The permanent LED lighting on the London Eye and the Millennium Pier is controlled by two Pharos LPC 2s mounted onto the rim of the wheel and a third LPC 2 on the pier. Since their installation in 2006 they have been an integral part of the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve lighting and fireworks display. This year was no exception.
The LED lighting on the façade of County Hall, which is situated next to the London Eye on the south bank of the Thames, is also controlled by a Pharos LPC 1 and this year it was incorporated into the design for the first time.
The lighting display, designed by Durham Marenghi, commenced at 10pm on New Year’s Eve and became increasingly dynamic as midnight approached. In addition to the LED lighting on the wheel, the London Eye was illuminated by 20 Clay Paky Alpha Beam 300s, 36 Alpha Beam 700s and 20 VL5 ARCs mounted on the pier, plus a Martin Mac 2000 Wash in each pod. The movers were controlled by a Wholehog II, programmed by associate designer Paul Cook. The LED lighting on the London Eye, the Millennium Pier and the façade of County Hall was programmed by Simon Hicks.
Timing is crucial for this event, but the LPC 2s on the Eye, the LPC 1 on the pier and the LPC 1 inside County Hall are completely isolated. They’re also isolated from the Wholehog II controlling the movers. However, the clock in each Pharos controller is so accurate that each controller can run independently and use real time triggers to start all the lighting cues on time. This accuracy was relied upon more than usual this year when Durham asked for lighting pulses on the Eye every second during the final countdown, which was projected onto the side of the Shell Building.
Counting down to 2010 with the LPC's real time triggers (© Stage Electrics)
