Header: Robert Gomez
The Equipment Room, located on Austin’s beloved Music Lane, is a music-focused venue designed by RIOS with John Hallock as the lead designer. The team was given a former storage area to convert into an intimate and sophisticated listening space, so laying out the elements of the space in a way that would both favour music and socialisation was of the utmost importance.
The new venue’s layout is any music lover’s and design passionate’s dream. The entry leads straight into the food prep area and a guest DJ booth, which are adjacent to the primary bar area, which stretches across the room and fills it with rich vibes due to its custom hemlock design. Behind the bar, the team added custom shelves filled with sound equipment and a collection of vinyl records, an element with dual purposes: it brings in immaculate aesthetics and makes music accessible.
The listening room fills up a significant portion of the floor plan and holds various seating options that ensure that its guests will always find the best spot to listen to their favourite album or to talk endlessly about why they think a specific album’s design was based off a story only they know about. This area is, therefore, designed for guests to immerse themselves in music, so warm lighting also plays a big role in creating the desired ambience.
The DJ booth was designed with a roll-top tambour cover that helps it remain integrated with the overall interior design, no matter if it’s being used or not. Next to it lies the stage, which every music lover knows is a must-add to any bar due to the endless possibilities it holds. Two bathrooms, including one for those with accessibility specifications, are located at the back. The team of designers was keen on not intervening where it wasn’t necessary, so they greatly relied on the original qualities of the space and on the expertise of local audio talent and fabricators to achieve a modern speakeasy ambiance.
