Martin illuminates Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque
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Located in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an imposing structure with a 262ft main dome and four minaret towers rising to a height of 351ft. As the largest mosque in the UAE and the third largest in the world, Grand Mosque accommodates up to 40,000 visitors.
The mosque recently opened a new three-story visitor’s centre bookended by two glass dome entrances. Abu Dhabi officials hired MPME to install an exterior lighting solution that would visually emphasize the new visitor’s centre and glass domes. In order to overcome the challenge of outfitting the dome’s curved surfaces, MPME installed 2,556 Martin Professional Exterior PixLine 10 fixtures.
“Installing a high number of fixtures on a curved surface is a complex process,” says Bilal Assidi, sales manager, MPME. “We selected the Exterior PixLine fixtures because Martin could supply them in customized lengths, which reduced installation time and cost, and also allowed us to perfectly integrate the fixtures into the structure of the domes.”
The Exterior PixLine 10 is a linear LED video fixture for media facades and creative installations, which can be fully customised in terms of length and colour to match any specification while the power source is hidden. In addition to illuminating the translucent domes at night, MPME also utilises the creative LED media façade to display video content to support religious holidays, cultural events and special occasions.
MPME used four Martin P3 System Controllers to fully synchronise the Exterior PixLine 10 fixtures installed on the glass domes with the larger 360° exterior installation lighting the mosque itself, which has been lit by Martin fixtures since 2009.
“Mapping out video content across such a high number of fixtures on a curved surface is a demanding task which requires a reliable and user-friendly video processor,” continues Assidi. “The P3 system made it simple to set up the PixLine fixtures, and ensures that the installation will look as good as it does now for many years to come without having staff onsite at all times.”
(Jim Evans)
