Light revolution in the EUREF-Gasometer

Our project for the Mondo DR Sustainability Award stands out for the comprehensive and sustainable integration of hall, foyer, and conference room lighting into the Gasometer, a listed building on the EUREF Campus in Berlin. Through close collaboration between the technical managers of the EUREF Campus, the planning office theapro GmbH, and the lighting specialist VisionTwo GmbH, clear requirements for the new lighting were formulated from the beginning, enabling a complete revitalization of the Gasometer through various technical solutions and lighting designs. The complex lighting installation, consists of over 850 fixtures from the British manufacturer GDS Pioneering Light, along with their associated drivers and control systems, was carried out by PIK AG from Berlin, appointed as the system integrator.

The successful collaboration of all involved companies will enable the Gasometer’s on time opening on June 1, 2024, as a prime example of sustainable integration and innovative lighting solutions.

The core of the installation is the highly efficient, centralised LED driver system, GDS DriveHub, combined with the associated data protocol, IPM². The system’s ability for network-wide revision, along with the use of intelligent LED power supplies that reduce voltage peaks during switch-on and have extremely low idle power consumption, represents a significant advancement in the control of complex lighting systems.

Using a single two-wire network, the IPM² system can transmit multi-channel control information and system data over a cable length of over one hundred meters without signal loss, eliminating the need for additional control cables (such as DMX). The use of multifunctional LED fixtures (e.g., RGBCW/WW) and control via the ETC Paradigm architectural light processor created a lighting system that is optimally suited for film and TV productions, offering not only perfect dimming behaviour but also excellent colour rendering (CRI) and absolute flicker-free performance.

The centralised drivers stand out with impressive specifications: the high-performance power supplies show an efficiency of over 97%, enabling significant and measurable CO₂ savings across the entire installation. With these performance metrics, the drivers are 30% more efficient than LEDs with decentralised drivers. Compared to a conventional halogen installation this results in more than 90% savings. The power supplies also have a mean time between failures (MTBF) of over 1,900,000 hours, making this driver technology one of the most reliable and cost-effective solutions for efficient LED system control worldwide.

With its size and complexity, this installation represents the largest application of the IPM² technology to date. The previous protocol, IPM, which the VisionTwo GmbH had used in numerous projects, also relied on transmitting power and data through existing cabling but was limited to a single control command. By simultaneously transmitting multi-channel DMX information alongside power and system data, the IPM² protocol stands out in terms of scalability and complexity compared to other control systems. IPM² communicates bidirectionally with the central DriveHub driver system and can retrieve relevant revision data for users and service partners via remote monitoring. Additionally, using the IPM² protocol, circuits can be split in their control, and multi-channel information can be sent and received over a single line, enabling control of Tuneable White and Multicolour LEDs, as well as reading light data without additional data cables. This reduction in the need for data cables results in significantly less cables and weight compared to standard DMX installations and ensures maximum flexibility in control while also increasing the efficiency of the entire system.

The design of the lighting installation in the listed Gasometer consistently follows the principle of “form follows function.” It aims to preserve the industrial aesthetics of the site while also making it suitable for exclusive events. The installation draws inspiration from the impressive outer metal shell of the Gasometer, creating an authentic design inside. The technical execution employs high-quality LED lights in an industrial design, providing not only functional lighting but also enhancing the atmosphere of the various event spaces.

The lighting project at the Gasometer on the EUREF Campus in Berlin symbolises sustainable architectural lighting, combining cutting-edge LED technology with the highly efficient GDS DriveHub drive system. This system offers an efficiency increase of over 30% compared to traditional LED drivers. A key advantage of the Drive Hub is its power factor of 0.99, while conventional LEDs and drivers typically have a power factor of around 0.6. The efficiency of the already energy-saving LEDs is further enhanced with this driver system, leading to an additional reduction of 17.3 tons of CO₂ – an additional 26% reduction compared to standard LEDs.

