Copr Bay is a large-scale development in the heart of Swansea, which is home to a vast array of new shops, restaurants and parkland. The area is served by two multi-storey car parks, as well as an innovative pedestrian bridge over Oystermouth Road. The bridge has been developed to improve connectivity between the city and the beach.
A key element of the development is the brand new £135m Swansea Arena, a stunning music and theatre venue that is operated by international theatre company Ambassador Theatre Group. The new arena, which has a capacity of 3,500, is poised to host some of the world’s most famous musical acts as well as successful theatre productions. It is also home to 2,000m² of exhibition space which has the space to host 2,500 people with dining capabilities for up to 750 guests.
The building features ground-breaking design and architecture, ensuring the arena is one of the UK’s most modern and future proofed leisure and entertainment venues. In particular, the arena has a splendid LED façade which is dramatic and attention-grabbing.
The stunning façade has been achieved through the installation of 97,000 LumiNode Pixel LEDs from leading LED specialist Tryka. The LumiNode Pixel LED is a full-colour, 16-bit, RGBW solution, guaranteeing smooth dimming and optimising colour output for the most vivid image and video playback.
The control system, which has been programmed by Tryka, has been developed using solutions from control experts Pharos Architectural Controls. The system includes a Pharos VLC+ 1000 for the façade, and an LPC and RIO D for landscape control.
The Pharos VLC+ (Video Lighting Controller Plus) has been specifically designed to control the world’s largest lighting façade projects. With the capability of playing two full HD videos that can seamlessly crossfade into two further videos, the VLC renders multiple layers of effects and HD video from internal storage or live input.
The LPC features individual controllable and independently running timelines and scenes, allowing for the build of dynamic, precise and fully-customisable pre-programmed lighting effects.
The RIO D (Remote Input Output DALI) devices provide a convenient and scalable way to control DALI fixtures and ballasts from Pharos Designer Controllers. Each RIO D supports a single DALI bus which can be used as an output from control and an input for triggering.
Ryan Sainsbury, UK Regional Sales Manager for Pharos Architectural Controls said:
“Swansea Arena is certainly an impressive event space with awe-inspiring architecture. The lighting technology, in conjunction with the control system from Pharos, has delivered an outstanding solution. Our market-leading technologies have achieved superior levels of control that ensures Swansea Arena stands out in the entertainment sector.”
For Swansea Arena, the bespoke LumiNode luminaire arrangement is powered by 12V Meanwell HLG power supplies and Art-Net control interfaces. They are housed in a custom-built, by Tryka, weatherproof enclosure.
Ryan Rolph, Technical Sales Director from Tryka, added: “We were delighted to add this ground-breaking venue to our portfolio of successful projects. Tryka has a wealth of experience within the leisure and entertainment sector, so we were perfectly placed to interpret the brief and deliver everything that was needed. Pharos were the ideal partners to deliver the control elements of the project, thanks to their expert solutions and unrivalled technical knowledge.”
The venue has a fully packed schedule running several years in advance, thanks to ATGs extensive network and programming expertise. This has ensured a diverse range of entertainment including comedy, theatre, gaming and sport. Swansea Arena is now firmly on the map of most popular entertainment venues, attracting visitors from across the UK’s different nations.
Project Credits:
Client: Swansea City Council
Arena Operator: ATG Tickets
Main Contractor: Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd
Specialist Façade Lighting Installation: Tryka
Specialist Consultant: Design Intent
Controls Programming: Tryka
Controls Supplier: Pharos Architectural Controls Ltd
Electrical Contractor: NG Bailey
Lighting Designer: Lumineer Studio
Architect: Acme Architects Inc
Photographer: James Newton
