Famous Players, Inc.

Famous Players is Canada’s top-grossing theatrical exhibitor and has more than 822 screens across the country, including Alliance Atlantis and IMAX theatres.

The Challenge

While upgrading their projection technology, Famous Players realized that they also needed to update their energy systems to remain current. The entertainment company required a complex system with simple controls—something that would be easy for non-technical theatre managers to use. Most of all, the system would have to enhance the movie-going experience for its customers. Everyone has experienced a movie theatre that is either too hot or too cold, and Famous Players wanted its customers to never feel that discomfort again.

Our Solution

We designed a custom system that linked the Famous Players facilities’ HVAC system to its ticket sales. Thirty minutes before show time, each theatre is preconditioned to an ideal temperature. As tickets for the movie begin to sell, feedback is relayed to the HVAC system that then calibrates the room accordingly based on the number of expected viewers. Famous Players piloted the unique, symbiotic system in Moncton, New Brunswick and quickly ported it to 42 more of its theatres—with plans to implement the building automation system nationwide.

Results

Famous Players sees tremendous improvement in energy efficiency and saves more time as a result of our solution. Built-in audits allow head office to analyze the entire system’s energy use or to focus on an individual theatre. Common control systems across the chain have reduced training costs. Automated lighting has resulted in more cost savings, and maximized efficiency for the chain—allowing Famous Players to feel confident that its customers can simply sit back and enjoy the show.

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