Furthermore, the remote-control functionality of DriveHub results in significantly lower maintenance and personnel costs. The power consumption decreases in real-time with the usage of LEDs, and GDS’s Dynamic Power Regulation ensures ultra-efficient control. For example, the standby consumption of the entire lighting in the Forum, which uses over 10,000 watts at full load, is just 210 watts. The GDS DriveHub system can also generate and send reports including power consumption, CO2 emissions and the resulting operational costs of the connected LED systems.

Sustainability is the cornerstone of operations on the EUREF Campus. As a European energy forum, the campus carries the energy transition in its name – serving as a reference project in both European and international contexts for the feasibility and affordability of the energy transition. It is a place for the future, focusing on energy, mobility, and sustainability, serving as a blueprint for a CO₂-neutral world of tomorrow. The whole campus has already met the German federal government’s CO₂ climate goals for 2045 – since 2014.

The lighting measures in the Gasometer significantly contribute to the building’s overall sustainability. Thus, this project not only represents technological innovation but also provides a meaningful contribution to environmentally conscious actions.

In addition to the architecturally appealing implementation of television-compatible mixed lighting and all associated requirements for light quality and colour rendering, the client placed great emphasis on ease of control. These specific requirements led to the development of a custom lighting system by the planning office theapro GmbH in collaboration with VisionTwo GmbH. During the planning phase, user needs and technical challenges were carefully analysed, with the goal of designing a system that is both aesthetically pleasing and intuitive to operate. Preliminary DIALux calculations enabled the precise selection of suitable fixtures for the different areas of the Gasometer. During implementation, PIK AG was able to respond flexibly to changes in line with the end user’s needs, ensuring modular control and an ideal lighting solution for the various spaces. Continuous communication between all parties involved ensured not only the successful implementation of all required aspects but also the optimal functionality of the entire installation and ultimately the satisfaction of the end user.

The installation implemented by PIK AG not only integrated modern driver technology but also incorporated the control protocols sACN and DMX into the overall system. These protocols from traditional event technology allow for much faster and more precise control of the lighting than traditional systems like EIB/KNX. A key part of the solution was also the implementation of interfaces for DALI fixtures, enabling centralised adjustment and maintenance across the entire lighting network using Visual Productions’ Dali-Cores.

Furthermore, a custom design by GDS was installed for the concrete columns in the Forum. Special metal clamps were used to create rings that enabled installation in areas of the columns where mounting would otherwise have been impossible. This allowed for the creation of a uniform lighting effect around the columns across both floors.

During the construction phase, the client’s requirements also changed, and these were promptly and flexibly addressed. The IPM² system, installed for the first time at this scale, posed challenges in programming, which were resolved through quick on-site support. The Paradigm lighting control integrates all lighting components and allows for the retrieval and management of lighting scenarios centrally or directly from the control panel, significantly increasing flexibility in handling complex lighting scenarios during events. The integration of the house and architectural lighting into the ceiling structure was designed to be easily adjustable for various events.

The lighting installation stands out for its high user-friendliness, allowing even non-technical users to control the lighting effortlessly. During daily operation, users can intuitively recall pre-programmed lighting scenarios using conventional light switches and simply designed touch surfaces. Additionally, freely programmable buttons provide the ability to reproduce specific lighting situations with the press of a single button. These intuitive features ensure maximum flexibility and comfort, regardless of the user’s technical expertise.

Materials used:
GDS
12x Cardframe, 6x Powerframe, 20x Powerblock 3kW, 51x IPM² Driver Card, 57x 8CH CC Driver Card, 4x 4CH CC Driver Card

451x Sirius
8x Sirius 120W Wallwasher | 49x Sirius 80W | 169x Sirius 40W | 145x Sirius 40W Wallwasher | 80x Sirius 20W
https://www.gds.uk.com/products/architectural-lighting/downlight/sirius/

375x Lupus
245x Lupus 2K | 130x Lupus 1K
https://www.gds.uk.com/products/architectural-lighting/downlight/lupus/

51x Puppis
36x Puppis 4K TW | 15x Puppis 4K
https://www.gds.uk.com/products/architectural-lighting/downlight/puppis/

Netgear Switch
ETC Paradigm System, incl. Controller, Server, Conductor, Gateways, Presence detector, Touchdisplays
Obsidian Gateways
Visual Productions Dali-Core