Power-projectors and power-floodlights from Sill Lighting have been used to light the acclaimed Portsmouth Harbour Spinnaker Tower with uniform precision.

Situated by Gunwharf Quay Shopping Centre, the tower soars 170m high providing an impressive landmark that heralds the regeneration of Portsmouth and highlights the maritime function of the city. The brief given to lighting designers Equation Lighting was to make the tower iconic by making it visible at night in an unusual way.

Sill fittings were chosen to provide the fixed white architectural lighting on the landward side of the tower. They are mounted at low level punching uniform light up the back of the spire and ‘rib cage’, complementing the dynamic coloured lighting to the front of the spire. “Sill projectors are a benchmark for excellent optical performance, which is why they were specified for the project”, said Mark Hensman of Equation. He explained, “ The element lit by Sill faces the city, so good optical performance was crucial to ensure there were no problems with light spillage. The scheme also required getting a small amount of light a very long way up, so again, excellent optical performance was vital.”

Extensive Relux modeling by Sill was integral to the project to ensure high levels of uniformity from the base of the tower to the tip.
Pleased with the project, Mark adds, “The quality of the lighting is absolutely spot-on and all the test measurements and renderings show it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.”

TheTower by night	Sill Relux model

Spinnaker Tower

Remarkably, Sill has achieved the effect using only 12 fittings and a maximum lamp wattage of 400W. The scheme consists of four 005 series narrow beam power floodlights each with a 400W metal halide lamp; two 495 power projectors and two 494 series power projector all with 250W metal halide lamps; and four 491 series power projectors with 150 W metal halide lamps. All the fittings are finished with a Seelack anti-saline paint for marine environments.