Tag Archive: University of Cambridge Banqueting House

1. White Light Wins AV Technology Europe Award

   11 February 2018 11:18 Comments Off on White Light Wins AV Technology Europe Award

   The AV Technology Europe Awards are dedicated to recognising innovation and achievements in the AV industry. The Awards provide a brand-new platform for the AV end-user community to celebrate the increasingly pivotal role that AV plays for businesses around the world; from corporate to hospitality, education to retail, and everything in between. This year’s award ceremony took place in Amsterdam and WL was the recipient of Best Small to Mid-Scale AV Project.

   WL was awarded the accolade following its work on the Cambridge University fundraising event at Banqueting House. For the project, WL was approached by the University to provide the technical solutions that would engage key stakeholders. Led by WL’s Creative Producer Richard Stirzaker, the team drew on the latest video and projection technology to create a digital canvas inside Banqueting House; resulting in a fully immersive environment for when guests arrived. Alongside this, there were several live speakers on the evening who include Stephen Fry. To ensure the speeches were as interactive as possible, WL created a system in which animated graphics, created by Johnson banks, were triggered by key words in the speeches. There was also a digital sound audio environment that was created within the space.

   WL Director Richard Wilson comments: “We are delighted to have won at this year’s AV Technology Europe Awards. The fundraiser at Banqueting House is a great example of how we are able to work closely with a client and not only deliver a brief but go beyond their expectations. Using the latest technology, our expert teams and the beautiful architecture within Banqueting House, we were able to create something spectacular and it’s an event we are extremely proud of”.

   The Award marks another accolade that WL has received over the past few months, with the company winning the Best Use of AV Technology at the Event Technology Awards as well as Event Production Supplier of the Year at the Drum UK Event Awards. The company is also shortlisted for two awards at the upcoming Event Production Awards which includes Event Production of the Year and Best Use of Technology at an Event.

   

   Richard adds: “The fact that our work is being recognised on an international scale is a credit to the fantastic team we have at WL, who are able to push boundaries on any event using the very latest technology. We now want to grow on this success and ensure that we continue to deliver the high-level of service that has become synonymous with our company and make every single event we work on unforgettable”.

   The AV Technology Europe Awards took place during this year’s Integrated Systems Europe Show. The WL team were in Amsterdam to scope out the latest technology first-hand. WL’s Head of Business Development Lee Dennison comments: “As seen with the AV Technology Award, we are a company pioneering the use of the very latest technology, ensuring that our clients have access to state-of-the-art equipment. One of our main reasons for attending ISE was to seek out the products of tomorrow today, along with catching up with partners and old friends. We were really impressed with what we saw and will be looking to add to our already extensive industry over the upcoming months”.

   Photos courtesy of Alastair Fyfe.

    

2. White Light Wins Best Use of AV Technology at Event Tech Awards

   10 November 2017 17:07 Comments Off on White Light Wins Best Use of AV Technology at Event Tech Awards

   The 2017 Event Technology Awards took place on Thursday 9^th November at the Troxy, East London. This year, more than 100 innovative companies were shortlisted into 28 categories covering a range of different disciplines in the world of event tech. One of the Awards included Best Use of AV, which recognises one company’s use of audio visual technology on a single event. This year, it was awarded to White Light for its work on the University of Cambridge Fundraiser at Banqueting House.

   Now in its fifth year, the Event Technology Awards are a globally recognised awards ceremony, with entries coming as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Russia and Mexico. The winners are chosen by twenty-one expert judges who work across the events spectrum. WL was nominated following its work with the University of Cambridge at Banqueting House back in May this year. The company was approached to provide the technical solutions on a celebration event which had to engage key stakeholders.

   WL’s Creative Producer Richard Stirzaker comments: “We worked closely with the event’s Production Manager Vaughan Roberts, University of Cambridge’s Events Manager Rachel Mortimer Holdsworth, and creative agency johnson banks to offer an ideal solution. Banqueting House is a very traditional, historic space and we were determined to transform the interior into a fully immersive environment”.

   It was WL’s innovative use of AV technology which saw them take the crown at this year’s Event Technology Awards. WL’s Technical Solutions Director Andy Hook comments: “The system we created was built around d3 – the world’s first integrated video production suite. Based around a real-time 3D simulator, it is the single solution needed to design, present, sequence and playback a show. We drew on the server to deliver content to eight Christie HD Projectors which created a digital canvas around the whole room inside Banqueting House”.

