Over 70 Robe 160 Spot and Wash fixtures were chosen by UK-based Metropolis AV for a cutting-edge sound, effects lighting and AV installation at Lucid, Manchester. Lucid is the first of a new genre of top quality, architecturally stunning, multimedia concept venues.

Eye-catching visuality and technical diversity are at the core of this exciting new space, developed by the Canadian-owned MagicCorp Group. The team, led by Simon Harris, who also designed all Lucid’s effects and show lighting, worked with Lucid’s technical director Nick Meacham to implement its technical infrastructure.

Robe was chosen as effects lighting for its small size and high brightness. With very little headroom above the main dancefloor, they needed a good looking, flexible and expediently sized fixture. Effects lighting was programmed by Maria Jenkins of Mouse Lighting, and the illuminations, colours, patterns and texturing created with the Robe fixtures add important dynamics and movement to this social area.

Lucid’s Function Room contains its own separate lighting, rigged on a mini-beam box truss. Again they selected Robe moving lights – with 18 Spot and Wash 160s, plus 20 PAR cans. Lighting in The Function Room can be controlled directly from the main control area - the Broadcast Booth – or locally from within the room itself. In both cases, it’s via a LightProcessor QCommander 512 desk.

It was important to have live and direct access to the Function Room fixtures, which were put to the test immediately on the opening night with a performance by top boyband Westlife, who dropped in at the start of their current "Unbreakable" tour. Another advantage of Robe units is that they are extremely quick and easy to programme.

Metropolis has also used Robe fixtures on a variety of other installs. The brand is fast gaining a reputation as a reliable, cost-effective and feature-packed family of tools for all types of installations.

Other recent high profile Robe lighting installations include club Innteraction and live music venue The Glasgow Academy in the UK (both by Bristol-based Utopium), the massive Complex de Nuit club in Lievin, France (by SLS) and Twin Towns, the largest multi-functioning services club in Australia – by Venutech.

For more info, please contact Louise Stickland on +44 (9)1865 202679 or +44 (0)7831 329888, or E-mail: louise@loosplat.com.