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Heat Ultra Lounge Design Rivals Club Meccas

It’s hip and techy with an attitude all its own. Ask the regulars who come on Tuesdays, the clubbers and fashionistas who dive in on Fridays and Saturdays, and they will say Heat Ultra Lounge is the hottest new upscale nightspot in OC. The club opened last July with DJ A.M. Since then, Heat has hosted plenty of first-rate talent, including Christopher Lawrence, Chemical Brothers, Bad Boy Bill, Deep Dish and DJ Tiesto, the world’s No. 1 DJ who made his first-ever OC appearance as part of his US Tour.

The brainchild of designer Nikko Hendi and owner Mike Joher, the Heat captures the pulse beat and ambiance of an upscale club with all the trappings. “Our goal was to inject some life and energy into Orange County’s club scene, to bring Las Vegas to the OC,” says Hendi, who heads up the Costa Mesa-based design firm NKDDI. “We took technology to the max in sound and light to make Heat a truly unique venue.”

Sexy, sleek and luxurious, Heat is a blend of classic and cool. Decorated in rich deep maroons, slate grays and dark, solid cherry woods, Heat was designed from the ground up to keep up with today’s fast-paced nightclub scene. Unlike many clubs, there are no doorways or passageways to separate dance floors from lounges. “You won’t find any doors or straight walls here,” says Hendi. “We wanted to avoid any feeling of specific rooms. So like the sound and light effects, areas simply flow into each other. We placed chandeliers at strategic spots throughout the club as guide posts, drawing you into the next scene.”

The club has three huge bars, two DJ stations and one goal: to be the club to see and be seen in. With more than 10,000 square feet of event space, Heat easily accommodates up to 800 guests. V.I.P. areas throughout the club and two dance floors make for easy socializing. “We usually have about 900 people on Tuesdays, and we’re sold out on Fridays and Saturdays,” says Joher. “And like the clubs in Vegas, we don’t serve food here. Our clientele prefers mingling over menus.”

The Heat’s multi-million dollar Martin lighting system does everything one can possibly imagine. The DJ’s pit has more controls than the Space Shuttle, bathing dancers in kaleidoscopic pools of light, reflecting lasers off chandeliers and glass-beaded walls, and accenting curved opaque panels that pulse with an aurora borealis of colors and silhouetted dancers. “These RGB lasers can project images in mid air, right on the dance floor,” says Hendi. “It’s cutting-edge technology that cuts through the clutter of ordinary light shows.”

Then there’s the spared-no-expense Funktion One sound system. Designed for Pink Floyd, it’s the most advanced system of its kind on the West Coast, pumping out every thunderous note with fidelity that’s as crystal clear as the club’s chandeliers. “This powerful new sound system doesn’t waste a single watt, faithfully producing audio without distortion,” says Hendi. “It’s one of the best in the world, rivaling the top clubs in Las Vegas and New York.”

For ladies who hate to fight for mirror space in the powder room, Heat’s accommodations humble even the boudoir of a duchess. Elegant, separately lighted mirrors, cushy seats and a huge dresser form a beautiful arc, lit from above with a sparkling chandelier.

Like many of today’s hottest clubs, Heat has plenty of cushy nooks and private V.I.P. rooms, perfect for groups and couples. Elevated bottle service lounges offer patrons unobstructed views of the dance floor, the DJ and all the goings on. “You can’t beat the Heat for socializing,” says Hendi. “It’s the place to connect and have a great time.”

How have patrons responded? “They love the mix of trendy with traditional,” says Hendi. “I wanted to create a place where serious clubbers could enjoy themselves, and Heat’s design works on many levels, raising the bar on the OC club scene.”

Close to Disneyland and inside the splashy new Anaheim GardenWalk center, Heat Ultra Lounge is clearly devoted to the club scene made famous in Vegas, New York and LA. It’s also the perfect venue for any type of corporate or holiday party, private event, or record release or studio wrap gig.

Nikko Hendi, Principal, NKDDI, 1931 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.764.0060

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