External Areas:Layout 1 11/09/2009 14:21 Page 79
external impact
Turning a space into a glowing
colour-change light box.
Making a statement to
passers-by
The new wing of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (RNCM) fulfills a
variety of roles, with accommodation that includes two double-height orchestral rehearsal
studios and 17 practice rooms for groups of up to four players.
T
he new facilities, designed by by Zumtobel’s RGB T5 2Light fittings, solution in this area was out of the
MBLA Architects + Urbanists, also controlled by a Luxmate Emotion system, question as the sound would have made
include a senior management turn the space into a glowing colour- the lighting move.”
administration suite, general teaching change light box. Additional illumination More than 100 of Zumtobel’s Lightfields
rooms and a headquarters for the comes from the Light Tools system, a linear T5 fittings were specified for these
Manchester Camerata chamber orchestra. discreet, flush-mounted channel system spaces. Its special micro-pyramidal optic
The constrained site is on one of the with four different lighting inserts – provides even, glare-free light, which is
busiest roads in the city. This was turned spotlight/downlight, flood/downlight, linear essential for students in lengthy
into a virtue on the ground floor, where a luminaire/flood, wallwasher – which highlights rehearsals who need to read music
literal shop window for the College allows images on the walls behind the glazing. scores under high quality lighting
it to promote its activities as an conditions. Where natural light also
international conservatoire and Practice areas entered the space, as in the double-
successful arts centre. Providing lighting for the practice rooms height rehearsal studios, daylight linking
The scheme involved glazed frontage was a particular challenge, according to was used.
and the challenge of providing fittings for Craig Jackson of Gifford and Partners
acoustically sensitive environments. It who specified the lighting. “It had to be
www.mbla.net
also presented the opportunity for a robust and without parts which could
dramatic colour-change effect to create reverberate from the sound of the
a striking statement for passers-by. instruments,” says Jackson. “A suspended
www.zumtobel.com
Entrance designed to avoid falls
T
HE PERSE SCHOOL in Cambridge are activated to open, ensuring that no
has approximately 750 pupils and one is at risk of a fall by leaning against
thus regarded the provision of the encroaching end of the doors.
reliable access and egress as a key A microprocessor automatically
consideration for its main entrance. controls the opening and closing speeds
For this type of high-traffic of the door, while improvements to
environment, a ‘child-friendly’ sliding door programming functions have made
solution was proposed by Dorma. The installation, set-up and maintenance
company installed its ES200 door simpler and faster.
operator along with complementary fixed
glass screenwork. The screens effectively
www.dorma-uk.co.uk
provide a recess for the doors when they
edbmagazine.co.uk 79
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