A GDS ArcSystem has been installed in the elegant, Victorian, St George’s Hall, Bradford UK.
Opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1853, The Grade II listed St George’s Hall in Bradford has hosted a remarkable array of events. From hosting stage plays to political rallies – Churchill was once interrupted there by suffragettes during a speech – to being a cinema and a home for rock concerts, comedians and public meetings.
GDS UK Dealer Northern Light was commissioned by the Council to install a new house lighting system into the hall. The system was required to dramatically improve the lighting levels in a Victorian building, whilst meeting the need for efficiency and sustainability expected in a twenty-first century facility. The historical integrity of the building was also be paramount importance to the project.
GDS supplied an ArcSystem, with its range of LED, fully dimmable auditorium lighting fixtures, controlled by the wireless ArcMesh protocol.
Over three days Northern Light installed 112 ArcSystem Pro 1 Cell 3000k 37 deg fittings, each complete with the standard D1 driver for dimming. The fittings were mounted flush into the historic ceiling with an adapter plate utilising the existing holes.
The system utilises the hall’s existing infrastructure, solving obstructive and time-consuming problems. For example, the roof void was extremely limited but still provided a convenient housing for the system’sTX1 transmitter and remained otherwise untouched.
The system was commissioned from GDS HQ in Bristol. This was achieved by dialling in and remotely accessing the system, saving time, money and the carbon footprint associated with the traditional need to travel to the site. The end-users were also trained in the operation of the system via a GDS web portal maximising technology to reduce environmental impact.
“Aside from any other consideration, the principal task at hand was to ensure that we significantly improved the light levels in the building and ArcSystem provided us with brightness to spare,” commented Northern Light’s Keith Mitchell. “The demands placed on installers working in listed heritage sites can be very challenging and this system is ideal in the face of such constraints…”
Chris Barlow, Technical Electrics Manager for Bradford Theatres added:
“It isn’t simply that the levels of lighting in the hall have been increased – although they certainly have – but more that the quality of lighting has added a warmth to the building that we have never had before. The tangible enhancement that ArcSystem has provided would prompt me to recommend it without hesitation in any similar situation. Factor in the speed and straightforward nature of the install and one would have to say that the system is a winner in every respect.”
