The Barbican, Europe’s largest combined arts and conference centre, has made a number of significant changes to technical facilities, particularly across the lighting infrastructure. This work dramatically reduces the centre’s environmental impact.
The changes to the lighting technology, which include occupancy sensors and high efficiency fittings, as well as a re-wiring to meet the latest industry standards, will save around 64,000kwh plus cost savings in excess of £5,000 per year for the Barbican Theatre space alone.
Other improvements during recent months have included the addition of a centre aisle in the Barbican Theatre, making the space more accessible for conferences and commercial usage. This completes the 2008 refurbishment and re-upholstering of the auditorium.
Sound and video infrastructure, emergency lighting, disabled access and signage have also been upgraded in recent months.
Barbican, head of corporate sales, Anthony Hyde: “To remain commercially sustainable, particularly during difficult trading times it is vital that venues maintain their facilities and re-invest according to client needs and changing markets. However, such changes cannot be at the expense of the key infrastructure and hidden facilities that ultimately ensure successful client events. Our balanced approach has ensured our ongoing growth and success.”
