When Chris
Lessani and partner Gary MacCulloch took over the
former Boho Club in Glasgow’s
city centre at the end of last year they wasted no time in renaming it The
Sanctuary.
In
order to stamp a new identity on the popular location, they travelled
extensively looking for unique 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 agreed. “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.
The
overall geometric measures 10 LD-5’s wide and 73 long. “With just one long
slice measuring 14.6m x 2m running the length of the ceiling, this
creates a compelling centrepiece, which dominates the main
dancefloor,” continues the installer.
Being
sound activated, the effect is further animated
using the waveform from the music being played by the DJ.
Meanwhile, the LJ can choose circular FX pulsing from the
centre, and other effects ranging from early evening subtle fading to
the entire feature colour strobing. He can also use scrolling text control
with the Madrix or even have chevron arrows zipping towards the DJ.
\”Once
the hardware is installed, the only limit for effects is your own creativity
and imagination,” summarises Scott Cruickshank.
But
the final word comes from Chris Lessani, “The LD-5’s have received a great
reaction, not only from our customers but from other club owners, who have been
dropping in to see what all the fuss is about.”
