By Travis Bernard

If you’ve ever driven around Georgetown in Washington, DC, you are probably aware of the massive power plant smokestack towering over the historic water front properties. “The Powerhouse” was originally constructed in 1917 to help power the D.C. Paper Manufacturing Company, and it has since served a variety of purposes including a night club during the 1980’s. The space was recently renovated by Rise Events DC (owned by Westmill Capital) to function as an event space for private parties and corporate clients. Rise Events helped maintain the overall “industrial” vibe of the venue, but it’s been retrofitted with a modern twist. The two-story location has 6,500 square feet of event space, and it includes a beautiful second floor mezzanine balcony that overlooks the main event space. There are 30-foot high ceilings, and the floor-to-ceiling bay windows offer a spectacular view of the C&O Canal. The true character of the venue emanates from the 150 foot smokestack that rises through the building, and the exposed brick and steel beams complement the stunning atmosphere. The space has also been fully renovated to include top-of-the-line bathrooms and a catering prep kitchen. The general idea is that the venue can provide a seamless “turn-key” experience for clients, meaning Rise Events provides the sound and venue, and you provide everything else.

Rise Events wanted something versatile, something that others could build on for multipurpose events. Part of this process was adding a high performance sound system and selecting someone for the install that truly understands sound. Adam from ITI Audio was that guy. Max Kirschenbaum of Rise Events mentions that Adam is “generally regarded as the best in the industry, and we wanted the best – we wanted a quality sound system.” Although the property was extremely difficult to revamp, they knew that Adam could handle a tough building.

The system ITI Audio selected includes:
-10 x Martin Audio AQ28
-8 x Martin Audio AQ10
-BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 with a custom HiQnet Motion control panel of iPad and iPhone control of key system functionality

Roger Whyte of Rise Events notes that, by having a built-in sound system, they added a “huge amount of value to the quality of the venue.” The full stereo install allows for “greater flexibility” in the types of events and general function of the space. Kirschenbaum praises Adam and ITI Audio for adding in a ton of innovative features, including an iPad app that controls the system. In addition to the quality of the sound system, Kirschenbaum also commends ITI Audio, explaining that “it was great working with [Adam], he was punctual and responsive. He was in tune with the project completion, and he’s an extremely thorough worker.”

The Powerhouse has been a part of DC history for almost 100 years, and now you can create your own history by hosting private events there. The premier event space is a unique spot, and there’s nothing else like it in DC. We’re proud of the sound system at The Powerhouse, and we hope you have a chance to hear it yourself. Based on the early feedback from visitors, we know you’ll love it.

The Powerhouse is located at 3255 Grace St. NW.
Call Roger Whyte at (202) 584-0062 to book events or check out their website.

All photo credit given to Rodney Bailey.