Expert is now known as Express
Dextra Group, a leading UK manufacturer of energy efficient lighting, has specified a lighting control solution from Pharos Architectural Controls to deliver dynamic lighting to the University of the West of England (UWE).
UWE is a modern university in the thriving and cosmopolitan city of Bristol. As part of a recent update to the campus, the university embarked on a project to illuminate a walkway with an LED RGBW colour changing solution. Having worked together previously, Dextra Group was approached with the initial brief.
The concept behind the colour changing lighting was to create and control a number of pre-set scenes that allowed the university to keep the lighting fresh and mark special occasions. To achieve this, Dextra Group specified a system from the Expert range at Pharos Architectural Controls. A two-universe Pharos Expert Control is working in harmony with a 5-inch Expert Touch wall station for user override of scene selection, both networked and powered by a Pharos Switch.
Expert is a DMX and DALI control range, designed specifically for the architectural lighting market. Expert fulfils the growing need for a practical, straightforward, and cost-effective lighting controller and is centred around a single, reliable, set-and-forget controller with simple configuration and guided programming.
The luminaires being controlled by Expert are the Glide RGBW (from Dextra Groups’ RGBW specialist brand LEDextra) that combines colour changing and wall grazing lensed optics with high lumen outputs.
Ryan Sainsbury, Regional Sales Manager for UK & Northern Europe at Pharos Architectural Controls, said: “It was a pleasure to work with Dextra on this dynamic project at UWE Bristol, where the goal was to create a vibrant lighting experience. LEDextra from the Dextra Group delivered a robust RGBW lighting control solution that truly enhances the walkway’s appeal and functionality.
“Expert is the perfect solution for smaller projects like this one that don’t need high channel counts, show control, or advanced integration, but still want the ability to control DMX fixtures and achieve dynamic, beautiful lighting results”
Liela Sheppard, Sales Office Manager from Dextra added: “We’ve always enjoyed working at the UWE campus, so it was great to be entrusted with this latest project. Seeing the number and variety of the dynamic lighting effects they wanted to introduce immediately led us to choose Pharos Architectural Controls to deliver this.”
“The Expert system from Pharos is an impressive range that delivers everything needed for dynamic lighting projects. The benefit is that not only is the technology incredibly powerful, it is simple for clients to use and understand. The elements work seamlessly together, making our job very straightforward. I would recommend Expert to anyone looking to deliver a similar project.”
The walkway is now playing an active role in campus life, celebrating many occasions such as Christmas, Patron Saints days, Pride, and even the colours of Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. Other effects include sequencing; colour sweeps and shimmering light. The lighting has truly transformed the walkway from a simple pedestrian route to an engaging and attractive part of the university architecture.
Project Credits
Client: UWE, Bristol
Lighting Manufacturer: LEDextra, subsidiary of Dextra Group
Lighting Control: Pharos Architectural Controls
Commissioning Engineer: Darren Parlby, Oakcroft Technical
Electrical Contractor: Graham
Photography: Dextra Group
