Radisson SAS Letterkenny Light Engine
Light Engine were commissioned to design and supply the lighting for a contemporary new build hotel for Radisson SAS in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Ireland.
The building design by Derek Meenan Architects was very specific using many local materials. Not only did the lighting design need to meet with Irish and European standards, it had to complement the building and satisfy the exacting design brief of Radisson SAS hotels.
The result was an inspiring solution, luminaires were selected from Light Engine, as well as .hess, Tre Ci Luce, Daisalux, Wever + Ducre, Chelsom, Lucitalia and DGA.
The selection of lamp types was critical, as the right light source enables the cold/hard materials such as marble and stone to be softened, and the rich materials such as Irish oak to be given warmth and depth.
A lighting control system was installed to give maximum flexibility with ease of use for the hotel guest, allowing the user to change the mood of the room from a meeting scene through presentation settings to a relaxed dining effect.
The double height glazed reception, which acts as the hub of the building guiding the guests from the meeting rooms to the restaurant and bar, was lit using metal halide and low voltage recessed down lights with Limburg GLS pendant glass luminaires over the reception desks to create a warmer softer and more welcoming feel to the reception area.
The main bar and grill bar were lit using a combination of low voltage down lights, pendant tungsten up lights and directional spotlights. With the back of the bar lit using T5 fluorescent battens with coloured filters.
Compact fluorescent downlights with 6mm white float glass were used to light the guest circulation areas with 2x42W TC TE downlights, the Vienna dimmable downlight being used in the meeting and banqueting rooms with low voltage downlights for wall washing.
The bedroom corridors were designed to have 2 scenes, during the day the corridor is lit with Tre Ci Luce Square luminaires mounted onto the ceiling to create a clean bright corridor to welcome guests, then late in the evening the corridors become defined with lower levels of light as the only light is emitted from a low voltage downlight over each bedroom door.
To complete the contemporary lighting theme, a striking exterior scheme features excellent illumination provided by .hess Varello luminaries, surface mounted onto the exterior of the hotel, as well as the DGA aluminium blue LED sunken gems, which help to re-enforce the Radisson corporate image use of blue.
Hard Rock Hotel, Las vegas Color Kinetics
Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 10-year-old exterior lighting system was proving heavy on maintenance requirements and light on creative flexibility. Through a collaborative effort between Hard Rock lighting designer Warwick Stone and 4Wall Entertainment, a full-service entertainment lighting company, the popular resort now boasts an eye-popping exterior that's lit with cutting-edge LED technology. Most remarkably, according to a cost analysis, the new high-tech lighting scheme will net approximately $41,000 per year in operational savings!
The project team was tasked with generating grand-scale, colour-changing effects to wash up the 120-foot faŤade with high output and colour saturation. 4Wall assembled custom fixtures using 5 Color Kinetics ColorBlast 12 units each; the bottom units with frosted lenses to cast a wide beam angle, and the top units with clear lenses to maximise upward throw (that's 10 stories illuminated by LEDs!). A total of 300 ColorBlast 12 units were installed in this fashion to wash the faŤade with vibrant, dynamic colour. Unlike the previous, metal halide lighting scheme, which allowed for single-colour columns of light with dichroic filters, the LED-based units enable a host of multi-colour chases within a single column. They also make it simple to program and run customised light shows according to special events, attractions and holidays using the resort's existing DMX control system. The compact, rugged units are IP66-rated and can withstand the outdoor elements.
Monopol Hotel, Katowice ES System
The Monopol Hotel used to be one of the most exclusive hotels in pre-Second World War Katowice in southern Poland. Unfortunately, the hotel was abandoned in the late '70s in need of renovation. It laid empty until 2001 when work started to restore the Monopol to its former glory. The result is a resplendent building with an innovative lighting scheme by ES-System who also manufactured the specially designed fixtures for the entire building project.
The basement features the recreational facilities including a fitness studio which features the specially made Multiline luminaires (with T5 fluorescents) with a lamella louvre. The luminaires were additionally equipped with diffusers thus eliminating glare. The walls are additionally lit with small halogen lamp fittings that help to achieve a pleasant light ambience. The soft, relected light eliminates the dull impression of the interior.
