PixelFLEX Relaxes Poolside at The Nine with The ESB Group

	The Nine at Tuscaloosa

Operated by The Scion Group, The Nine at Tuscaloosa is a high-quality apartment community with a full set of innovative and luxurious amenities. Located only a short distance from the University of Alabama, The Nine also includes a resort-style pool complex where the residents and their guests can enjoy the finest in outdoor living. Wanting a high-definition visual element to complete the poolside environment, especially on game day, the management team called upon the design specialists at The ESB Group who installed an IP-65 rated FLEXStorm LED video display from PixelFLEX.

"The Nine is a privately-owned, upscale apartment complex located near the University of Alabama that has created a truly unique living environment," began Drew Breland, solutions architect and design engineer, The ESB Group, Inc. "Inside there is a spacious lobby where tenants can enjoy a luxury clubhouse, a Starbucks Internet café, or even a virtual golf course. Outside, the property has a beautiful resort-style pool complex which is completed by the HD FLEXStorm LED video display."

Built to withstand adverse weather conditions while still providing a truly breathtaking experience, the fully IP-65 rated FLEXStorm LED can be utilized for outdoor advertising, entertainment, and much more. With its adjustable sensors that communicate directly with the cabinets control system, FLEXStorm has variable brightness offerings between 6,500 - 7,500 Nits to look its best day or night. Additionally, using cloud-based content management, updating the FLEXStorm is simple and easy with the click of a button, and the fully front-serviceable panels allow for quick access to the electronics and data control for any onsite service.

Breland continued, "The FLEXStorm LED measures about 20' wide, and it's positioned so that no matter where you are in the courtyard, you can easily see the screen. We then prewired for a dedicated poolside audio system that can work in conjunction with the FLEXStorm for a complete outdoor AV design."

With the LED video solution now identified, the team at The ESB Group was ready to begin the build-out of the retrofitted, poolside LED video display. Knowing the ideal placement, a permanent structure was created prior to their arrival, which made for a quick and easy install.

"To create the permanent mounting structure for the FLEXStorm, the management team brought in an engineer who welded together an aluminum frame that anchors directly to the concrete patio," explained Breland. "From an installation standpoint, I really like how the FLEXStorm comes ready to assemble in the back box, which allowed us to quickly assemble the first row. Once we got that first-row level to the aluminum backing frame, it was as simple as stacking blocks."

As the final LED panel was put into place, it was time to run the controls that would bring the new outdoor living experience at The Nine to life. Benefitting from the AV system control room that already existed in the luxurious lobby, it was a simple power and data cable run that made the FLEXStorm LED fully operational.

"The controls for the FLEXStorm system are coming off a tuner box that is located inside the clubhouse control room where they also control all of the interior AV as well," added Breland. "This really was an ideal location, so we connected the NovaStar processor to the TV tuner and it allows them to use the FLEXStorm LED video display in a traditional TV format."

With University of Alabama football season quickly approaching, the outdoor FLEXStorm LED video display was now complete. Designed specifically to enhance the poolside experience as the Crimson Tide takes the field, the FLEXStorm LED is ready to play, no matter if it's an afternoon or nighttime kick-off.

"All the guests absolutely love it and they keep calling it their outdoor big screen," concluded Breland. "Additionally, no one has to ever worry about changing the brightness of the display since the FLEXStorm technology will automatically adjust to the optimum viewing brightness. It really does provide a great living experience when everyone is outside, with the grill's fired up, in a community tailgate-party watching the University of Alabama football game on a 20' LED TV."