As part of a $6m overhaul of the Buffalo Convention Center in Buffalo, New York, solutions from lighting controls specialist Pharos Architectural Controls have been specified by integrated architectural and engineering firm Trautman Associates to deliver dynamic control of the venue’s new illuminated façade. As the oldest convention centre in the United States, it is a much-loved venue, but one that needs regular upkeep to ensure it is fit for the modern age.
The renovation works, commissioned by Erie County, have provided a bold new look for the busy Convention Center’s entrance, which is now much more distinctive and contemporary in style.
The new façade is constructed of steel cladding, with a translucent polycarbonate face that is backlit using more than 200 colour-changing LED fixtures from manufacturer Insight Lighting. These are controlled with a two-universe Pharos Designer LPC (Lighting Playback Controller) and a Pharos Designer TPS 5 (Touch Panel Station 5″). The installation also uses Pharos Cloud for simple and secure remote control and management of the lighting.
The Designer LPC features individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes. It offers the freedom of real-time manual overrides, with the versatility of powerful show control and integration features. With a compact form and minimal power requirements, the LPC can be installed virtually anywhere.
The Designer TPS 5 offers an elegant interface with a customisable, capacitive touch screen, compatible with any Pharos Designer controller. With a unique and innovative universal mounting solution, the TPS 5 is easy to wall mount into any installation.
Completing the system at the Buffalo Convention Center is Pharos Cloud, a convenient solution that allows installers and end users to access and manage projects quickly and effectively, without the time and environmental costs of travelling to and from sites. With Cloud, you can access your lighting installations from any Internet-connected device, anytime, anywhere in the world.
Daniel Stuart at Trautman Associates said “Due to the diverse range of exhibitions hosted at the building, we needed a system that would offer a multitude of colour options that they could tailor to each event. The Pharos system allows us to control each fixture independently enabling us to craft distinctive patterns and dynamic colour combinations on the façade. The user-friendly touch screen controller and intuitive software simplify the programming of lights, making it easy to train the staff to customise colours and patterns with efficiency.”
Michael Grosse, Regional Sales Manager for the Americas at Pharos Architectural Controls added: “As a historic venue, it is important to preserve the Buffalo Convention Center’s heritage while ensuring it provides everything a modern events venue needs. The new lighting not only makes the building more striking, it offers improved visibility and better wayfaring for those arriving and leaving the venue. The solutions from Pharos have revolutionised the illuminations at the centre, offering a level of control that is incredibly effective, yet simple to operate.”
Project Credits:
Client: Buffalo Convention Center
Architect/Engineer: Trautman Associates
LED Lighting Manufacturer: Insight Lighting
Sales Rep: Vertex Innovative Solutions
Lighting Control: Pharos Architectural Controls
Programming Commissioning Partner: Northeast Interactive
Electrical Installation Contractor: Frey Electric
Photo Credit: Michael Geyer, Vertex
