Lighting solutions company EcoRIG, normally known for its innovative work within the retail sector, has branched out into the public sector, with a project led in partnership between NHS North Staffordshire and Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council.
The new building, which forms part of the health and wellbeing centre at Jubilee 2 in Newcastle under Lyme, is to feature a climbing wall, appropriately illuminated to give climbers the impression they are ascending towards the clouds.
The challenge however focused on how to maintain the lighting fixtures in such an awkward space as the climbing wall prohibited the use of traditional access equipment within such a high, narrow space.
EcoRIG installed three raft systems with the ability to be raised and lowered in front of the wall, each raft measuring around 1.8m square with a 14m drop height to a SWL of 75kg. The wall’s cassette style lighting was subsequently bolted to a moving frame in order to replicate a skylight above the climbing wall.
The lighting panels were eventually clad with a back light vinyl sky image, giving the desired impression of climbing into the clouds.
Andy Phillips, EcoRIG’s Creative Director, said: “Although we are used to being presented with challenges such as lighting recesses, atria and escalators, a climbing wall has to be a first! This diversification into the public sector demonstrates EcoRIG’s versatility and reflects its growing reputation across all industries.”
