Robe and Anolis were the preferred lighting brands chosen by LD Angus Chinn from Bristol-based Utopium for this project. Chinn worked closely with the AMG Group and their team to design and specify production lighting facilities for the venue.
Chinn comments: "We really put production values at the top of the agenda here, so I chose leading brands with proven track records for reliability. They offer a flexible, dynamic creative package to benefit all the events and shows that will be staged in Leeds Academy."
The two Robe DigitalSpot 7000 DTs "bring an exciting new live video element to the space with their onboard media servers and myriad of features" says Chinn. They can also run content sent from the Academy's own Hippotizer digital media server, either with this running in stand-alone mode or triggered via the main room's Avolites Diamond 4 lighting console. "
The DigitalSpot 7000 DTs are also integrated to work with the numerous screens dotted around the venue and utilised for digital signage, messaging and promotional applications - in addition to their role in shows with video content.
Main room lighting fixtures include eight Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs and eight ColorWash 575E AT Zooms, six Robe ColorSpot 250E ATs rigged on the elliptical trusses, 10 Atomic strobes, eight bars of 6 PARs, four 8-lite Moles, four Robe 4-cell REDBlinder 2-48s, eight ETC Source Four Juniors for key lighting and Look Solutions Unique hazer and Viper atmospheric effects.
Anolis LED lighting has been utilised throughout Leeds Academy to produce a colour changing environment that highlights the original character of the building whilst simultaneously imbibing it with a contemporary twist.
32 Anolis ArcLine 36 LED strips are used to colour wash the walls, roof and under-balcony areas in the main room, in the case of the latter, transforming what can become a dark, dingy void into an inclusive element of the room.
The Gothic exterior of the building (designed by William Blackwell and originally opened by Prince Albert as The Coliseum in 1885) complete with ornate stone frontage is highlighted with 28 Anolis Arc 36 exterior LED fittings. These had to be carefully located for maximum effect as nothing could be fixed to the walls.
(Jim Evans)
