Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety has provided energy efficient lighting for the extension to the iconic Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), which opened its new events space earlier this year.
The project included a custom built solution for mains lighting, emergency lighting and a central battery unit to run the building’s entire emergency lighting system.
The £30m, three-year Lennox Suite project involved the creation of an additional 2,000m2 of subterranean function space featuring a multi-purpose hall served by a moving floor system. In addition, there are a number of breakout rooms, performance space, a café and an atrium with lighting effects.
The EICC had two key demands from the lighting. First, it had to be energy efficient and second, it had to be discreet and dimmable to zero percent to avoid interference with the performing artists.
“Sustainability is important to us and maximising our energy efficiency was vital,” said Hans Rissmann, chief executive at the EICC. “Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety system was chosen as it presented the most energy efficient solution, while at the same time being able to meet our specific need for dimmable lighting.”
“From the outset there was a challenge set by the EICC, who were unsure if it would be possible to dim LEDs in the same way as can be done with halogen luminaries,” added Paul Gregory, specification sales director at Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety. “Our lighting experts worked closely with the team from the EICC to fully understand their requirements and designed a bespoke solution which is a real first for the lighting and control industry, something unmatched by any other organisation.”
A unique dimming protocol was written in DMX 512 universe to linear dim the LED in infinitesimal degrees, which ensured that the stages of dimming were unnoticeable to the human eye. The result was an impressive smooth dimming down to zero.
In the multi-purpose hall, Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety provided customised Litex LED in black, this allowed for the fixtures to be concealed behind the black mesh ceiling covering.
Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety also provided RGB colour changing FS3 surface mounted LEDs in the bathrooms. This is a flexible linear strip populated with a series of surface mounted LEDs. IP rated versions are used under the sinks around the skirting and in the coving. The lighting colours needed to be changed to reflect the event or branding of the sponsor or promoter and this can be easily done with the FS3 surface mounted LEDs.
In Platform 5 Café’s kitchen, Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety modified its Moduseal IP65 luminaire to fit in the EICC’s ceiling grid, while throughout the site special brackets were fabricated to other fittings to facilitate easy maintenance and were needed due to the building’s alu-grid ceiling.
“We are delighted with the results and really impressed with the way the LEDs dim discreetly to create the right ambiance,” concluded Hans. “Eaton’s Cooper Lighting and Safety has delivered a first class solution that meets our needs and also enables us to increase our energy efficiency.”
