3D LED Mesh, The O2 Dublin
Client:
O2
Year of Completion:
2008
Architect/Designer: JPDA Main Contractor/Customer: Walls Construction
Architect/Designer: JPDA Main Contractor/Customer: Walls Construction
The arena, sponsored by O2, is a striking new concert and events venue in Ireland’s capital city. The building, an old shipping depot, had been the site of the Pont Theatre, a smaller music venue, since 1988 and following its closure in 2007, the site underwent an €80 million redevelopment and is now the largest indoor venue in the country with a capacity of over 14,500. Live Nation, a live events company based in California, own half of the building and manage the events. With over 150 live events planned for each year, a projected target audience of two million customers will use the facility annually. Since it opened last December the venue has already hosted sellout crowds for Kings of Leon and Coldplay.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture (JPDA), a New York based architecture firm, was awarded the commission to design the Brand experience within the venue. This included fantastical themed environments such as the Blue Room, Indigo Lounge, and the Concierge entry experience. Architen Lighting worked together with JPDA to create these unique, memorable experiences for O2 customers.
The multi dimensional mesh, which incorporates over 6000 LEDs, is within the new concierge experience and greets customers on entry. Darrick Borowski, JPDA’s creative director, explains their thoughts behind the mesh:
‘We liked the idea of a celestial fabric that was being pushed and pulled in an effect which focused the attention of the customer on the ticket desks. A 2D LED screen would not be capable of the warping and twisting effect we were searching for.’
‘We knew that if we went to Architen lighting with our beautiful concept they’d be able to create it. We’ve enjoyed working it out together and we’re delighted with the effect they’ve produced with the mesh.’
Architen Lighting has already impressed the entertainment industry with their award winning work at the O2 Arena in London. The O2 riverwalk was a colour changing tensile fabric walkway to the entrance of the O2 arena. They also worked alongside JPDA to produce an interactive concept store for the sponsors, O2.
Christopher Rowell, Architen Lighting project manager, was excited about the challenges faced by the LED mesh:
‘We approached the project by combining techniques used in our tensile structures division and applying our technical knowledge of lighting. The complexity of the shape twined with how do we get power and data to each LED was the driving force behind developing a new lighting system.
At each point where the two cables cross (Node) a small nylon block was used to fix the two cables at the correct position. Each position was unique according to the node position in the 3D mesh. Also incorporated into the node were the LEDs: each LED with the three primary colours, Red, Green and Blue, allow for full colour mixing. The power for the LED is send across the mesh cables. 24v DC is picked up from the two support cables the passed to the LED board. The complicated part was the ability of transmitting the data across the two power cables. This inspired method of encapsulating data and power together helped reduce the need for any extra cables. Architen Lighting enlisted the help of Glasson Electronics to complete the job with maximum efficiency.
The graphics and effects are provided by a Pharos LPC X controller which outputs over 5,000 control channels via a Pathport ethernet backbone. At commissioning Architen Lighting’s Christopher Rowell and Architect Sean Karns programmed a number of different effects. The controller automatically chooses an effect based on the day and time of the show. The control system also has a GPRS modem to allow for remote changes and control. Management can log onto the a webpage on the internet and turn on or change the effects from a desk in London or a beach in the Caribbean!
