Illuminating Leopard Poised in Aberdeen

	Photo: Muse Developments

Sculptor Andy Scott has created a visually powerful 5m high galvanized steel leopard -- Poised -- on top of a 10m high steel column as the centrepiece of the newly developed, mixed-use Marischal Square urban quarter in central Aberdeen, Scotland.

The work was commissioned by Muse Developments and Aviva Investors and was inspired by the City of Aberdeen's ancient heraldic coat of arms, which features two leopards. The majestic beast is 5m high, with another 5m reach for the tail hanging below.

It is internally lit by 11 x AnolisArcSource Outdoor 4MC LED fixtures.

The leopard's lighting design -- to bring it alive after dark -- was created by Scottish-based lighting and environmental design practice Atelier Ten, also responsible for lighting all the Marischal Square commercial, retail, and leisure spaces for Muse Developments.

For Atelier Ten's Peter Kerr, the leopard lighting scheme started when Scott sent him initial sketches of the piece, which gave a good sense of scale and shape. Once the leopard's frame was completed they started making the first site visits together with Angus Cartwright from Glasgow-based Cartwright Lighting Associates, who supplied the Anolis fixtures and control system.

Aberdeen is dark for much of the year due to its northern latitude, so for Scott -- well known for large scale works like The Kelpies' 30m-high horse-head sculptures next to a new Forth and Clyde Canal extension -- and everyone else involved, creating a "year round 24-hour experience" was essential.

Scott always intended the leopard to be internally lit -- it is a technique he's used before and he knew it would look fabulous combined with the right lighting fixtures.

His knowledge and imagination, plus the lighting expertise of Kerr and Cartwright, pinpointed the fixing positions for the ArcSource Outdoor 4MCs, which were chosen by Kerr as the ideal lightsources from numerous options trialled once the leopard's skin was in place, both on site and at Scott's workshop in Glasgow.

They are small and the lensing gave the smooth, refined spread of light that "beautifully illuminates the steel fragments without any hot-spots" says Kerr.

The mounting plate holes to accommodate the lights were then drilled in the leopard's skin which is constructed from thousands of welded steel plates of various thicknesses from 10mm to 3mm and assorted lengths, with 3mm thick laser-cut steel for the spots.

The challenges included getting the desired seamless, even coverage of light all over the leopard essential to capturing its potent implied movement ... and reducing any potential spill and glare coming off the sculpture's lighting which might affect / distract workers in the nearby offices with their extensive wall-to-ceiling windows.

The Anolis fixtures are positioned in the hind legs, shoulders, head and top of the tail, although looking at it ... it's almost impossible to tell, the company says. The ArcSource power supplies driving the lights are remotely fitted within the courtyard's basement, while all cabling is concealed in the column.

Once the lights' positioning was established, the leopard was sent off to be galvanized, a task completed by Joseph Ash Galvanizing in Telford.

When it returned, they moved into the second phase of trials which revealed the real life effect of the lighting on the sculpture. After this being to everyone's requirements, the lights were permanently installed and wired before the leopard was craned into place in the Marischal Square courtyard.

In addition to the aesthetics, practical considerations for picking luminaires included longevity -- with extremely tricky access once in position -- and quality engineering. Anolis offers a long warranty which was also an advantage. Kerr wanted a fixture which would theoretically last for at least a decade without needing to be changed or any maintenance.

He also wanted a fixture with the ability to change color.

While the leopard's' signature lighting state is mixed to a "neutral" white around 3,500K, for events taking place in Marischal Square and special occasions, they wanted the potential and flexibility to be able to change the color of the sculpture if needed, so the range of hues and shades of color available was another parameter scrutinized during the lighting selection process.

The lighting is controlled via an Anolis ArcPower 36 DMX controller complete with a scene setting user interface.

The leopard took over a year to complete and now installed, has already become a great local talking point and a tourist attraction in its own right. As anticipated, it is central to the plan for drawing people into this new lively and dynamic area of the city which is buzzing as a working and social community with office buildings 1Msq and 2Msq, restaurants, bars, and hotel.

Halliday Fraser Munro were architects for the Marischal Square build project.