   There were eight live guest speakers at the Fundraiser, including Steven Fry, who delivered speeches that were accompanied by animated graphics synchronised using the d3 system. The content, which related to both Cambridge and the University, was specifically designed to enhance the speeches with a series of animations triggered by key words within the script. Using projection, WL created a wraparound presentation which ensured that the entire room was brought to life and those in attendance were fully encapsulated within this immersive experience.

   Andy adds: “As Banqueting House is constantly in use, this meant we had limited time on site. Using the d3 technology, we created an accurate 3D model of the building by laser scanning it and then imported this into the d3 simulator environment, allowing all pre-production, design and communication with the client to be carried out off-site. We were also able to carry out real-time technical rehearsals of the whole event using a live 3D simulation at the client’s offices in Cambridge”.

   The event also saw WL draw on its extensive audio and lighting equipment, which was synchronised using the d3 technology. This included ETC lighting fixtures, over 40 CORE Lighting Wireless LED Uplighters and EM Acoustics EMS Speakers. These created a surround sound audio environment processed by a Yamaha QL5 Mixer and RIO 32 Way Dante Stage Rack. The d3 platform processed multi-channel audio and fed this via Dante to the Yamaha audio system.

   WL’s Director Richard Wilson comments: “We are absolutely delighted to have won Best Use of AV at this year’s Event Technology Awards. For the University of Cambridge Fundraiser, we truly pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved in that space and showcased what we can offer as a company; something which has now been recognised within the events industry”.

   Photos courtesy of Alastair Fyfe and the Event Technology Awards.

3. White Light Appointed First-Ever d3 Certified System Provider

   18 September 2017 07:59 Comments Off on White Light Appointed First-Ever d3 Certified System Provider

   

   The lighting for ITV Sport’s Euro 2016 coverage was a winner at this year’s Knight of Illumination Awards. The project saw Lighting Designers Chris Hollier and Andy Cottey work closely with the WL team to utilise d3 technology.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

   d3 Technologies’ integrated solution has been at the heart of some of the world’s most spectacular live events; from concert touring to theatre to broadcast and even architecture. The d3 software allows you to visualise, design and sequence your project before seamlessly turning your concept into a creation using one of their hardware solutions. Their new gx range, which was on show at this week’s PLASA London, pushes real time responsive content to new heights, allowing you to discover unimagined new ways to connect with your audience.

   As the technical solution specialist, White Light has drawn on d3’s state-of-the-art technology for a wide range of projects across a variety of markets. WL, who were announced as a d3 Solution Provider earlier this year, have now become a d3 Rental and Sales Partner, making them the first company in a position to offer all three aspects of the full service Certified System Provider.

   Lee Dennison, WL’s Head of Business Development, comments: “We are delighted to be the first global company to hold the position of full service d3 Certified System Provider, which marks the next step in our growing relationship with d3 Technologies.  As a company renowned for our sales, rental and installation services, we want to ensure that our wide range of customers are able to benefit from drawing on the d3 brand. With this new partnership, we are able to combine our creative vision, expert staff and years of experience with d3’s revolutionary technology to ensure that their products are used as innovatively as possible; whatever the occasion”.

   

   WL drew on d3 technology for the University of Cambridge Fundraiser at Banqueting House. The event has been shortlisted for an international award for its ground-breaking use of technology.

   Sarah Cox, Sales Director EMEA for d3 Technologies, states: “We’ve been really impressed with how WL has utilised d3 within their projects over the last year. For the recent University of Cambridge fundraiser at Banqueting House, the company used our 4x4pro media server to project animated graphics onto the building’s interior windows; creating a fully immersive environment. Projects like this show how d3 can be used creatively and it’s no surprise that the event has now been shortlisted for an award”.

   Lee adds: “Over the past twelve months, WL and d3 have collaborated on a range of projects, from the ITV Sport Formula E Studio to the ground-breaking interactive training system for ATT to the adidas F2 live show which was streamed from the roof of BBC Television Centre. With several more international projects in the pipeline over the upcoming months, this is a really exciting time for both companies as we offer innovative solutions that previously weren’t available”.

   WL’s appointment as a full service Certified System Provider began immediately with d3 Technologies at this week’s PLASA Show, London. The d3 team was on-hand to speak to customers about the appointment as well as showcase the eagerly awaited gx range, which is now shipping across the EMEA region.