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Club Nokia has the capacity to help shape the entertainment district surrounding LA Live and the Staples Center, opening on Sunday with a sold-out show by Beck.

Part of the under-construction LA Live complex, the club is the latest in a series of brand-new and revamped performance venues that is redefining entertainment in Los Angeles, including the recently renovated Palladium in Hollywood and the 7,000-seat Nokia Theatre, also part of LA Live.

The club was a madhouse of construction activity this Thursday as workers hastily prepared for a permit inspection later that day, demands for hard hats belying the tight schedule.  Capacity crowds of over 2,300 will now be filling seats and the wide-open floor and bar area.

Booking operator Goldenvoice has a diverse lineup in the works, with recent performance announcements including Taking Back Sunday, Calle 13, Usher, the B-52s and Sarah Silverman.

Sound Reasoning

As the rich crooning of Bob Marley came through smoothly over the newly installed audio system, Carolina Tombolesi, senior associate with architecture firm Gensler, explained the aural philosophy as follows: “No sightline, no good sound.”

I appreciated the succinctness.

But in fact, the technical challenges in designing such a space were numerous, including how to shield not only other nearby tenants from the booming bass of, say, a Matisyahu concert (coming up November 18) but also the burgeoning residential neighborhood beyond — and yes, keeping those acoustically precious sightlines.

Thick concrete walls and three “acoustic slab” layers of two-inch-thick fiberglass and air separate the club, which is on the third floor of the building, from restaurant tenants below — minimizing vibration.

Behind Closed Doors

The club’s VIP area — a perk for those willing to cough up extra dough for the privilege — takes up the top floor of the establishment, with direct access from the lounge to front-row leather seats.

Intimate seating areas in the lounge and seven ultra-private cabanas provide an extra level of privacy away from prying eyes — and bloggers.

I’ll let the photos do the talking.

More photos on flickr. Thanks to Gensler Architecture for the opportunity!

Club Nokia at LA Live
800 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Transit access: 7th Street/Metro Center Station (Red/Purple/Blue lines).
 clubnokia.com

Check out these related posts:

1. spectacular opening night for nokia theatre at la live
2. nokia theatre prepping for its debut
3. annual emmy awards signs lease at nokia theatre
4. variety arts center could become ‘mini nokia theatre’