DWR's Bruce Riley headed up an installation team that included JC Du Plessis, Gedeon Mpofu and Michael van Dyk. "The installation comprised: 11 x Philips Strand EC 21 96 way dimmer racks with full reporting capabilities, explains Riley. "Six have been installed in the Opera Theatre (originally they were MCM Dimmers), four in the Drama Theatre and one in the Loft Theatre. The dimmer installation is fully networked with reporting in each control room, ensuring the board operator is alerted in real time if there are errors or problems in the rig."
In addition, the existing house lighting was converted to an integrated, building wide, central networking system using Philips Strand Vision.net. The foyer and house lighting dimmers - 70 Strand Lighting Environ 2 dimmers - were replaced with Philips Dynalite DLE 120s and DLE 220s, controlled by the Philips Strand Vision.net. The system features two linked central processors; one for the house lights and the other for the foyer lights.
"It's quite amazing how Bruce and his team did it," says Riley. "Initially there were going to be three separate lighting systems, but now the entire network can be controlled from any point in the building."
(Jim Evans)
