Welsh Millenium Centre
Cardiff

Client
Wales Millennium Centre

 

Architect
Percy Tomas Partnership (now Capita Percy Thomas)

 

Specifier
Arup Cardiff

 

Contractor
NG Bailey

 

Product Used
252 x 400W Dimming VoltMaster
63 x 400W Superfast Dimming VoltMaster

Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), undoubtedly one of the most vibrant arts developments in Europe, has just celebrated its first anniversary and has kept its sparkling atmosphere alive throughout with the help of Multiload’s VoltMaster Intelligent lighting transformers.

With kind permission of the Welsh Millenium Centre

Brief
The WMC is a major user of low voltage tungsten halogen 12 volt lighting, with almost 2,000 fittings illuminating its distinctive entrance area, concourse and auditorium. 252, 400W dimming VoltMaster Transformers and 63 Superfast 400W dimming VoltMaster transformers were specified by Arup Cardiff, who are responsible for electrical engineering at WMC, in conjunction with NG Bailey contractors. They were specified not only to guarantee optimum lighting effect for the low voltage lighting, but to meet demanding maintenance and specialist theatre lighting and acoustic requirements.

 

Challenges
Transformers had to react quickly to accommodate mood changes in auditorium and aisle lighting. Transformers could not be situated adjacent to light fittings in the auditorium due to acoustic and maintenance reasons.

 

Results
NG Bailey explained, “ VoltMaster suited all the needs of this application. The primary reason it was chosen was because it could be remotely positioned, an essential for the auditorium lighting due to acoustic and maintenance reasons, and which prevented transformers from being placed adjacent to the light fittings. VoltMaster can be positioned up to 50m away from the lamps, therefore outside the auditorium, and cater for voltage drops, while giving a stabilised maximum voltage of 11.8 Volts RMS at the lamps to guarantee sparkle.”

 

They added, “ It was also specified because a ‘super-fast’ reaction time version was available which was needed to accommodate the aisle lighting and wall washers in the auditorium which change in accordance with the stage lighting to suit the mood.”

 

VoltMaster’s remote mounting feature also means that the WMC benefits from minimum disruption to visitors as the need for scaffolding when carrying out any transformer maintenance is eliminated. As well as these maintenance benefits, VoltMaster is more reliable than standard LV transformers and vastly extends lamp life by up to five times, which will result in significant lamp replacement and labour cost savings.

“VoltMaster was chosen because it could be remotely positioned, an essential for the auditorium lighting due to acoustic and maintenance reasons, and this prevented transformers from being placed adjacent to the light fittings”

NG Bailey