"It has been a sizable investment, "but it's part of an ongoing policy of upgrading our facility to ensure that Lord's continues to be the best cricket ground in the world."
MCC hired Gardiner and Theobald as project managers to put out a tender for a full JCT Design and Build contract. At an on-site 'shoot-out' between six LED screen manufacturers, Lighthouse screens stood out.
"When we first displayed white text on a black background - which is how a traditional scoreboard would look - the Lighthouse screens provided more contrast than those of its competitors," says Jones. "They provided better display quality when used as scoreboards and for showing video. This was the major consideration in awarding the contract to Lighthouse Technologies."
As the main contractor, Lighthouse was responsible for the entire project. Installation specialists, EDS were sub-contracted to design and build the screen housings, install and integrate the displays. Lighthouse recommended P16 to produce sharp information and clear replay images across the 11m x 6m screens. Lighthouse also appointed AMX who specialise in electronic control systems to develop an integrated content management system for all three screens.
"This was a significant undertaking for Lighthouse and we have gained a vast amount of experience from our main contractor status," says Graham Filmer, Lord's project manager for Lighthouse. "But we were wholly confident in our ability to remove the two old scoreboards and their support structures, install a new 20m high mast, and to supply the three screens - one for the Allen Stand, one for the Compton Stand and another for the Edrich Stand."
(Jim Evans)
