The Queensland Government in Australia, has recently invested $34 million Australian dollars to refurbish the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), located on Brisbane's South Bank, its first major upgrade since opening in 1985. The project has included new seating, installation of the latest lighting technology and improved acoustics for the 2,000-seat Lyric Theatre and the 1,800-seat Concert Hall, as well as new public spaces such as bars, cafés and foyers.
Anolis was one of the high powered LED lighting brands specified for environmental lighting around the Concert Hall, Lyric Theatre and ground level bars, due to its robustly engineered finish, high quality and reputation for performance – not only in Australia but worldwide. Anolis LED fixtures are known for their long life, low power consumption and low maintenance.
Says Sales Manager Blair Terrace of Anolis Australian distributors ULA, “The choice of LED fixtures provides an overall reduction in electricity, and so, for many projects today, is an instant ‘first choice'. Add to that the excellent performance and effects that can easily be achieved with an Anolis LED solution, and the value proposition is easy to demonstrate – particularly in large venues like QPAC”.
All lighting designs and specifications were by AECOM senior lighting designer, Rick Morrison, in collaboration with QPAC's Lighting Department. The installation allows the QPAC Concert Hall to change mood and theme virtually at will, via subtle changes in the colour and intensity of a series of Anolis ArcLine 36 Optic RGB strips.
It gives patrons a new experience with every production they attend, even before the curtain goes up! Morrison has made use of Anolis on numerous previous applications.
At QPAC, over 50 Anolis ArcLine 36 Optic RGB fixtures are installed in the Concert Hall for roof and wall washing, as well as underneath the foyer bars of the Lyric Theatre and Concert Hall giving seamless illumination. Anolis ArcSource 7 Warm White fixtures are fitted over the tops of the bar creating a rich, warm glowing effect.
Utilizing high powered Luxeon emitters, the Anolis ArcLine 36 Optic RGB strip is designed and made with the highest quality interchangeable optical systems ensuring that the desired effect can be achieved in the widest range of architectural applications.
In total, 14 Anolis Drivers are used to power and control the fixtures in the Concert Hall comprising Anolis ArcPower 360, Anolis ArcPower 144 and Anolis ArcPower 36s.
QPAC's Lighting Manager, Doug Brimblecombe comments that the Anolis product has proved to be "Very reliable" and achieved a really good result in terms of creating an interesting and different ambient environment for visitors.
A few strips were left over from the architectural project, so Brimblecombe decided to purchase some extra controllers and make them available to the venues as part of their theatrical equipment inventory. With such a small footprint, they can easily be ensconced into sets and scenic elements where other products would not fit.
A recent example of its use in this context was for the production of Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision - under the main stage riser. "It was a tight space, but the Anolis strips gave the impression that the stage was floating," says Brimblecombe.