“THE BEST VR EXPERIENCE ON THE PLANET NOW IN BIRMINGHAM”
For those worried about robots taking over the world, fear not, there will also be a fully functional human bar serving up a variety of refreshments for those needing a drink after slaying zombies or fighting pirates.
The Birmingham venue also has a dedicated area that can be hired for private events, be it corporate parties, or with family and friends.
Sandbox VR Birmingham is set to open due to an increasing demand for a location-based VR experiences after a successful launch in London.
After playing, all guests are invited to socialise in comfort as they watch their experience highlights whilst enjoying a cocktail made by the UK’s first permanent robotic bartender.
New site
The new site in Birmingham will boast 13,000 sq. foot of world class VR gaming, with 6 VR rooms, also known as "holodecks”, making it the largest Sandbox VR venue in the world, complete with a hospitality offering.
The Solution
Crossover specified several different audio-visual solutions for this unique space. The client had highlighted a need for digital signage to drive pavement appeal and allow them to quickly change and schedule information and promotions to their audience.
The corporate audience is a focus market for Sandbox, and a key area within the building was a corporate space where events and presentations could be held.
The final solution combined diverse audio and visual elements that dramatically enhanced the visitor experience throughout this dynamic and thrilling space.
Mezzanine Presentation Area
Sandbox wanted the mezzanine level of the venue to serve as a multifunctional events space, partly so that there would be an area which could be hired out exclusively by larger groups to extend their stay within the venue and have team-building events, and all-hands meetings. Part of that vision was to be able to do more standard AV-enabled presentations from laptops onto a large projection screen, for which Crossover spec’d and installed an ultra-short throw projector and audio system.
Multi-zone Audio Systems
The venue is extremely acoustically reverberant, with the vast majority of surfaces in this futuristic-industrial-styled environment being hard and reflective. To exacerbate the problem, the holodeck, where customers are often screeching with excitement and adrenaline, are not closed to the ceiling slab. Sandbox also wanted all areas of the venue to feel immersive and invigorating, and lively, even when there were fewer customers, which meant a great, warm, rich background audio system was important too. So Crossover had to work hard and expertly to manage the acoustics within the venue as a whole. This involved careful selection of loudspeakers, clever audio zoning, and above all, a great deal of acoustic treatment. The acoustic panels that were specified and installed were chosen carefully for their aesthetics as well as their Class A absorptive performance and installed in ways so as to enhance the overall ‘industrial’ feel of the interior design
Digital Signage
Holodecks
The Holodecks are the main area for VR participation. Sandbox has four Holodecks which are split over the two lower floors. Each area now houses a wall-mounted large-format display that provides information to the team about the room and mission that has been chosen.
Post Experience reviewing area
At the end of the adventure, there is an area where participants can enjoy a refreshment and watch their competitive socialising experience on a 65” large format display custom mounted by the Crossover team.
The Results
Crossover is incredibly proud to have contributed to this highly successful project that the team at The Nudge quoted as being “Bloody amazing"! Creating such an innovative and unique venue in the heart of London has really showcased the technical abilities of the Crossover team. Sandbox has a growth strategy within the UK, and discussions are already well underway with the client about future venues. Having delivered the first project within both financial and time budgets, Crossover is looking forward to its next project with the Sandbox team:-
"Crossover did an amazing job deploying our AV requirements into the first Sandbox VR venue in Europe. We are now using them for our Birmingham site. Highly recommend."
Jake Wilmot-Sitwell Co-Founder at VR Entertainment Group // Sandbox VR (UK & Ireland)
Read more about our recent project work here.
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