Sightlines
Our Sightlines program was developed as a new way of assessing sightlines for performing arts and sports venues.
‘Sightlines’ essentially refers to what an audience sees on stage, a performance space, or playing field. Good sightlines are needed to ensure the audience has a clear and unobstructed view of the show.
Undertaking sightline analysis for a venue is a complex task. Traditional vertical sightline analysis in 2D, using cross-sections does not provide an accurate indication of the view to the whole of a stage.
Our Sightlines program is an industry first, allowing for objective assessment of sightlines for the venue as a whole. The development of three-dimensional computer modelling allows the view from each seat to be visualised. It even takes into consideration the view from both eyes and allows for head and body movement to simulate how patrons naturally adjust body position to accommodate their environment.
The Sightlines program can be customised depending on the performance type and seating configuration. There are default settings for dance, drama, opera, and orchestra, and it can also be used to assess the view to screens and surtitles.
With the help of the program, we can provide the design team with an analysis of how the sightline from each individual seat might be obscured by physical barriers such as handrails, balustrades and by other patrons. The program highlights the zones that require further improvements in a clear and visual manner, and also indicates how many seats are affected. The program not only assesses the sightline from each seat numerically, but also provides a detailed analysis of the overall ‘visual health’ of the venue by providing a colour-coded percentage view matrix of the stage and audience area.
The sightline analysis can be linked to a specific stage design, a type of production, and the detailed audience layout down to every single seat. And all this is quantified, showing both the percentage of seats in the house with good or compromised sightlines, and a percentage of area on the stage seen by the audience.
The Sightline system is ideally suited to:
Concert halls and theatres
Sports venues and stadiums
Convention centres
Cinemas
For more information on how Sightlines can be used to benefit your next project, contact Yuxiao Chen.
