In order to stamp a new identity on the popular location, they travelled extensively looking for lighting ideas that would dazzle the dancefloor, and set it apart from other venues in the area. This would form the centrepiece of a significant interior upgrade this spring.
Having seen a particular domed LED lighting effect while in London, they brought in long-standing Aberdeen based installers, Blinding Light, as a specialist contractor to work alongside the general fit-out team.
They were in turn introduced to SGM UK's Ian Kirby and as a result specified no fewer than 730 LD-5 (LED Domes) for use on the club ceiling. Measuring just 80mm in outer diameter, up to 35 domes can be run in a single chain - and under the command of the Madrix sound activated effects generator and media server Blinding Light's Scott Cruickshank knew the effect would be pulsating.
Cruickshank, whose company has been providing installed solutions across the UK for retail, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels over the past 17 years, recalls, "The clients wanted to develop the small sphere idea in the ceiling and had seen a similar but inferior solution. As soon as Ian introduced me to the LD-5 I could see it was a finished, and much more versatile product and much better for installation."
Chris Lessani adds, "The LD-5 is one of a kind and the effects it produces are amazing. Although we have operated bars in the past, this is our first nightclub enterprise - and we are delighted that we have been able to create so much impact with these Domes that we only needed to add four moving lights for the entire dancefloor."
Together with the two owners, Blinding Light sourced a series of aluminium composite panels, in gloss black, each measuring 2m x 1m, which were laser pre-cut so that the LD-5's would line up perfectly. "Rather than just have an effect running across the ceiling we decided to wrap it down the wall behind the DJ box and then back in front so it looked like he was floating in mid-air. The reflection off the gloss finish added to the effect."
Blinding Light installed, cabled and populated the Alupanels, which were fixed to a specially-constructed framework. "It took a lot of clever planning and pixel mapping to make sure there was no voltage drop," he noted.
(Jim Evans)