The beauty and massage parlours are lit by System 3000 - Vega Mix luminaires with dimmable and controllable incandescent lamps. The lobby features Flexx luminaires with halogen lamps. Their simple form suits the interior perfectly. The light emphasises the green of the walls and brings out the rough texture of the stone floor. The visitor is welcomed with a glass floor at the entrance which covers a mosaic dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. The mosaic is brought to life with further System 3000 luminaires. Part of the ground floor consists of a small shopping mall which is lit by Multiline luminaires ensuring a harmonious perception of all the architectural elements of the interior.
The first floor consists of the Patio Restaurant and Bar. The selection of the luminaires for these areas created an air of modernity associated with the glass roof. The luminaires for the restauarant consist of T5 lamps that are situated in a bottom crossbar element, so emitting indirect light. A matt aluminium reflector made of segments arranged in an umbrella shape creates a clever effect. The bar area, located above the restaurant created a problem due to its height restriction. 'Hanging pipe' luminaires made of polished stainless stell were employed with small halogen lamps creating a unique 'chiaroscuro' effect. Glass platforms are positioned along the feature wall of the bar with white LEDs immersed in the surfaces. When darkness falls the lighting creates a mysterious impression of a light mist that envelops the entrance.
The rooms themselves have varied lighting systems. Wall luminaires mirror those in the corridors emitting intense light for comfortable working conditions, eg, for a laptop.
Bathrooms are equipped with Flexx luminaires with halogen lamps of varied wattage and distribution angles. The luminaires help to bring out the natural stone that covers the walls.
Exterior lighting was also designed by ES-System who specified Zeus luminaires which, with its original design, encourages visits to the hotel.
Kilmarnock FC Hotel , Scotland iGuzzini
Kilmarnock FC decided to use the adjacent training pitch and car park along side their Rugby Park stadium to build a 50 Bedroom hotel and conference facilities for up to 600 delegates.
A budget was costed through a client, architect and electrical consultant team (Kilmarnock FC, PJMP and Henderson Warnock) and the project was put out as a design and build contract. The contract was won by Dawn Construction and electrical contractors Weir and McQuiston, who in turn referred the design back to the original design team of PJMP and Henderson Warnock. As iGuzzini had been involved at the outset they were asked to develop the scheme to a budget.
The overall scheme is centred on a central double height space, which forms the centrepiece of the development. From this area all areas of the hotel can be accessed. There are various meeting rooms, a pre-drinks area, conference suite, bar and restaurant as well as the hotel.
As the project was to be done to a tight cost, the product used had to be cost effective as well as being aesthetic and functional. It may be suprising to find that one of the first products put into the project was the Greenwich. There are six of the uplight/downlight versions in the double height spaces, which illuminate the whole space, both for indirect reflected light from the exposed ceiling and from the controlled glare free downward component. The initial scheme had an exposed ceiling across the space peppered with forty-eight compact fluorescent downlights. The use of the Greenwich product allowed us to save enough money to include the feature Kriss fittings along the walkway, which runs along one side of the space at first floor level. These products are dual purpose in that in addition to providing a stunning visual appearance the downward component also houses an additional emergency capsule lamp with a remote emergency pack located in a void behind the wall. This allows emergency lighting along the walkway to allow three-hour illumination for escape lighting in the event of a mains power failure.
In order for the conference centre to be a success it must be able to attract a wide range of functions all of which demand different lighting effects. This was achieved by using the extremely versatile Frame product. The four gimbol version with pl. central lamp was chosen as fluorescent lighting could be chosen e.g. for conferences and the QR-111 lamped gimbols for functions, dances, dinners etc. Both light sources are independently dimmable and switchable through an ancillary dimmer panel thus providing a completely flexible system for the end client.
The remaining internal areas have been designed to be flexible in their operation and are all dimmable so that the moods of the areas can be changed to meet the requirements of the clients customers at different times of the day.
