New lighting systems at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London's Barbican have improved the working environment and enhanced the original features of this Grade II listed building. A number of different Zumtobel products were specified by Beveridge Associates of Upminster as part of an ongoing contract from the City of London to refurbish mechanical and electrical services throughout the Barbican. The work at the Guildhall School included rewiring and re-lighting half of the building including the entrance foyer, practice studios, corridors, the Recital Theatre and the Music Hall. Because of the building's listed status, it was important to avoid undue modifications to the fabric of the building so the types of fittings used were chosen on a like-for-like basis to minimise the requirement for additional conduit or fixings.
One of the biggest challenges was to bring new life to the foyer area. As Gary Paxton of Beveridge Associates explains, "The entrance was very dimly lit, unattractive and unwelcoming. We wanted to give it some ‘wow factor'."
The original lighting for the foyer consisted of six suspended clusters of globes fitted with incandescent bulbs. The problem was that they did not provide enough light and so had been supplemented with ugly fluorescent tube lights on the ceiling. At Zumtobel's suggestion the incandescent bulbs in each globe were replaced with 43w compact fluorescent lamps that were not only much brighter but also offered longer life and lower running costs. New fittings were installed above the reception area and the inappropriate ceiling lights removed.
The result was a bright and airy space that was both attractive and in keeping with the original architect's concept.
The ground and upper floor corridors, which feature exposed concrete slab ceilings were also brightened up, this time using Zumtobel Spheros up- and down-lighting fluorescent fittings. Where suspended lighting was used previously it was replaced with suspended Spheros luminaires and on the top floor, where ceiling mounted trunking had previously been installed this was replaced with Zumtobel's Tecton continuous busbar trunking.
To create the right working environment in the practice rooms they were fitted with Zumtobel Mellowlight IV dual component lighting. These provide a combination of direct and indirect lighting with no glare that makes it comfortable to read music or use a computer screen with no eye strain. There are around forty practice rooms in total and, depending on the size of the room, they were equipped with four to six Mellowlight luminaires.
The new lighting in the Recital Theatre also had to fit in with the fabric of the building. In this case the new units had to fit between the timber beams – about 100mm apart – that were a decorative feature of the ceiling. A combination of 2Light downlighters and Perluce fluorescent luminaires was used, integrated with a Dali digital control system that allowed both sets of lights to be dimmed independently or in scene-setting combinations.
The final area to be refurbished was the Music Hall, a large performance area, where the old fittings were replaced with cylindrical up and down pencil lights fitted with metal halide lamps.
The whole project has been a great success, according to Hannah Bibbins, Project Manager for The City of London. "We are very happy with the result, it all looks very good," she said.
