Lama Dog Taproom & Bottle Shop

When the owners of this Santa Barbara taproom and bottle shop approached us, they posed an unusual challenge: design a sports bar that doesn't feel like one. Flags, jerseys, and memorabilia were out; sleek, modern, seamless design was in. Our task was to engineer a massive AV system that complemented the contemporary, corrugated-steel interior while staying effortless to run during a rush.

At the heart of the space are 13 Sony 75-inch Mini LED televisions, each fed by Crestron NVX video distribution. Seven sources — including Apple TVs and digital menu boards — can be routed to any screen with a single touch, and every display stays perfectly synchronized, eliminating lag even during high-action broadcasts. Custom metal enclosures wrap each television to blend into the architecture.

Crestron NAX powers a multi-zone audio system built around Origin Acoustics pendant speakers — nine pendants and three subwoofers in the main room, with weatherproof in-ceiling speakers extending sound to the patio and restrooms. Staff can stream any service to any zone, or broadcast TV audio to specific speakers, from a Crestron touch panel or their phone.

A Crestron CP4 processor consolidates 13 televisions, five audio zones, seven video sources, nine lighting zones, two climate zones, and 14 cameras into one interface. Pre-programmed scenes let staff open or close the entire venue with a single button — no technical training required.

A commercial-grade Netgear AV Line network — a PR460X router, 10GB PoE++ switches, and enterprise access points running six segmented networks over fiber — ties more than 100 wired connections together. UniFi Protect secures the space with 14 discreet cameras and a 32TB recorder, all backed by UPS power in a Legion 42U rack.