TWIN TOWNS MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR LIGHTSHOW
16 May 2018
The exterior of the Twin Towns Club’s main building in Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, has been transformed into a huge digital canvas, creating a dazzling attraction for both locals and tourists crossing the Queensland and New South Wales border.
The ULA Group was engaged in this project from the early concepts, working close together with the team at Twin Towns, managed by CEO Rob Smith.
“We’re thrilled, we’re excited. We have turned the vision into a technical reality, and we couldn’t be happier with the result,” says Cuono Biviano, Managing Director of the ULA Group. “We feel extremely privileged and proud as a local Australian business and global organisation to be a part of this iconic digital artwork that has transformed Twin Towns and the local area.”
The original brief was given in early years with the intention for projection and colour onto the building. However, as technology has advanced over time, the project has evolved immensely.
The huge digital canvas incorporates high and low resolution digital LED technology, with over 2.3 million LEDs providing an infinite colour range. All of the products have been manufactured to the highest standards and are utilising the most advanced technology on the world’s market.
The centrepiece of the media façade is the high-resolution 17m wide x 5m high VuePix customised curved screen, consisting of almost 800,000 pixels.
The energy efficient Global Media Series from VuePix has been specifically designed for fixed outdoor applications, offering the best balance between weight and durability to withstand harsh environmental factors such as direct UV rays, varying temperatures, constant vibrations and severe weather conditions. An exceptional brightness of over 5000 nits, outstanding contrast ratio and high refresh rates allow the GM series to deliver excellent visual effects in any light conditions.
The VuePix GM series also feature a patented Display Monitoring System, allowing to monitor the screen live conditions and operate remotely from anywhere around the globe.
Behind the screen, a low-resolution backdrop spreads across the ‘cotton reel’ façade, bringing the entire building to life. The backdrop consists of 5,900 customised LED architectural nodes, which are programmed and integrated within the whole spectacular lighting show.
With over thirteen tonne of steel and 6km of cable to be installed, the ULA Group team worked around the clock, at times contending with extreme heat and torrential rain to ensure the project was completed to schedule. Besides the unpredictable weather, challenges consisted of structural limitations, main road exposure and construction hours. The result is a seamless integration of technology, while maintaining the architectural integrity of the building itself.
“All of this could not have come together without a first-class team effort from an amazing, dedicated group of technical professionals and contractors both local and interstate,” says Biviano.
Tourism will always be a major focus on the screen, along with local festivals such as Cooly Rocks On. State of Origin will bring shades of blue and maroon and Christmas and New Year’s Eve will become annual highlights.
The Twin Towns light show runs nightly from 6pm during winter months, sunset during summer, 365 days a year, taking the vibrancy of what is happening inside the club outdoors for all to see and enjoy.
ULA: www.ulagroup.com
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