LIGHTING
The Snow Centre walls are covered with
continuous views of alpine peaks, which
were floodlit to correct specification
It’s all in the Detail
Few indoor sports demand better eye-
Power supply dips can be a problem for sports facilities –
hand-body co-ordination and overall
allowing lighting levels to fall by 40 per cent. However,
balance than skiing and snowboarding,
so quality of vision is essential. In nature,
correctly sized conductors limit the voltage drop to 3 per cent
daylight has a generally downward bias,
forming tiny shadows, which help ski-
ers to pick out surface details on snow The problem of glare was resolved by which is unfortunate when the char-
and orientate themselves. The lighting careful aiming – making sure that no acteristics of these backgrounds affect
designer’s aim was to mimic this effect excessive amounts of light (hot spots) glare, modelling and lighting system
using the floodlights from above to give were present – and most importantly, efficiency as well as the appearance of
skiers visual contact with the slope. The by the use of indirect light. Roughly a the space. However, at The Snow Centre
final aiming pattern used a combination third of the floodlights throw light up to the lighting team was briefed at an early
of narrow vertical beam floodlights, for the ceiling to be bounced back onto the stage that the walls were to be mani-
long throws to the sidewalls, and a wid- slope. Uplighting has the intrinsic virtue fested with continuous views of alpine
er-angle version, for the nearside areas, of eliminating sharp shadows from the peaks (sky and mountains). A section
to give an average of 400 lux. surface and producing a pleasing effect of the manifestation was measured at
By controlling the vertical and hori- with no high luminance reflections. This Thorn’s lighting laboratory to obtain the
zontal distribution, any tendency for technique is also aesthetically satisfy- correct reflectance factor, which was
the lighting to flatten the surface with ing – after all, the client is delivering an then used to establish the exact number
little discernable detail was avoided. Ad- authentic resort feel rather than an in- of floodlights required.
ditionally, the use of beam diffractor dustrial shed with snow inside, as well as Also included in the brief was a main-
attachments, which aid uniformity, was being energy efficient. tenance factor to allow for a loss of light
rejected. By using the floodlights raw, the A major concern was that the single due to residues and icicles on the front
peakiness of the contrast beam added to row of floodlights along the 60m central glasses, between cleaning intervals.
the highlights and shadows to enhance wall (positioned high up the slope) was The floodlights are sealed to IP65 to
the pattern and detail of the snow. mounted on the outside of the truss – to prevent any snow or moisture from en-
light across the slope and thus overhang tering the body.
Some floodlights throw light up to the the wall. At such a close distance it was One of the problems that confronts
ceiling to bounce back onto the slope impractical to mount flood- any major sporting event or locale is
lights back under the truss, power supply dips affecting the lumen
yet light was required as one output of metal halide lamps. In such
of the chair lifts operated a scheme lamps could extinguish and
between the truss and wall. lighting levels fall by 40 per cent. In this
The solution was to install a application the contractor used correct-
continuous row of ColdForce ly sized conductors to limit the voltage
enclosed fluorescent lumi- drop to 3 per cent or less. Selected flood-
naires to the underside of lights also incorporate an additional
the truss. halogen lamp to allow for safe stopping
of activities in the event of mains failure.
Early Briefing The lighting design was by Mark
It is rare for lighting de- Mattimoe of Thorn Lighting and Acer
signers to be involved in Snowmec Consultants provided design
the issue of room surfaces, and specialist engineering advice.
72 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2009 © cybertrek 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84