Martin Helps Enhance UK Gothic Masterpiece

Intelligent use of Martin Professional LED and discharge luminaires has helped transform one of the UK’s most important gothic buildings, while drastically reducing its energy costs.

Multiples of Martin Professional Exterior 200™ LEDs and Exterior 600s™, Cyclo 04s™ and MAC 250 Entours™ form the basis of a complete multimedia environment at the Wills Memorial Building on the Bristol University campus. The entire integration was carried out and commissioned by locally-based Sounds Commercial, who successfully tendered for the contract against four other companies.

Knowing that the facility would be used for a wide range of events and presentations, they created a number of easily-operable scene presets, using combinations of the Martin fixtures to highlight the architecturally carved oak wood paneling and beautiful feature windows.

A proven record
Initially, a product demo day was set up by Sounds Commercial for the benefit of the University, which included Damian Orritt of Design AV Europe — the original designer and project manager. Also attending the site visit were Grant Thomas, sales director of UK distributor’s Batmink Ltd., and Martin Professional representative Paul Cox, whose CAD drawings helped to define the lighting plot.

Batmink Ltd also played a pivotal role in the specification when it became clear that the architectural features of the building would strongly influence the choice of equipment specified. “All parties were keen to source products from a company with a proven record of performance and reliability — and Martin Professional fulfilled these criteria,” said Grant Thomas.

Project architect Tim Stephens of Kendall Kingscott, had also lent his weight to the energy saving attributes of Martin’s LED lighting, with the result — according to senior project engineer Lee Stephenson — that the vast range of fixtures could be either grouped, or individually addressed within a single DMX universe.

But in view of the building’s Grade I listing, the installation had to be carried out with high sensitivity, and fixings had to take place along mortar-lines, separating the elaborate slab stone work.

Perfect solution for large space
With its two balconies the Great Hall can seat up to 900 people for plenary lectures and 270 for banqueting. The system also hosts events ranging from organ recitals, graduation day ceremonies, academic lectures — and third party usage.

In view of its diverse usage, there was a requirement for frequent mood changes to be implemented via the lighting scenes. Making up the bulk of the fixtures are 24 Martin Exterior 200 LEDs, 28 Martin Cyclo 04s — 20 in the Great Hall and 8 in the Reception Room — and a pair each of Exterior 600s and MAC 250 Entours (the former residing at front of house).

Although the Exterior 200 LEDs are IP-rated, all are used internally in view of their impressive power rating, with 44 high power LEDs per fixture, emphasizes Lee Stephenson. “It was the perfect solution in such a large space.”

Mood and definition
With six windows flanking each side of the Hall, Sounds Commercial assigned all 24 Martin Exterior 200 LEDs (two per window) to provide uplighting, accentuating the pillars between each window and at the same time illuminating the ceiling. With the RGB, amber and white color mixing capabilities, and choice of beam options, these luminaires offer immense versatility and their individual address enables slow fades and ripples to be generated.

“All the Great Hall had previously were giant floods — and this solution provides far greater mood and definition,” says Sounds Commercial project manager Blake Gifford.

A further 20 discreet Martin Cyclo 04 RGBW fluorescent washlights have been set in two rows of ten behind the oak fretwork surround, high above the rear of the organ. These are assisted by a pair of powerful, feature-rich MAC 250 Entour profile heads, set up in the dome to light the organ and lectern, which are also programmed into the scenes.

Finally, on either side of the entrance, a 575W Exterior 600 intelligent luminaire uplights the vaulting, using bespoke mounting frames — fabricated by main building contractor Stone BCI, enabling them to be mounted in vertical mode.

Good results
“We have always enjoyed good results from Martin Pro fixtures — our own engineers recommend these for their reliability, ease of use and control,” notes Blake Gifford. The provision of a 24-hour Martin helpline provides further reassurance.

Summing up, Grant Thomas says, “The close working relationship between all parties have ensured that the products installed deliver the required effects within the sensitive surroundings of this important architectural building.”

And as a result, says Blake Gifford, the university has immediately recognized the additional marketing opportunities that this upgrade offers.

Wills Memorial Building
One of the last magnificent Gothic buildings constructed in England, Wills Memorial Building was only designed in 1912 by Sir George Oatley and eventually completed and opened in 1925 by George V and Queen Mary. It was commissioned and funded by Sir George A Wills and Mr. Henry Herbert Wills, the tobacco magnates, in honor of their father, Henry Overton Wills, benefactor and first Chancellor of the University. The central feature is the stone-constructed Wills Tower which is 215 ft tall. The construction itself houses eight seminar rooms, tiered lecture theatres, meeting rooms and an exhibition space — but the centerpiece is the Great Hall.