The main façade of the building is constructed of brick with long runs of windows along each floor. However KingSturge has been progressive in the re-fit of the building, adding a glass stairwell to the exterior and a new entrance canopy. These new features, together with the overall re-fit, have greatly improved both the architecture and the working environment. The lighting scheme of i-vision's Geoff Jones is intended to transform Eastgate House from being just an ordinary office block into a glowing beacon of light.
The east elevation is lit with two blue Colour-rite asymmetric HQI floods (complete with large footprint alloy bases used to fix to the felt roof areas) and a soft edged 1000W profile. These are controlled by a light sensor unit. For the west elevation, Jones chose to use another two blue 400W Colour-rite asymmetric HQI floods (with i-vision customised large footprint alloy bases) and a soft edged 400W profile. i-vision manufactured custom fixings for the profile, allowing it to be fitted to the thirteenth floor parapet, which proved the optimum position during tests. Control for the west face is also via a light sensor mechanism, located on the front of the building in a recessed area to avoid false triggering.
The south face - and frontage - is lit with a single 400W Colour-rite HQI flood and two blue 400W Colour-rite HQI asymmetric floods - all fixed to the front entrance canopy. The control here is via a timer relay unit pro-programmed to switch on and off at predetermined times.
(Ruth Rossington)
