Straz Center Gains Time and Saves Power with Philips Lighting

	Philips Showline fixtures are installed to upgrade the lighting rig in the David A. Straz Center's TECO Theater in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Soho Images

Philips Lighting announces that the David A. Straz Center in Tampa, Florida is enjoying significant savings in labor and power costs after upgrading its TECO Theater lighting rig with LED products from Philips Entertainment Lighting's Showline range.

The second largest performing arts complex in the south-eastern United States, the Straz Center is home to the Patel Conservatory, one of the country's leading education facilities for theater, music, and dance. Because the 250-seat TECO Theater is used exclusively by the Patel Conservatory's education programs, it is important for its technical equipment to be as up to date as possible. In addition, the technical team was looking for the benefits of flexibility, ease of setup, low energy use, and low maintenance offered by high-quality LED fixtures.

Joshua Young, technical manager for the TECO Theater, says, "Previously, we used large, heavy cyc light units. Each required four people to move it and three 2kW dimmers to operate. After renting some Philips SL BAR 640s for one of our lighting designers we were very impressed, so they became our first purchase. The biggest selling point was their versatility. The features allowed us to create visual effects on our cyc, which we had never been able to accomplish before. Another great benefit is that one person can move them."

He adds, "The SL BAR 640s produce an amazing variety of color at higher intensity and use far less power. Our entire top and ground row now use less power than one of our old cyc light instruments. On average, each LED fixture we've installed replaces at least three traditional incandescent fixtures and three channels of dimming. That saving alone is enough to justify their purchase."

After evaluating various other LED stage lighting options, Young chose 16 Philips Showline SL Punchlite 220 fixtures. He says, "These 16 fixtures replace 48 575W Pars previously being used for top light. The SL Punchlites impressed with their ability to zoom and to produce multiple color patterns from the same fixture. Also, their perfectly uniform output, with no hot spots helps to achieve seamless blending with adjacent lights."

Commenting on the time and labor savings, Young says, "The addition of Philips Entertainment Lighting LED lighting systems allows us to move from one show to the next much more quickly, and with far less labor required."

Grant Bales-Smith, general manager EMEA, Philips Entertainment Lighting said, "Our aim at Philips Entertainment Lighting is to provide real value for our customers, by making lighting instruments that not only produce beautiful light, but also help them and their businesses to work more efficiently. The Straz Center is an excellent example of how our product innovations can impact on the speed and flexibility of work, while reducing the costs of running a busy entertainment venue."