This proposal is for a complete replacement of the CD Smith III House Lighting System and for the replacement of the Miller Theatre house lights with LED fixtures.

The CD Smith III House Light System was installed in 1996 (26 years ago) and consists of deteriorating equipment and non-working equipment. The advances in lighting and electrical technology have advanced significantly in the past twenty-six years and there are both significant cost savings and benefits from new capabilities that would expand the effectiveness of the house lights in their current context and add additional abilities and opportunities to the space. It is time to replace this system.

With a major improvement project for house lights in the CD Smith III Theatre, there are likely cost benefits to including upgrades to the Miller Theatre house lights in such a project. Changing the house lights from conventional lights to LEDs would have the combined labor, lamp, and power cost savings benefit with the increased safety for personnel, eliminating the need to replace light bulbs for many years of use.

CD Smith III Theatre House Lighting Current Issues

• Two circuits (12 lights) of house lights are only able to be controlled at the breaker panel (ELB-2 Miller Basement Level). As a result, these two circuits have been left in the off position. A circuit breaker is not a switch and no other means of control for this portion of the system.

• I have not been able to verify whether the emergency lighting required in the event of a power outage functions in the CD Smith III Theatre. The circuit panel which the two aforementioned circuits run through is connected to the generator. The concern is that currently the emergency lights for the Theatre may be in the off position at the circuit breaker.

• The remaining circuits of house lights (20 lights) are controlled through a dedicated house light system which was installed in 1996 and should be replaced.

• It has dimmer control over systems of circuits and it is possible to control the systems manually with wall mounted faders in the control booth, however these faders no longer function as designed and the house lights are only either used at full or off.

• The dimmer control system has the capability of recording different house light “looks” which are then accessible from push button control stations in the theatre. This eliminates the need for untrained personnel to access the control booth or grid for classes and rehearsals. However, the push button system has a flaw, in that if the off button is pushed and held for more than 5 seconds it will erase the programming of the “look” that was in use. Since the system fades to black, users sometimes mistakenly hold the off button thinking that they are actively fading the lights.

• The remaining working house light circuits provide inadequate lighting and the grid lights will be turned on to augment the house lights. The grid lights are accessed inside the grid, which is a restricted area.

• Burnt our lamps do not help with adequate lighting, however, due to the nature of the flexible seating in the theatre it is not always possible to replace lamps until after the seating platforms have been moved.

• The aisle lights around the edge of the theatre space also need to be upgraded. The filters on them have failed and no longer direct the light down on the floor. These lights are required by code for egress.

I am requesting that we replace the current house lighting system with an architectural control system similar to the ETC Unison system used in the Miller Theatre and replace the house lights with individually addressable LED lighting units.I am also requesting an upgrade to our aisle lighting around the edge of the theatre to LED and replacement down reflectors.

This will provide the following benefits

• Adequate light for classes, rehearsal, and house lighting for performances.

• Reliable and consistent emergency lighting.

• Lamp Cost Savings

o The current 500W PAR56 flood lights cost approximately $30 apiece and have a life span of 2,000 hours.

o Current available LED fixtures have a life span of 50,000 hours.

o Each LED fixture will save the cost of 25 light bulbs per fixture totaling a cost savings of $750 per fixture installed.

o Estimated power consumption with LEDs of 150W would mean a 350W power savings. Multiply that across 32 fixtures results in 11,200W of power savings in the system.

o There are additional lamp cost savings for the aisle lights.

• Labor Saving

o 32 fixtures changed 25 times in 800 light bulb changes on a system that is accessed by a personnel lift.

o Estimated at an average of 12 minutes per light bulb change that is 160 labor hours. At $15 an hour that is $2400, and the removal of the risk of working at height.

o There are additional labor cost savings for the aisle lights.

• A Unison architectural system will allow the house lights to be controlled by the lighting console and will allow the architectural computer to control the stage lighting.
This allows for the following:

o More effective design control of the house light system

o The incorporation of theatre lights into presets

o More available presets of “looks” in the CD Smith III Theatre allow more flexible use, including classes, rehearsals, and simple performances, that would not require the presence of a board operator

Miller Theatre House Light Concerns

• The current house light system was installed in such a way that university personnel either have to assemble scaffolding, use fall arrest harnesses, or take personal risks in order to reach the house light fixtures.

Miller Theatre House Light Benefits

• The primary benefit is the reduction in risk to personnel in changing light bulbs.

• As listed above, there are cost savings in lamps, electrical usage, and labor to be realized.

I propose that Jamieband I develop the list of needs for both spaces and then work with Jamie Babcock to get quotes on the work. Possible vendors include Barbizon Lighting, Syracuse Scenery & Stage Lighting, Clearwing Productions, and Applied Audio & Theatre Supply.