators and AV technicians praise the modern interface and remote monitoring capabilities.
- Project Success: On-time, on-budget delivery with zero major operational downtime.
Creation Networks’ expertise in Q-SYS design, programming, and integration turned a challenging legacy system into a flagship AV installation that enhances the hotel’s ability to host world-class events.
NEXT STEPS
Contact Creation Networks for Q-SYS solutions tailored to hospitality environments.
Visit our Case Studies page to explore more successful projects.
Creation Networks, Inc. — Designing, Engineering, Programming, and Installing World-Class AV Systems.
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