Sonos sets the tone in Lightning Society's ballroom and third-floor spaces

Lightning Society is a New York-based community and cultural institution that blends art-driven experiences with thought leadership, networking, and cultural programming. Spanning four floors of meeting and event spaces, and a roof garden, the clubhouse hosts curated salons, live performances and dinners for members across carefully designed spaces.

With the 2nd and 3rd floors near completion, technology design firm OneButton specified Sonos solutions to deliver discreet, flexible audio that compliments the interiors. The installation features Sonos Amp Multi-powered IS8 Sonance invisible architectural speakers in the ballroom, Era 100 Pro speakers in the 3rd floor reading room and coffee bar, and a listening room/theater setup comprising Era 300s, in-ceiling speakers, subwoofers, and a Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar, discreetly housed in a Leon Tonecase for clean on-wall integration.

Challenge

OneButton aimed to bring high-quality, design-conscious sound into Lightning Society's varied hospitality and event spaces. "Working inside a 100-year-old building, we had to balance performance with architectural sensitivity, while honoring the vision of Lightning Society founder Timothy Phillips and project architect Sofia Herrero," explains Mathew Emmi, Co-Founder, OneButton. "Sound needed to enhance each space without dominating the design, so we developed a tailored Sonos strategy for each floor."

Solution

The 2nd floor ballroom is a spacious, open area with minimal furniture and 17 floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Canal Street and SoHo. The sound system needed to provide high-quality background music without disrupting the room's minimalist design. "To achieve this, we specified 13 IS8 Sonance Invisible Series speakers powered by Sonos Amp Multi, delivering room-filling sound while remaining hidden," says Emmi "The invisible speakers created a real moment of surprise. People kept asking, 'What do you mean there are speakers in the walls?'" recalls Emmi.

"Powering the speakers with Amp Multi, Sonos' new professional multi-channel amplifier, gives the team flexibility to manage multiple speakers within a simplified ecosystem," explains Emmi. "Using its ProTune EQ tools, we were able to reduce room resonances and refine the system for a crisper, more robust sound with stronger low-end performance." The ballroom has already proved its value as a showcase environment, hosting a Sonos launch event that demonstrated the system's ability to power the entire room while remaining visually hidden.

"It's incredible to see the reactions on our guests' faces when they first experience it. It's like being inside the orchestra pit." –Timothy Phillips, Founder, Lightning Society

On the 3rd floor, OneButton designed a flexible, zoned system using eight Sonos Era 100 Pro networked PoE+ speakers and a Sonos subwoofer to support the space's varied uses, including café spaces, discussions and live events.

"We worked closely with Lightning Society's in-house IT team, who handled much of the installation and background infrastructure," recalls Emmi. "Ethernet drops run along columns, keeping the speakers neatly in place while providing even coverage across the open areas." The zoning also simplifies day-to-day management, allowing multiple speakers in large spaces to be controlled without unnecessary complexity. The floor's dedicated listening room and theater features a 100-inch screen with a Sonos Arc Ultra, paired with two Sonos subwoofers and two Era 300s as rear speakers in a 4.1 configuration. In addition, In-Ceiling Speakers by Sonos and Sonance create a flexible audio environment for immersive listening, presentations, and private member experiences. The secondary space features an Arc Ultra housed in a width-matched Leon Tonecase.

"We designed the system to remain simple for staff to use, with a house iPad providing central control," explains Emmi. "Primary managers can also manage audio from their phones for further convenience." In selected spaces, guests will be able to connect through dedicated public Wi-Fi and AirPlay, offering flexibility for private events and member-led experiences.

The result has exceeded expectations, giving Lightning Society discreet, flexible audio that can adapt across very different spaces without becoming difficult to manage. "Once the client heard the system, they immediately loved it," confirms Emmi.

"The ballroom and multipurpose spaces have become a compelling example of Sonos in action and will help inform future rollouts across the remaining floors." –Matthew Emmi, Co-Founder, OneButton