Architectural lighting specialists i-Vision have designed an eye-catching LED lighting installation in the new steel roof structure of the London Science Museum’s Energy Hall.
The installation is noteworthy, as it is the first to utilize i-Vision’s new, compact LumosDrive 216 LED driver. The driver cut the cost of the installation substantially.
Architects Ward McHugh Associates and design engineers Pearce Buckle approached i-Vision because they wanted an energy-efficient lighting scheme for the new roof. "LED was chosen because cutting-edge technology was attractive to the Museum and easy maintenance was another factor due to limited access and the ‘life cost’ of the installation," comments lead architect Kelvin Fallow.
Roof Designs
For the design, i-Vision made 30 bespoke non-optic Lumos Strip 2400 RGB that were installed alongside 20 non-optic Lumos Flood 36 LED fixtures. The Lumos Strip 2400s run end-to-end right along the curved roof–which measures 40mx15m–with 10 i-Vision RGB Lumos Flood 36s per side. The LEDs emits a powerful, radiant glow enveloping the white corrugated steel structure of the roof in a series of rich saturated colors.
i-Vision’s project manager Luke Dodd worked with the Science Museum’s head of estates Andrew Haycock and onsite project manager, Danielle Rowe. "There were some challenging times with access to all public buildings severely restricted after recent events in London, but the team pulled together and created a stunning lighting scheme that we’re all proud of," says Dodd.
The installation was undertaken by Science Museum’s onsite contractors Pegasus Systems headed by Max Johnson, and overseen and commissioned by Dodd and i-Vision’s Gerry Stevens. According to Pegasus Systems, the project was one of their "most challenging to date." Accessing in the roof was a major challenge. To install the fixtures, the team had to work on a 15" shelf running around the edge of the roof–four stories above the museum floor.
Driving The Lumos
The increased capacity of the new Lumos Drive 216 enabled i-Vision to specify 12 driver devices instead of the 70 individual units that would have been needed prior to the release of the Lumos Drive 216.
"It’s a really positive move for us to now offer a dramatically reduced cost-per-LED driver, making LED systems even more affordable to end-users," states Dodd.
The design is controlled by a single Sunlight DMX Software system, complete with an eight-button scene recall panel. Since the scheme can reflect any required color at the touch of a button, the museum can match the corporate colors of any client that is using the hall for special events.
"The flexibility of the lighting effects also enables the Museum to tailor a single installation to accommodate changing gallery themes, special exhibits, and a variety of corporate events, all of which use the Energy Hall at different times," explains Dodd.
The result is a dynamic lighting scheme that visually enhances the new roof and compliments the gallery space and atrium below. "i-Vision’s expertise helped the Science Museum and its design team to appreciate what LED lighting can achieve, how it can be positioned within the roof space, and how to overcome the specific challenges of access and working around the public."