The National College for School Leadership was created to develop world-class school leaders. The Learning and Conference Centre is its flagship building, designed to encourage learning and inspire leadership. This purpose built venue offers conference and meeting facilities for up to 200 delegates, with five-star hospitality in 90 bedrooms and outstanding lakeside restaurant.Innovative and inspirational, the Learning and Conference Centre is a state-of-the-art venue set in its own tranquil lakeside grounds in the centre of Nottingham, adjacent to Nottingham University.
A recent upgrade in lighting, needed to meet the client's operational requirements, was designed by the Trilux in-house team. The results look stunning whilst meeting all the clients objectives; improving lighting design, reducing energy consumption, increasing flexibility and control, and easing on-going maintenance costs.
The project was successfully co-ordinated with NG Bailey with all the works being completed whilst the building was occupied, and overseen by Mervyn Lea, Engineering Services Manager for Gleeds. 'The end result has proven to be extremely satisfactory to both the delegates and the NCSL staff who appreciate the benefits everyday.' claims Mervyn who has been seconded to the NSCL for the duration of the upgrade.
The central atrium is the hub of the building both in terms of position and usage. Here delegates can congregate for drinks and informal meetings, but this impressive space can also double up for use as an exhibition space or when there is a need for a large open plan conference - particularly effective when combined with creative lighting and a full range of audio-visual equipment such as plasma screens and data projectors. Trilux have installed multi-functional systems in this area, high-level metal halide lighting provides a good level of general illumination when needed, but compact fluorescent wall lights and decorative pendants are used when a more intimate atmosphere is required. The striking circular bar has been used as a focal point with Linear LED's mounted between the vertical fins and under the opaque glass bar top – these can change colour but are more usually kept to blue enhancing the interior design.
The same style of decorative PSH pendants have been used in other quiet seating areas and a shorter version of the same pendant augments the lower ceiling height outside the restaurant, bringing a unity to the building.
Teaching spaces and seminar rooms needed increased lighting levels and an improvement in uniformity, so suspended direct/indirect Luceo luminaires were used to supplement the existing downlighters. These have worked well to improve the illumination and also enhance the design of the space with its complex ceiling structure.
The exterior of the building has also had a facelift; IP65 circular surface mounted luminaires with opal diffusers have been used under the overhang to increase light levels, necessary as this is a public thoroughfare. Decorative touches have been added with IP67 linear LED's giving definition to the steps of the pontoon and the lake now has a discreet colour wash using high-level floodlights with a blue glass filter.
This National College now has an innovative new lighting installation to compliment the ultra modern, naturally cooled and ventilated building.
