Solstice, the result of a 13.5 million Euro project, is owned and operated by Meath County Council. It is designed by Shelly McNamara of award-winning Grafton Architects and the space includes a 320-seat theatre, three visual-arts areas and a café/bar. It's the County's first major cultural centre, and is heralded a glowing symbol for the belief, pride and commitment to cultural and artistic life in Meath. Solstice is already being hailed as one of the finest arts centre outside Dublin.
J&C Joel was invited to tender for supplying the over-stage lifting system through theatre consultant Barry McKinney, who collaborated closely with J&C Joel's director James Wheelwright leader of J&C Joel's design and installation team.
Each Pilewind winch is designed to raise and lower a 12 metre long ladder framed suspension bar at a single speed, and includes multi-grooved ball-raced pulleys, steel core suspension cables, standard and back up limit switches control the distance of travel.
The Pilewind system is controlled via a wall-mounted, illuminated, push button panel, with the ability to select up to 5 units to run simultaneously. Upstage, there's also an additional manual/electric drill operated Pilewind that lifts a 12m wide black backdrop which when required is lowered to create a Rearstage crossover.
The Pilewind was specified by the theatre consultants as a flexible, user-friendly solution for easy rigging and de-rigging from the stage floor. Barry McKinney says: "We were very happy that J&C Joel were the successful tenderer for this installation because of their vast knowledge and experience in the field. They delivered an excellent bespoke rigging system and managed to co-ordinate the design and installation of their work in a flexible and professional manner."
For J&C Joel, James Wheelwright says: "This style of job is within our capability as everything we have used and installed had been designed and manufactured in-house - from the pilewinds to the curtains - and is bespoke for this venue."
Complimenting the electric Pilewind system J&C Joel, has also supplied and installed a complete set of durable stage drapes, consisting of blue velour lined main curtains and house border, on-stage black wool serge curtains, including borders, legs and tabs. The curtains are complimented with a 12m wide x 6m drop white seamless cyc.
(Chris Henry)
