Palace Hotel AV | AV Structural Historic Audio Upgrade

Palace Hotel by Marriott

Historic Ballroom Audio Overhaul

Project Introduction and Scope

The Palace Hotel, a San Francisco landmark since 1875, is more than a luxury destination—it’s a piece of architectural history. When Marriott needed a full-scale ballroom audio upgrade across nine distinct event spaces, they turned to AV Structural to get it done—without disrupting hotel operations, altering historic features, or missing the tight 30-day deadline.

Scope:
Complete retrofit and installation of a high-fidelity digital audio system across 9 landmark ballrooms, including speaker, cabling, and control system design

Key Technologies

Biamp DX-IC4LP Ceiling Speakers
Apprimo TEC-X Audio Controllers
Voltera D 24008 Amplifiers
Tesira Forte Mixer with AVB
Custom Speaker Grilles & Retrofits

The Challenge

AV Structural was tasked with delivering a high-performance, fully digital audio system inside a historic hotel under landmark protection, all within a 30-day window and during the busiest season of the year. The installation required: Replacement of over 21,000 feet of audio cabling routed to a single central rack, retrofitting 1940s deep metal enclosures to accommodate modern speakers, designing custom square speaker grilles to match historical mounts, securing all ceiling speakers with carabiner safety cables, use of aerial lifts to safely install heavy speakers in large ballrooms—without impacting daily hotel operations.

The Execution

AV Structural’s in-house engineering team coordinated design and procurement rapidly, and our experienced installers adapted on-site to overcome structural limitations. By using advanced tools and collaborating closely with hotel staff—including a standout front office manager—we delivered on time without compromise.

The Results

The result is a state-of-the-art digital audio system discreetly integrated into one of San Francisco’s most iconic venues. The use of Biamp DX-IC4LP ceiling speakers, Apprimo TEC-X controllers, Voltera D amps, and Tesira Forte mixers ensures clear, evenly distributed sound throughout all nine ballrooms—while maintaining the venue’s historic charm. From weddings to conferences, guests now experience pristine audio in every corner, all delivered through a system engineered for both performance and preservation.

Your Structural Partner from Concept to Completion