- Combination of Zumtobel, Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel Group Services brand products
- Energy consumption down to almost one tenth of the previous level
- Tridonic ready2mains™ uses existing mains wiring to control and dim the lighting
- Sophisticated LITECOM lighting management enhances the user experience Lugano Convention Center in Switzerland has opted to replace its lighting system with an integrated lighting solution from the Zumtobel Group that meshes seamlessly with the architecture of the building. The solution brings together state-of-the-art LED lighting techology and control technology from the Zumtobel, Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel Group Services brands. With this multi-brand lighting solution, the City of Lugano which owns the “Palazzo dei Congressi” Convention Center benefits from the wide range of products and services that the Zumtobel Group can offer from a single source.In a further lighting refurbishment phase, three conference rooms are currently being equipped with the lighting technology from the Zumtobel Group. The project originally began at the end of 2014, when the City of Lugano decided to refurbish the lighting at the facility which was built in 1975. With the new lighting technology, the solution now offers greater user-friendliness and flexibility, a higher level of energy efficiency and at the same time a marked drop in energy consumption. It also delivers a more pleasant user experience for both visitors and staff.
“The immutable nature of the construction of this concrete building proved particularly challenging in terms of implementing the planned lighting solution,” said Stefano Dragonetti, Head of Sales for the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland at Zumtobel. “The technical restrictions and the predefined recesses for the luminaires meant that a one-size-fits-all solution was out of the question. The breadth of the product portfolio across all brands made it easier to handle this task. The chosen combination of products from the Thorn, Tridonic, Zumtobel and Zumtobel Group Services brands has meant we can offer our customer a lighting solution that is perfectly tailored to their needs.”
Zumtobel luminaires cut energy consumption In the main hall, the spacious “Amphitheater”, there were originally 43 luminaires equipped with 650W halogen lamps. The specifications stated that the new luminaires had to fit into the existing recesses and boxes in the concrete ceiling. Zumtobel delivered a customized solution: With the newly installed CRAFT LED luminaire, energy consumption in the concert hall has been cut to almost one tenth of its original level, falling from 28 kW to 2.9 kW extrapolated for the entire lighting configuration.Tridonic ready2mains™: control and dimming via the mains At the planning stage, the existing lighting installation presented a technical obstacle for the envisaged use of the LITECOM lighting management system from Zumtobel Group Services for central control of the new CRAFT luminaires. The existing wiring was such that it was not possible to address all the new luminaires via BUS cable to enable them to be controlled and dimmed from a central console. To make matters worse, the concrete structure of the building meant that no additional cables could be laid, nor was it possible to send radio signals from control unit to luminaire.
The solution was to make use of the existing mains wiring to transmit the signals; a function made possible by ready2mains™ from Tridonic. The ready2mains™ gateway serves as the interface between the control unit and the luminaires and transfers the commands to the mains in digital form. In this way, the ready2mains™ gateway ensures reliable and robust data transmission. There is no need to install new wiring as communication takes place via the existing mains. Thus, with ready2mains™ providing the ideal interface between the LITECOM lighting management system and the Tridonic LED module in the CRAFT luminaires, transmission of the control and dimming commands at the Convention Center was assured.Modern lighting management with LITECOM from the Zumtobel Group Services brand The Convention Center’s LITECOM lighting management system from the Zumtobel Group Services brand clears the way for more flexible and user-friendly operation. In the past, all the luminaires in the main hall had been controlled and/or dimmed by means of a comparatively large phase dimmer. This has now been replaced by a much smaller model that is also easier to operate – the LITECOM CCD controller. Pre-programmable lighting scenes available at the push of a button make for a flexible response to the differing requirements. The central control console is located directly in the main hall.
A digital link between the LITECOM lighting management system and the local area network (LAN) means that the system can also be operated via smartphone or tablet, making for even greater userfriendliness. Web access also facilitates remote maintenance, with all the associated benefits of prompt and expert support from Zumtobel Group Services.Existing architecture a constant challenge for the lighting solution The immutable concrete architecture of the building proved particularly challenging for the future lighting solution, not only in the main hall but throughout the Convention Center, because the existing recesses in the ceiling dictated the installation envelope and thus the dimensions of the luminaires themselves. The breadth of the Zumtobel Group’s product portfolio across all brands made it easier to handle this task. In the corridors and cloakroom areas, the former lighting was replaced by BaseLED downlights from Thorn and CREDOS downlights from Zumtobel. These luminaires deliver precisely the required luminous intensity and light quality, making them the perfect new lighting line-up. In the main foyer, SLOTLIGHT infinity and CREDOS downlights from Zumtobel create an optimal lighting scenario.
Convention Center built in 1975 Built in 1975, the Lugano Convention Center was designed by architects Otto & Associati who are still based in the city. On the ground floor, the concrete complex comprises the main 1,100 square meter foyer and the “Amphitheater” which can seat up to 1,130 persons. The first floor hosts a large hall as well as other seminar or conference rooms and a restaurant with a terrace extending into the adjacent park.
