Grand Central Shopping Centre, Birmingham
Client Hammerson plc
Location Birmingham, UK
Status December 2020
A challenging brief from the client to enliven the New Street Mall at Grand Central, was met by introducing a dynamic lighting scheme with programmable LED edge lighting realised in two phases.
Phase 1 comprised the first public installation in Europe of the Light Lab’s ‘Spectraglass’ system with programmable LEDs along the top edge of the glass fins; the only other one being in Penn Station, New York. Several different colour and pattern themes have been designed by renowned lighting designers Miriam & Tom, including special routines for Christmas and other festivals. The project also included new pilasters between the shops, clad in Rimex coloured stainless steel, new blade signage, and seating pods which are proving very popular.
Phase 2 features a three-dimensional light sculpture recalling the structure of DNA as discovered by a Birmingham based team led by Maurice Wilkins. ‘The Helix’ has been shortlisted in the (d)arc lighting awards in the ART: Bespoke category
