Chautauqua Auditorium is a performance venue in the heart of Boulder, Colorado, that has a rich history. Built in just under two months during the spring of 1898, the Chautauqua Auditorium sits at the base of Boulder’s Flatirons as one of the few surviving, continuously operating structures from the nationwide Chautauqua educational movement. Originally, it was known for formal recitals and as a movie house. In 1978, it was renovated into a performing arts venue, which sparked structural restorations and led to regular summer concerts with touring bands and full orchestral performances. For the first time ever, in January 2027, the Sundance Film Festival will reside in the heart of Boulder. We at Lux were able to come alongside the renovation and give them a full-blown update that will last for decades to come.
Currently the project is in Phase 2, with continued renovations to the seating area, and the newly added basement. We are eager to continue the integration process in the next coming months to set up the venue for their off season, and in season concerts.
EQUIPMENT CHOICE
We were able to give Chautauqua a d&b CCL Line-array system deployed from the existing structure. We were able to equip the room with a Left, Right array, with a center fill, 42S in stage loudspeakers, U7 delay fills, and XSLi Subwoofers under the stage for maximum coverage. We worked with a few renderings of the space and we were able to maximize the space with these select speakers to ensure a great auditory experience from the front to the back.
INTEGRATION
Rigging was a critical aspect of this installation, executed with precision and safety as the top priority. In such a historic venue, we wanted to make sure that we weren’t damanging the structure of the building, so with our acurate 3D lidar scanner we were able to get a full rigging deployment of this line array down to an 1/8″. These rigging components allowed for secure, controlled positioning and smooth adjustment.
To guarantee safety and longevity, we adhered strictly to structural safety standards and protocols. Our rigging team implemented comprehensive safety measures and followed best practices during installation to maintain the integrity of the venue’s structure. Additionally, we designed and prepared detailed rigging documentation specific to the speaker arrays. These documents helped guide the entire rigging process, ensuring every load and attachment point met engineering requirements and manufacturer specifications.
CONCLUSION
There are some projects that we are proud of, then there are some that we just get to brag about. We feel that Chautauqa Auditorium is one of them. Contributing to the upgrade of such a beloved and vibrant community venue, one that supports so many local artists and organizations, is incredibly rewarding.
We are proud to have played a role in enhancing the auditorium’s technical capabilities and ensuring it remains a welcoming, state-of-the-art space for performances and events for many years to come. Being involved with a venue that serves as a cultural cornerstone for Boulder is not only a privilege but also a testament to our commitment to excellence and meaningful partnerships. We are excited to see what is to come from Chautauqa Auditorium.
