The opening event featured an impressive entertainment line-up, including top impressionist Jon Culshaw and singer Laura Mvula, both of whom utilised technical equipment provided by Northern Light.
The Northern Light team have been on-site at the venue since July 2012, providing the specialist electrical installation of technical systems for the £80m Lennox Suite project. Northern Light was responsible for designing a building-wide, integrated lighting control system, in addition to the installation of cabling infrastructure and stage lighting, sound and communications systems for the new 2,000sq.m of additional conference and event space.
Northern Light Direct - the company's equipment sales division - collaborated with venue operators when the construction phase was nearing completion to provide a variety of technical equipment aimed at enhancing the permanent installation within the new Lennox Suite. Kit included custom-made lighting bars, rigging and fixtures, ETC, Selecon, James Thomas and Clay Paky lanterns and moving heads, Prolyte trussing, Barco projection systems and bespoke screen surrounds and surfaces.
Finally, Northern Light's events arm, NL Productions, were on hand to provide technical event services to the EICC's in-house team for the grand opening of the new space.
Kenneth Boak, head of technical production at the EICC, said, "Northern Light were responsible for the initial technical installation when the building opened in 1995 and that installation has been put to the test during many events, standing the test of time. It was, therefore, with some degree of relief that Northern Light won the tender for the technical installation in the new extension. Their expertise was put to good use during the design phase and I was very pleased with the way they approached the issues and came up with solutions."
Colin Cuthbert, managing director of Northern Light, concluded, "When I consider the sheer volume of installation projects that we carry out in other areas of the UK, as well as abroad, it really does give me great pleasure to have worked on such an iconic venue on the doorstep of our head office. Last night's launch event was a great success and it is with no small amount of satisfaction that I can confirm that Northern Light really did provide a full service to bring this project to fruition."
(Jim Evans)
