[Canada] When PinPointe Social opened its doors in Calgary, Alberta, it set out to create ‘something far beyond a traditional darts venue’. Created by serial entrepreneur Barry Ehlert, the venue offers guests ‘an immersive social destination where technology and entertainment converge’, combining interactive gaming, elevated dining, cocktails, and a vibrant nightlife experience.
Central to that experience is an extensive ADJ lighting system, designed and installed by Digital Media Integrations, led by Dustin Milne, which not only helps establish the venue’s atmosphere but also integrates directly with gameplay and transforms the space into a nightclub destination on weekends.
“Leading Edge Construction was the primary general contractor and then they subbed out the electrical to Calibre Electric,” explains Milne. “We’re good friends with the guys at both of those companies and have worked with them for a long time on numerous other projects. Calibre brought us in because they understood out of the gate that there was a need for a very technical, extensive layout of AVL equipment, and that’s our speciality.
“We provided and installed all the audio, video and lighting equipment as well as the network infrastructure. It’s a full sACN network, with five four-port Obsidian nodes and a dedicated DMX universe for each darts suite. We then collaborated with the guys from venue who developed their own games system which we integrated with the show control system to allow the games to trigger lighting, video and audio cues.”
PinPointe Social features twelve private darts suites equipped with real dart boards and camera-tracked scoring technology, offering guests an engaging and accessible gaming experience through eight different game modes. Lighting plays a key role in enhancing the action, with every suite fitted with a pair of ADJ Focus Spot 5Z moving head fixtures that respond dynamically to gameplay events.
“I chose the Focus Spot 5Z because it’s really punchy but also pretty small,” says Milne. “We didn’t have tons of ceiling height in this place but still wanted to keep everything as high up as we could. The 5Z is a tiny little fixture, but it’s still got lots of output. It also has two colour wheels, a separate GOBO wheel, two prisms and two frost filters, so we can do a lot with just two lights in that suite for lighting cues based on the gameplay.”
Beyond the individual darts suites, Digital Media Integrations also designed a comprehensive lighting system for the venue’s central social space. During the daytime and early evening, the fixtures provide subtle ambient illumination that complements the venue’s upscale aesthetic. Later in the evening, however, the space transforms completely.
Under the banner of NightShift by PinPointe Social, the venue hosts live DJs every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm – 2am, turning the central area into a high-energy nightlife destination. To mark the transition, Milne and his team programmed a time-coded introductory show sequence featuring synchronized lighting effects and atmospheric haze generated by a pair of ADJ Entourage haze machines.
“I have visited many high-end lounges in Vegas over the years and wanted to bring an experience like that to Calgary where we have one concept by day and a whole other by night,” explains Ehlert. “The ADJ fixtures – together with the design Digital Media came up with – delivered that.”
For the main room spots, Milne selected ADJ’s Focus Spot 6Z moving head fixtures. “For lighting the main area, which becomes the dancefloor late at night, we took a step up to the Focus Spot 6Z. It’s that bit brighter and adds an extra GOBO wheel. Those fixtures really allow us to create energy on the dancefloor with piercing beams and sharp pattern projections.”
The main rig also incorporates ADJ Focus Flex L7 moving head wash-beam fixtures, whose versatility allows them to serve multiple roles throughout the venue’s operating day.
Working alongside Milne as lighting designer and programmer, Joseph Wolff was responsible for creating a both the daytime scenes and NightShift transformation time-coded lightshow.
“This project challenged me to create a space that could seamlessly shift throughout the day and night,” comments Wolff. “The venue is designed to host everything from corporate events to birthday parties and group outings, before transitioning into a high-energy club environment later in the evening. Built on an Onyx NX2 console with DYLOS integration, the system gave me the flexibility to quickly develop layered looks and themes that adapt to the room’s changing energy.”