TAD Associates HeadQuarters
TAD Associates, an AV consultancy headquartered in New York and London, sought to design its new office near Times Square as a multi-functional, experimental workspace. Unlike a typical office setup, TAD envisioned "The Stage" — a space adaptable to rapid prototyping, client demos, and internal events. The main challenge was creating a dynamic, integrated AV and lighting system that could serve various needs, support a minimalist aesthetic, and reduce visible clutter. They required a solution that combined tunable lighting, high performance audio, and utility connections within a flexible ceiling infrastructure, without compromising design integrity or ease of use.
The architectural lighting and audio solution RAIL by KSCAPE was selected to bring TAD's vision to life. KSCAPE's RAIL combines high-quality audio with tunable lighting in a single, streamlined fixture. TAD worked with architects Model Practice to implement this solution through a custom ceiling grid system that integrates over 100 4 ft. RAIL units, with some units featuring built-in loudspeakers. This grid not only houses the RAIL system but also accommodates data reels, power supplies, and room dividing curtains, giving TAD flexibility to configure the workspace on demand.
"We designed the space like a stage, using modular furniture and a ceiling grid of RAIL elements for lighting and audio to create a flexible, utilitarian workspace.” Christopher Lee, Partner at Model Practice, New York
The integration of both lighting and audio in a single system empowers TAD to create immersive experiences, with lighting and sound working together to enhance the ambiance for different functions. This dynamic approach to lighting and audio makes RAIL an ideal choice for integrators looking to streamline systems in flexible workspaces. With easy access to power, data, and audiovisual systems anywhere on the floor, TAD’s workspace can morph as needed, from collaborative sessions to high-profile events.
“Our ambition was to create a flexible, high-performance office that could adapt to various uses. RAIL has been essential in realizing this vision. The utility grid and RAIL integration have given us the flexibility we need to configure the space for different uses without visible clutter.” Daniel Pittman, TAD Partner
The audio performance in the TAD workspace was optimized through a carefully configured ecosystem of K-array products, featuring 109x RAIL, 24 KU44 I Rumble subwoofers and Kommander amplifiers (two eight-channel and one four-channel).
