Bristol Hippodrome fades to warm with GDS
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Last year, having reached the venerable age of 105 years old, Bristol Hippodrome, grand old dame that it is, was due a facelift, part of which was to replace its tungsten house light system with a modern, sustainable LED alternative.
Key to the entire project was the requirement to ensure that none of the theatre’s splendid Edwardian look and atmosphere was compromised during the upgrade. Whilst it doubtlessly comprised an out-dated and inefficient system, the existing tungsten illumination could not be faulted for the quality of its light - but on the energy consumption and maintenance side of the equation, it simply had to go. In short, the new system had to emulate as closely as possible the character of tungsten light, whilst at the same time saving energy and the daily, time-consuming routine of replacing blown lamps.
ATG was aware of GDS’s reputation through having installed the Bristol company’s BluesSystem working lights at The Hippodrome back in 2005, declaring them to work “fantastically well”. A conversation began in respect of a new house light system and GDS introduced ATG to ArcLamp Fade To Warm, its latest LED development. Integrator Push The Button (PTB) who already had wide experience of working with GDS, was engaged by ATG to install the system.
ArcLamp Fade To Warm (FTW) is the latest signpost on the GDS ArcSystem journey, marking another breakthrough in the application of LED lighting technology. At the Hippodrome, PTB retrofitted more than 200 ArcLamp Candle Clear FTW fixtures, largely utilising the building’s existing wiring. ArcSystem’s capacity for retrofit was essential, given that to rewire a listed building on such a scale would have involved prohibitive costs.
GDS Managing director Matt Lloyd comments, “Perhaps the most significant thing to observe about the installation of ArcLamp Fade to Warm at The Hippodrome is that it hasn’t been noticed by the theatre’s patrons. Usually, any new addition to the landscape attracts some kind of reaction but the fact that visitors are oblivious to the change represents a complete success.
^Whilst ATG is firmly committed to introducing low-energy technology to its venues, it has been determined from the outset not to compromise the experience of patrons, nor affect in any way the objectives of producers and companies using the theatres. Fade to Warm wins on both counts and in terms of its capacity to reduce costs, is already having a significant impact on the day to day running of the Bristol Hippodrome.”
The investment in ArcSystem technology at The Bristol Hippodrome will reduce energy consumption, carbon footprint and running costs across the board, bringing this grand old listed building into the 21st century without any compromise of its fundamental magic.
(Jim Evans)
