Sustainability Grant Project Report
2014 CSU Sustainability Grant recipient
Title of project
Sustainable Theatre/Studio lighting Upgrade
Project team
As the project developed, it was only myself undertaking its implementation,
Name
Position
Department
Karl Shead
Technical Officer
School of Communication and Creative
Industries
Project aims
“The project is designed to replace existing SCCI filament based lighting stock with LED (Light Emitting Diode)
units. The units will be installed in Building 1454, Studio 101,and the Ponton Theatre, in a Generic Rig
arrangement. There would be one permanent rig in the theatre, and three in Studio 101, building 1454,
facilitating various performative and learning and teaching needs.
The concept is to create accessible, multiple use, authentic spaces that are sustainable in regards energy
usage. The spaces will be used by students and academics as part of various components of SCCI curriculum,
as well as for the development and undertaking of research work at all levels. Importantly, the live performance
industry has a focus on sustainable events, and this project aligns us with industry, and the training provided
by the SCCI for industry, at a core level”
Budget and expenditure
Item
Description / use
Budget
Actual
34 x Quad 12
LED fixtures
Core component of the project – energy efficient,
technologically modern lighting fixture.
14,735.60
$13,284
http://www.showtech.com.au/products/genproduct.cfm?product=LEDPAR121
PowerCon cables
DMX cables
Specialist Theatre lighting power cabling. For more
sophisticated, safer lighting rigging. DMX 512 signal
cabling for the Data patching of LED theatre lanterns
N/A
$854.81
Road case
For the safe transit and storage of portable lighting rig.
N/A
$508
TOTAL
Project timeline
$14,646.81
Step
1
2
3
4
Description
Assessment of installation and cabling requirements, based
on a final inspection of the space.
Quoting of cabling requirements.
Completion of Capital Expenditure bid for remaining elements
not covered by Green Grant.
Final equipment purchase
Anticipated
Actual
Oct 2014
Oct 2014
Nov 2014
Nov 2014
Nov 2014
Nov 2014
Nov 2014
Oct/Nov 2014,
With cables and road
case purchased
through to June 2015
5
6
7
8
9
Installation
SOP and instruction guides collated and created
Academic and Technical staff Space Inductions
Rollout into teaching sessions
Prepare report on successful implementation of the project.
Nov/Dec 2014
March/April 2015
Dec/January 15
March/June 2015
Jan 2015
May/June 2015
March 2015
May 2015
April 2015
July 2015
Project outcomes
Original project Summary
“The project is designed to replace existing SCCI filament based lighting stock with LED (Light Emitting Diode)
units. The units will be installed in Building 1454, Studio 101,and the Ponton Theatre, in a Generic Rig
arrangement. There would be one permanent rig in the theatre, and three in Studio 101, building 1454,
facilitating various performative and learning and teaching needs.
The concept is to create accessible, multiple use, authentic spaces that are sustainable in regards energy
usage. The spaces will be used by students and academics as part of various components of SCCI curriculum,
as well as for the development and undertaking of research work at all levels. Importantly, the live performance
industry has a focus on sustainable events, and this project aligns us with industry, and the training provided
by the SCCI for industry, at a core level”
The new lighting infrastructure has been installed venues in the as specified. DFM undertook renovation works
in building 1454, which delayed the installation somewhat, but allowed for a more fully rounded outcome. In
1454, the units have been installed in conjunction with a renovation of the “Bio box” area, allowing for easier,
safer, student use of the equipment. Induction Programme documents have been written, and have been
integrated as part of the TM academic programme for students undertaking their first year of the Theatre/Media
specialisation. A complete LED rig was used for the “First Year Show” in early June. Induction of the students
into the system took approximately an hour, at the end of which time the students were able to programme the
lighting desk themselves. Power usage due to the lack of filament lamp units was approx. 80% less than
normal.
In the Ponton Theatre, the new lights were rigged for the SCCI third year TM production of “The Bacchae” The
lighting allowed for a greater degree of creative flexibility than has been possible before, due the LED Quad 12
being able to emit almost an infinite array of colour combinations. Once again, this also allowed for a safer
working environment, as there were fewer ladder movements required as less lights needed to be rigged.
Functionally, this also supported SCCI teaching policy of creating “authentic working spaces” where students
can work in a less supervised way, but with an appropriate level of safety and induction “training”
Lecturing staff, including SCCI TM staff Dan Aubin and Adam Deusien have undertaken self directed research
activities within the spaces using the new equipment, in a sophisticated way that allows them to work without
being encumbered with lengthy, complex technical set-ups.
Amendments to the project
There were no major amendments to the project, except in regards timeframe. The lighting took longer to
install due to renovations within facilities. I spent much of the Summer Session supervising and undertaking
the 1454 space renewal, which led to some delays getting the Ponton fully installed. There was also an
installation in the Ponton of a new three camera and sound set up, that further complicated the timeframe. At
the same time, I also needed to train myself up in the use of the equipment in question.
A positive amendment was that some of the LED’s were re-tasked to form a “travelling lighting”. (see below).
This was possible due to the rig required in the theatre/studios spaces requiring less lights due to the technical
sophistication of the preferred purchased units.
The company from which the units were purchased (Showtechnology) gave a generous discount on the
equipment, and as well were having a ”sale”. So the unit purchase price was cheaper than anticipated. This
allowed for a necessary purchase of more cabling, and a specialised road case to transport the “travelling kit”.
Recommendations
The Sustainability Grant scheme has been an incredibly positive experience for the SCCI, and has allowed for
significant upgrades to the teaching programme in regards Environmental outcomes, and teaching and
research environments. The awarding of the grant provided impetus for facilities upgrades to occur to support
the new technology. This process is continuing, and is necessary to fulfil the potential of the upgrade
Photographs
Description
Ponton theatre LED cyc lights during
performance
Photo
Ponton Theatre. “The Bacchae” .
LED Quad 12’s in top left of picture. This
photo clearly shows the “fullness” of the
lighting. The LED’s at the rear and side
of stage highlight the performers bodies,
and the stage pieces (note the
red/orange highlight on the legs of the
performer to the right, and the purple
glow on the set pieces.
LED Quad (on the right) and LED
Fresnel installed in the Lighting grid of
Studio 101, building 1454
Studio 101. “bio box” fit out completed to
allow LED units to operate. Students
engage with the space as an authentic
work
environment,
with
minimal
induction and supervision by staff
Studio 101. Induction folder and Acting
Area map, showing areas of the room
covered by the lights
Studio 101 - Students working with the
new set up. The ease of operation of the
new equipment allowed for enhanced
“peer learning” to occur. Here one of the
first shows is shoping his class mates
how to programme the Lighting Desk.
Studio 101 - The new LED units
projecting onto the floor. A good
example of the multiple colours available
from only one lighting unit.
Large roadcase for the “Travelling rig”
Travelling rig on pushup stands, photo
taken from behind showing cabling (the
blue ended cables are the PowerCons)
Travelling rig on pushup stand. Two of
these sets travel in the road case above,
with induction documents.