In order to best illustrate this year's Science Night slogan, which was Digital Society, the University's Event Management Department decided to illuminate the institution's main building, a beautiful renaissance castle where much of the University's activities take place, as well as the University's Academic Art Museum. Separated from each other by a 250m long by 100m wide lawn - the Hofgarten - the idea was to connect the two buildings with a 'bridge' of light beams using Elation Platinum Beam 5R Extremes.
A few months before the event, the University's Event Management Department visited the Elation showroom in the Netherlands and saw firsthand the 189W Platinum Beam 5R Extreme fixture in action. "I was convinced when I saw the Platinum 5R Beam but when I saw the Extreme version it was clear that we wanted to use this fixture for our application," stated Sebastian Pagen of the University's Event Management Department.
"Also, there were, and I think still are, no alternatives to this efficient and bright beam moving light." Sebastian designed and installed the lighting and sound system for the event together with the Event Management team. Programmer and lighting operator was Pierre Weber from Specialight Eventtechnic.
The Platinum Beam 5R Extreme features the 189W Platinum 5R lamp and a 3° sharp pin spot beam for an intense and powerful throw of light. Four of the fixtures were placed on the main building balcony with one fixture placed in each of the castle's two tower spires bordering the Hofgarten and aimed at the museum building.
"The Platinum Beam Extreme was the best fixture we could have chosen for this application," Sebastian comments. "The beams were absolutely sharp and so bright - even in colour - that we ended up removing the six wash lights which we originally had planned to illuminate the museum building itself. The positioning of the fixtures onto the museum at a distance of 250m worked very fine and playing with the colours and focus we could really wash the museum in colours. As a last point, the Platinum Extreme is small and relatively lightweight which made it easier to carry up to the spire on a wobbly ladder!"
(Jim Evans)