New LED lighting illuminates Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

The Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall is benefitting from the installation of 355 custom-made LED lights, installed in the first major upgrade of the theatre's lamps in the building's history.

The recently completed two year project has mixed state-of-the-art LED lighting within the building's heritage fixtures, providing spectacular displays both on and off the stage.

Set to deliver a 75% reduction in the venue’s electricity consumption, with estimated savings of about $70,000 a year, the project has been recognised with an award in the Heritage Buildings category for Excellence in Sustainability at the NSW Government’s recent Green Glove Awards.

Each of the LED lights, which have a life-span of 50,000 hours each, meaning that the Sydney Opera House will use 2,000 fewer lightbulbs each year. The LED lights are also cooler, removing almost 4 tonnes of heat from the venue each year.

The new long life, LED technology includes a new control system for the stage, auditorium and performance lighting.

Commenting on the project, Opera House Chief Executive Louise Herron stated “our mission says everything we do should engage and inspire people.

“That should be just as true of our sustainability initiatives as of the performances we present.

“The Concert Hall lighting upgrade is an excellent example of how we can renew the Opera House to meet the needs and expectations of 21st-century artists, audiences and the broader community.”

Director of Theatre and Events David Claringbold added "I think it's unique in a performance environment to have the scale of LED coverage that we have in what is one of the most high-profile performance venues in the world.”

Claringbold told the ABC “we have to observe not only the architectural heritage of the venue but the performance requirements for the productions that happen here."

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is the main user of the space, and required a traditional lighting effect known as the 'orchestral state'.

With each individual lamp programmable to bathe the roof, stage and audience in rolling waves of vibrant colour, Claringbold added "when the artist comes out onto the stage and performs we want the audience to feel that this is an incredibly special occasion for them.

"And that environment that we can create with the lighting is a very important part of that."

The iconic Opera House sails made changing lights in the roof cavity a difficult job, with

Technical Manager Philby Lewis emphasising "we couldn't just go and cut a bunch of holes in the roof and re-design the entire roof to do that.”

Lewis told the ABC "if you're changing a house light in your own home – we can't just get up on a little two-step ladder and screw a new light globe in ... our house is a little bigger (and) a little more cramped!”

Click here to view a YouTube video of the project.

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