A beer, a brainstorm and a boost for downtown Lititz.

About nine months ago, local executive Soren West was having a beer at the Bulls Head pub in the General Sutter Inn with Paul Pendyck, a partner in the inn.

The conversation turned to Pendyck's vision for the pub and inn, two valuable parts of downtown Lititz's economy and social scene.

Pendyck said he wanted to renovate the inn's 16 guest rooms, including its little-used top floor, except that the undertaking was too expensive.

But West, who is president of Lititz-based Atomic Design, quickly had a generous suggestion.

Atomic Design, a provider of scenery and lighting for rock concerts and other events, could renovate a room, he said.

Within months, his offer had snowballed into a novel collaboration between Lititz's three rock-industry companies and the General Sutter.

The result is a unique kind of lodging on the top floor of the General Sutter: the "Rock Lititz Penthouse."

"It started as a small idea and blossomed and blossomed," Pendyck said.

Atomic Design soon was joined by Clair Global, the world's biggest supplier of sound systems to touring bands, and Tait Towers, a leading staging provider.

Together they helped fund the building improvements, such as new electrical and HVAC systems for the entire third floor, while their employees built one-of-a-kind furnishings.

In return, out-of-town visitors to those companies will have a distinctive place to stay that's mere minutes away.

"It's intended to be a shot in the arm for the Sutter and for Lititz," said Troy Clair, Clair Global president and chief executive officer.

"And we benefit because we'll have nice rooms for our clientele when they come to town...," he added. "We'll use it heavily."

The Rock Lititz Penthouse at the 14 E. Main St. property will be on display today at an open house from 3 to 5 p.m.

Its six rooms are available to the public for $175 or $225 a night, although the three rock-industry co-sponsors get a discounted rate.

The collaboration has resulted in rooms that have a contemporary, high-tech ambiance, accented by numerous touches of the concert industry.

"It used to be really Victorian," observed Pendyck, "but that's not a place that a guy who's been out touring with Roger Waters or U2 is going to think is a cool place to stay."

The three companies contributed one-of-a-kind furnishings and decorations that were handmade by their employees.

Among the items made by Clair Global employees were a clock, coat hooks, lamps and curtain rod finials that incorporate microphones and speaker screen.

Tait Towers employees created a wall mural of various rock stars, a table and a back-lit wet bar.

Atomic Design employees contributed curtain fabric and a kitchen table with backstage passes laminated onto its top.

Clair Global, Tait Towers and Atomic Design also worked together to produce artwork that depicts a timeline of their companies' histories.

Even the three companies' equipment suppliers got into the act.

For instance, Digico, a maker of audio mixing consoles, made a glass endtable that contains a console. JBL donated iPod docking stations. Sennheiser and Shure donated money, Clair said.

Lynn Lovette of Interiors spearheaded the Rock Lititz Penthouse design.

"It's diametrically opposed to Victorian," Pendyck said. "This is more like what you'd see in a hip boutique hotel."

Besides the distinctive furnishings and the docking stations, all six rooms come with "smart" flat-panel televisions and new bathrooms.

Guests will share a communal kitchen, lounge, deck and laundry, which were updated as part of the project.

While the three rock-industry firms contributed funds, decorations and furnishings, Pelger Engineering and Bottom Line Contracting handled the construction tasks.

"It's been an amazing team effort," Clair said. "A lot of people came together to make this happen."

The project cost was not disclosed.

Lititz Borough issued a $150,000 building permit for the job, but that amount excludes the value of the furnishings and decorations.

Pendyck, who bought the General Sutter with a partner in 2006 and replaced its Zum Ankar Cafe with the Bulls Head in 2010, called the project "a win-win for everybody."

"Obviously, it's a win for us," he said. The three companies and the community benefit, too, by having one-of-a-kind lodging available for visitors, Pendyck said.

West said, "I can tell you that community is extremely important to us at Atomic."

Borough Council President Karen Weibel agreed that the penthouse will prove to be a community asset.

"I think people will embrace it," she said. "This will add another nice tweak to downtown. It will be unique, something that can only be found in Lititz. That's a good thing."

Five of the six penthouse rooms cost $175 a night. The sixth, which costs $225 a night, is a suite with a sitting room, wet-bar, two-person shower and other features.

Pendyck, who wants to remodel the inn's other 10 rooms but retain their Victorian style, praised the three companies for their willingness to help improve a local business.

"It's amazing how these companies — Clair, Atomic and Tait — are so focused on the community. They really believe in Lititz. They want to do whatever they can to help," he said.

tmekeel@lnpnews.com