Entertainment Venues

• Temperature and humidity control. These venues often have large open spaces and a high number of occupants, which can make it challenging to maintain consistent temperature and humidity levels throughout the entire space.
• Air quality. Large crowds of people can also lead to poor indoor air quality, which can be detrimental to the health and comfort of patrons and staff. AAON HVAC equipment provides a solution to supply fresh air to the space.
• Sound control. Entertainment venues are typically designed with acoustics in mind, but HVAC systems can generate sound that can interfere with performances or events.
• Energy efficiency. These venues consume a significant amount of energy, and HVAC systems can account for a significant portion of that energy usage. Finding ways to improve energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort is a major challenge.
• Maintenance and reliability. With large crowds and high occupancy rates, downtime is not an option for entertainment venues. HVAC systems must be reliable and easy to maintain to ensure that events can continue as planned.

When implementing HVAC solutions in entertainment venues, there are considerations that should be taken into account.

Zoning and air distribution
Entertainment venues often have various sections with different cooling and heating requirements, such as auditoriums, lobbies, restrooms, and offices. A well-designed zoning and air distribution system can ensure that each area is kept at the optimal temperature and humidity levels for occupant comfort.

Sound reduction
Sound from HVAC equipment can be a significant distraction in entertainment venues, especially in quiet areas such as theaters and concert halls. HVAC systems should be designed to operate quietly to minimize disruptions. A common design element for acoustically sensitive spaces is to use a sound attenuator, which essentially performs the same function as a car’s muffler. A series of baffles allow the air to flow through while sound is reflected in a specific way to either be absorbed by a softer media or the waves cancel out. AAON can factory install sound attenuators in the RZ series. 

Air quality
Poor air quality can negatively affect occupant health and comfort, leading to complaints. HVAC systems in entertainment venues should be designed to provide adequate ventilation, high-efficiency filtration, and humidity control to maintain fresh indoor air quality.

Energy efficiency
Entertainment venues consume a significant amount of energy, and HVAC systems can account for a large portion of that energy use. Therefore, it is essential to design and select HVAC systems that are energy-efficient and can help reduce overall energy costs.

The HVAC products recommended for entertainment venues may vary based on the type of venue, but here are a few common ones:

Packaged Rooftop Units
Packaged rooftop units are a popular choice for entertainment venues due to their energy efficiency and ability to provide heating, cooling, and ventilation in a single unit. They are ideal for large open spaces such as theaters, concert halls, and sports arenas.

Split Systems
Split systems consist of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit connected by refrigerant lines. They are suitable for smaller entertainment venues such as movie theaters and music clubs. They offer flexibility in terms of installation location and can be more energy-efficient than other systems.

Hydronic Air-Handling Unit System
Hydronic air-handling unit systems can deliver a greater cooling and heating capacity than a traditional DX system. This increased capacity is a result of utilizing water as the heat transfer medium, ultimately providing increased energy efficiency, precise control, and overall cost savings.


Energy Recovery Ventilators
Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) can help address ventilation challenges in entertainment venues, such as high occupancy levels and tight building envelopes. They can recover heating or cooling energy from exhaust air and transfer it to incoming fresh air, pre-conditioning the outside air and increasing the energy efficiency. Pre-conditioning the air can lead to cost savings by allowing the ability to select a small unit while still meeting the cooling or heating demand of the space.