OSCARS 2025 - An engineering firm’s perspective
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This year marked the 97th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. Truly, it is the pinnacle of glitz and glam – but there is a great deal of engineering that happens behind the scenes to make it possible. The first ceremony in 1927 lasted only 15 minutes, a far cry from its future extravagance of 200 minutes. It was held in the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, an historically important built environment and monument to the spirit of the Roaring 20s. With tickets only costing 5$, guests arrived already knowing the winners, which were announced 3 months prior.
Bugatti Royale
In many ways, celebrities were the same – being dropped off in luxury automobiles using high-octane gasoline. Unsurprisingly, the fuel efficiency and emissions were not as highly-engineered as today. In larger structures like the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the invention of thermostats allowed for the creation of an automatic central heating system by 1927. Much of the piping was insulated by asbestos, and electricity was the primary method of illumination by this time. It wouldn't be until the 1960s that environmental concerns would prompt mechanical, plumbing, and electrical improvements, and asbestos wasn't restricted until even later.
No doubt, the production value would improve over time. Let's compare to the 97th Oscars from yesterday!
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Last night, cinema's biggest celebrities walked the 50,000 square foot red carpet (costing nearly 25 thousand dollars alone!) into the famous Dolby Theatre. Tailor made for this specific annual event, it's truly one of the pinnacles the built environments made for massive events like the Academy Awards. Constructed as an architectural love letter to cinema, the Academy was a partner from the outset.
Unlike other venues, the Dolby Theatre is specially equipped to support complex production teams, with every inch of the structure designed for television. There are over a dozen fixed camera positions supported by a hydraulically-powered media cockpit for more intricate shots. In front of the stage, one of the largest in the country, a 15 foot grid allows for particularly complex installations, and there is substantial electrical capability with the hidden cabling throughout.
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Given its current name, there's no surprise the theatre is outfitted with 215 individual speakers, and the screens deliver a million-to-one contrast ratio and twice the brightness of standard screens. With some recent Millies Engineering Group projects involving auditoriums, there's a great deal to learn from the impressive format of the Dolby Theatre.
The Oscars have had a bit of a recent revival, and we're always excited to see how such massive productions try to outdo themselves each year!