Architect: Studio 101
Lighting Design: Electrolight
Supplier: Lightmoves
After 30 years of entertaining the locals, The Ford Theatre at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) recently underwent an extensive makeover thanks to a $3 million grant from Arts Victoria. The theatre re-opened recently as The Playhouse; a visually appealing and technically superior 797 seat venue.
The venue has been rejuvenated into a stylish and modern-looking venue, much more attractive on the eye. Integral to this rejuvenation has been the inclusion of a state-of-the-art LED lighting design, towards which Digilin has supplied over 170 ICON LED downlight fittings.
Electrolight - a Lighting Design Consultancy - was contracted by Arts Victoria for the architectural lighting design of the auditorium. The role went to Mark Trubridge, whose years of theatrical lighting design experience made him the ideal man for the job.
One of the key elements of the design that became apparent in early discussions was the auditorium house lighting. The previous halogen lights in the auditorium posed a number of problems not the least of these being how difficult it was to maintain them. For a variety of reasons, discussions led to looking at an LED solution.
Mark approached Joe Casamento of Lightmoves to develop an appropriate LED solution, which saw a series of different samples and testing before a decision was made to use Australian-made Digilin ICON downlights, contained in custom housing. The ICON's incredible output, added to the low power usage and extended lamp life made them the sensible and most sustainable choice. "With somewhere close to 250 fittings, technical staff where changing several halogen globes a week. The ICON's should have a 15-30 year lamp life, which reduces the need for maintenance completely" says Mark when asked about the practical benefits of the fixtures. "Furthermore; there where two unsightly winches which had to stay permanently in the auditorium purely for the purpose of changing the globes in the halogens, but now they have been removed which also adds to the improved aesthetics of the auditorium."
In addition to the ICON fittings, Lightmoves also supplied LED light strips to highlight the wood panelling and for use as step lighting. All drivers and controllers have been placed in an accessible location to mitigate the previously mentioned access issues in the unlikely event that maintenance or repairs are required.
The theatre staff, architects and Arts Victoria are all very happy with the result, but Mark was particularly thrilled with the result "We think it is the first auditorium of that size in Australia to be fully house lit with LED's, and I'm very pleased that it has worked so well.
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Products Used
- LED Luminaires
Photos of installation courtesy of Lightmoves