Imagination's headquarter building lies in the heart of London's West End. It is a multi-use, award-winning facility with a visually attractive façade that has been illuminated for years in a pleasing shade of blue, a colour scheme that the company wished to keep. Yet an upgrade to more dynamic and energy-efficient luminaires was called for.
"We wanted to maintain the previous classic blue lighting scheme on the building, which was HMI lighting and which we've had for quite some time, but we also wanted the ability to do different lighting schemes, for example at Christmas," states Imagination's Mike Sobotnicki who headed up lighting design on the project together with Imagination project manager Paul Scott.
Imagination is well acquainted with the Martin Exterior 400 Range, having previewed the luminaires at Martin's headquarter facility in Denmark. They have also incorporated the fittings into some of their designs, including lighting for Disney cruise ships. On the Imagination project, the fixtures are mounted along the building façade on metal brackets, approximately two feet below ground level.
"We like the output and compactness of the fixture. It is also relatively discreet, which is a bonus," Sobotnicki comments adding that power consumption was also a factor in the decision to go with the Exterior 400 Range. "Energy savings is quite substantial - from 400 watts per fixture with the old system to only 139 watts with the new LED system."
The Imagination building houses more than just work areas for Imagination staff however. A number of other spaces, including the Imagination Gallery, a purpose-built event space, can be used by clients for special events. An important aspect of the lighting design therefore was the ability to serve client needs by changing the mood of the front of the building to suit various activities.
"We also have external clients who can rent space in the building and we wanted to provide them the flexibility to choose a lighting scheme - the coloured illumination system provides that. The façade, as well as the indoor spaces throughout the building, represents a blank canvas that clients can use to brand their event and in effect make the building theirs," Sobotnicki says. The colour-changing Exterior lighting fixtures also allow Imagination to show their festive spirit by lighting the façade in themed colours during holidays.
Twelve Martin Exterior 410s, an RGBW colour mixing fixture with pre-mixed LEDs, provide a wash of colour across the façade. Working with the Exterior 410s are four Exterior 420s.
The new lighting installation made its debut in September of 2011 and has reportedly been very well received by staff and clients alike.
(Jim Evans)
