Kalahari Wisconsin Dells Expansion

A massive $35 million dollar expansion to Kalahari Wisconsin Dells convention center is now complete. The 2-year project more than doubles the size of the current convention center from about 100,000 to 212,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art convention center includes 10 new meeting rooms, a 52,000 square foot main ballroom, and exhibit space. The expanded convention center will attract even more national and regional conferences.

When details of the plan were first announced, Fearing’s knew the significance of this project would be tremendous and approached the challenge with enthusiasm. Fearing’s bid on the project against several competitors, but rose above the rest winning the contract to perform the Audio Video, Data/Fiber Cabling and Security work for the convention center. The work took more than 6,000 hours of labor and is Fearing’s largest project to date.

“The fact that Fearing’s could do all our AV, security, and cabling for this project really simplified things. Since these systems are very interconnected, using multiple vendors can cause complications in communication and even lead to finger-pointing if communications break down, but we were able to eliminate that possibility by using a vendor like Fearing’s that could do it all.”

Greg Gogola, Corporate Director of Information Technology for Kalahari Resorts

The Audio Video solution for this project was originally engineered by an outside firm. Fearing’s proposed the system and was awarded the bid. With a new standard that Kalahari was implementing across all their resorts, Fearing’s re-engineered the system to conform. A primary goal was to replace BiAmp digital processing audio equipment with QSC Q-SYS equipment. The change to move from BiAmp to QSC was primarily due to Kalahari having more success with the Dante audio-over-Ethernet standard. Fearing’s also re-engineered the audio system to accommodate QSC speakers for brand standardization and to redistribute amplification across several data closets, minimizing speaker cable loss and simplifying maintenance.

Taking advantage of the latest technology, the entire multi-zone audio and video system consists of 17 Panasonic laser projectors displaying onto DaLite projection screens. QSC was used for audio processing and amplification, distributing the sound to over 220 speakers. The complete installation is operated by a Crestron control system using a dozen 7” touchscreens and several iPads that deploy the Crestron App for central control.

The Data/Fiber system is quite extensive involving over 1,000 data drops with more than 100,000 feet of data cable and over 10,000 feet of fiber. Distribution of the data was installed from one MDF (main distribution frame) room and four IDF (Intermediate Distribution Frame) rooms.  In addition, there were 7 light poles that were connected by single-mode fiber to handle the IP Video from the surveillance cameras.

Greg Gogalo of Kalahari commented saying, “This is the first time we have used Fearing’s for our data and fiber cabling and the project turned out great.”

The Surveillance System encompasses over 100 IP megapixel Axis and Arecont cameras, with a combination of single-head and multi-head (180 and 360 degree) devices. The cameras are recorded on an exacqVision server giving Kalahari high-detail and extensive security coverage.

Commenting on Kalahari’s overall experience with Fearing’s, Greg stated, “They (Fearing’s) know how to work under Kalahari’s tight deadlines and they always do what is necessary to get the job done on time and done right.”

Fearing’s has a long history with Kalahari, first partnering with the resort and water park when it opened in 2000. Greg said, “We’ve experimented with other vendors in the past but in the end, we keep coming back to Fearing’s and there is a reason for that.”

Whether for residential or commercial projects, your design and installation contractor will be a key partner, and their expertise in emerging technology is the differentiator that will allow your project to stand out as technology continues to advance. Contact the experts at Fearing’s today to inquire about an audiovideo or surveillance system solutions for your business or home.

Check out the slideshow below showcasing images of the completed project.