Anolis illuminates London's Shell Centre

24 September 2012

UK - Anolis ArcPad Xtreme fixtures have been installed in a permanent lighting scheme to illuminate the front façade of London's Shell Centre, a landmark building along the Jubilee Gardens stretch of the city's South Bank, and a distinctive backdrop to the London Eye.

The lighting scheme is part of a longer term regeneration plan for the Jubilee Gardens area which is immediately in front of the 107m high Shell Centre, backed by a consortium of investors.

A sustainable lighting design was submitted by Farhad Rahim, senior lighting designer from the BDSP Partnership, to Shell and Frosts Landscape Construction, main landscaping contractor for the Jubilee Gardens regeneration project.

This was based on using either the Anolis ArcPad Xtremes or products from another leading manufacturer, the criteria being that the lighting fixtures had to illuminate the entire fascia of the building with a smooth, even wash of light all the way up.

After extensive tests, Anolis was chosen as it out-performed the competitor products in terms of output and quality of light as well as cost-effectiveness.

Twelve Anolis ArcPad Xtremes - such is the power and effectiveness of these units, that is all it takes - were installed with various different optics.

These were supplied by Anolis UK via Northampton based electrical wholesalers, Newey & Eyre to E7 Contracting, the principal mechanical and engineering contractor to Frosts who undertook all the project's electrical installation elements.

The ArcPads are positioned and optimised to ensure that the full surface area of the Shell Centre, designed by Howard Robertson in 1961 and clad in Portland Stone, is completely bathed in light. They produce an impressive saturation which really makes it stand out after dark.

The fixtures are rigged on two custom designed columns at ground level, fabricated by DW Windsor Lighting.

A sumptuous blue is the default colour for the building to match the London Eye's lighting, and this can also be changed and synched to other nearby lit buildings.

Pharos was chosen for controlling the ArcPads, together with a Lumen Radio wireless DMX System.

The Anolis fixtures were commissioned and programmed on site by Maria Jenkins from Experience Lighting.

The entire installation consumes just 2100 Watts of power in the standard state.

Scott Callis, business development manager from Anolis UK comments, "The results look fantastic! It is a great reference site to have and we are very proud that our fixtures were selected to accentuate such a high profile building in central London."

(Jim Evans)