The hugely popular Academy 3 - at the hub of the University Student Union Building - showcases an eclectic array of bands. However, to put it kindly, it was a complete "sweat box" when in operation. So much so that the discomfort caused by this pseudo sauna was becoming a nightmare for both performers and audiences alike.

"We had to do something," explains Morrisey, "so they initially considered upgrading the AC - and whichever way they looked at it, they were going to face a bill of about £50K."

Onstage, a large proportion of the heat was generated by the 24 PAR 64 cans lighting the small area. Morrisey then had a flash of lateral inspiration. He'd originally seen James Thomas's PixelPARs in action at PLASA 2002 - when they had been launched. He immediately fell in love with the fixtures and vowed that he'd use them one day, as and when the appropriate moment occurred. Eureka! The heat issues could be solved. Morrisey approached JTE, and worked out a deal for replacing the conventional PARs with PixelPAR 90s. Including the wiring, it cost a little over half of what the AC costs would have been. The result has seen a stunning transformation in the gig climate at the Academy 3.

"Virtually every band and their tour or production managers have commented on it," says Morrisey, "all completely positive". Visiting lighting designers are also really impressed, as the PixelPARs offer so many more creative options that the conventionals. "It's a venue operator's dream" he enthuses.

The lighting rig also contains six Martin MAC 250 Plus's and is controlled from an Avolites Pearl 2004. Morrisey is now looking at upgrading the lighting rig in the larger Academy 2 venue to use Pixel range fixtures, and predicts that this is the way forward in the future for venue owners and operators of all types.