Working closely with Bates Smart, Electrolight was engaged to design the lighting to various areas of the Centre including the auditorium. The architect’s brief strongly focused on light in its purest form. Electrolight recognised the importance of the space for not only Centre staff and the facilities required to ensure that staff have optimum working conditions and a pleasing, functioning environment but also for the public and creating a memorable experience for the casual visitor.
Two of the challenges facing Electrolight were designing a lighting scheme that caused minimal interruption to video projection and AV equipment and was relatively maintenance free. A ceiling treatment consisting of neon hoops and LED downlights was designed. The neon had to be a manufacturable shape and work within the constraint of the maximum length of a neon tube. The ‘hoop’ shape of the neon is a gesture toward the circular shape of the Australian Synchrotron research centre.
Due to the inaccessibility of the auditorium ceiling, sufficiently maintenance free luminaires were required. Although a vintage technology, neon is surprisingly robust and reliable with a rated life of 100,000 hours. At the time of specification, LED downlights with significant outputs were uncommon. Digilin’s ‘Grid 1640’ had not yet been released in their range, but has since proven itself to be a reliable workhorse.
The Dynalite control system is interfaced with a touch pad at the entrance and allows for scene setting and dimming of all luminaries.
