Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan
Credit
Architect: Group2 Architecture
Contractor: Pentec
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan is a not-for-profit theatre company which has been providing theatrical productions of Shakespeare’s timeless plays right on the Saskatoon riverbank for many years. In 2018, a strategic vision was put forward to expand the existing SOTS site to provide a more permanent home for the company as well as upgrade to a 4 season usage. A schematic plan was developed by the consulting team and in early 2019 Titan Electrical Group in conjunction with Christie Lites Sales submitted a proposal to provide lighting and controls for the new site and was awarded the project.
The site features some of the most dynamic exterior lighting currently installed in Saskatchewan – the large trees flanking the site are lit with color changing lighting, as are the pathways to and from the Amphitheatre. Animated gobo projectors display sponsor logos as well as Shakespeare images and quotes. The Meewasin trail runs through the site and is illuminated with warm white pathway lights which are dimmed when no motion is preseny and brought up to full when pedestrians approach. A large riverside deck is lit with warm white exterior LED tube light integrated into the deck rail and some of the benches.
The main feature of the site however is the new permanent amphitheatre structure. The structure is made up of large precast concrete segments and the project team had to coordinate with the precast manufacturer to integrate color changing LED tape light into each riser segment. These can become part of the stage show and integrate with the theatrical control panel, or revert to the ETC Mosaik site control when no show is taking place. A high degree of granularity was required to achieve both vertical and horizontal motion across the tiers. Additional step lighting was mounted into the steps for egress illumination. These lights are dimmable and also part of the control system.
Manufactures Featured: Acclaim Dyna Drum + Flex Tape, ETC Mosaic, Rebelle Sightlines Step, Lithonia Radean, nLight AIR Controls