QUALITY EXTERIOR LIGHTING FOR ROYAL ALBERT HALL REFURBISHMENT

First opened in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has been subject to an eight year refurbishment and development programme.
From the outset, exterior projectors from Sill Lighting were specified exclusively by lighting consultants at BDP for this very demanding lighting scheme. The building, designed in the Italian Renaissance style by Captain Fowke & General Scott of the Royal Engineers is a major London landmark with a circumference of 810 feet and ornamentation of coloured brick and terracotta with a frieze depicting ‘the triumph of arts and sciences.’
Commenting on the use of Sill Lighting’s equipment for the scheme, Barrie Wilde, lighting consultant at BDP said, “For a building of such significance as the Royal Albert Hall, we needed luminaires of quality and longevity. Sill spends a great deal of time developing quality optics to achieve precision floodlighting that lasts.”

Images - Hans Brinkschmidt / Sill UK

www.royalalberthall.com

Royal Albert Hall

The overall building programme which has involved considerable yet careful development has run true to the original intent from concept to implementation. In the exterior lighting refurbishment, the objective was to reveal the form, architecture, and fine surface detail of this world famous heritage building. Importantly, all projectors were to be unobtrusive during daytime hours.
Over 220 of Sill’s 490 series power projectors are installed around the building in strategic positions. Projectors on the ground level canopy are used to flood the first and second floors; the decorative frieze level, which is full of texture and detail, is highlighted from projectors concealed on a parapet below; and the upper gallery level is lit from projectors hidden behind a parapet wall. Additional fittings are concealed within the gardens flanking the south steps to illuminate the newly enhanced South Porch where it projects from the main circular form of the building.
Both asymmetric and narrow beam versions of Sill’s power projectors have been used for the scheme using 70w and 150w sodium lamps, chosen to complement the terracotta.
Barrie Wilde of BDP adds, “The Sill projectors perform extremely well and everyone involved in the Royal Albert Hall programme is extremely pleased with the scheme.”