Amid a series of nightclub closures over the past year, Audio Discotech is helping to reverse the trend with a new space set to open August 16 on 11th Street at the space formerly home to Mist.

With plans to host many kinds of house and techno several nights a week, the new space was designed by David Brinkley, Anderson Pugash, Russell Davis, Troy Morgan and Bruce McDonald. Brinkley also worked on the interior at Vessel, home to Base and Vessel Presents parties, and Anderson is the head of Crossroads, the promotions company behind a variety of events and bar openings in San Francisco.

We had a chance to speak with both during a tour of the new space, located at 316 11th street. Upon walking up the LED paneled stairs and entering the room, visitors are greeted by a sunken dance floor, a Funktion-One sound system and an infinity mirror. With a name like Audio, it only seems natural that sound is at the forefront of the club’s concept—but the impressive lighting detail completes the package.

“One of the key features is the sunken dance floor,” Brinkley says. “It does a couple things; one, it’s nice to have the dance floor in the middle [of the room]. It also helps with the sound, keeping the speakers away from the side of the walls, especially the subs because that’s where the sound builds up. What’s great about it, too, is it gives nice sight lines. Rather than having one flat room, wherever you are on the dance floor, you can see the DJ. What we really like about the flow of the room is that you’re always connected with other people, not just the DJ. That’s where the energy builds in the room.”

Anderson also highlights an important sound issue with the floor: “We put rubber underneath the dance floor, so it’s a little softer. You can stay dancing longer without getting tired. That’s also why we get high-quality, crisp sound.”

The dance floor is flanked by two bars at each corner, a central DJ booth at the center of the room and tables and lounge areas surrounding. The team plans to keep DJs and genres flexible after its official opening later this month.

“We’re really going after any music that’s really danceable,” Brinkley says. “There’s a lot of music these days that’s more suited for jumping up and down at a festival. I think what we want here is music where people are looking at each other, smiling, having a good time, getting down, rather than staring at the DJ booth.”

Beyond the dance floor, everything lights up—the curtains change color with light, illuminated bottles line other parts of the wall, and the white crocodile skin bar lights up. Video projections also line square mesh wall paneling providing any area for professional dancers to add to the ambiance. Perhaps, most impressive is the infinity mirror behind the DJ booth that gives the impression that DJ was beamed straight to the club from outer space.

It’s all “very communal,” Brinkley says. “It brings people together rather than having separate rooms. It has an organic feel to it.”

In addition to the main floor, club-goers will be able to go downstairs to Bergerac for a craft cocktail during a show. Stay tuned for more details as the club prepares for its grand opening August 16 with DJ David Carvalho.

• Tag: Audio Discotech, Nightclubs, Nightclubs in SF, SoMa