How we transformed Orlando’s Nightlife with LED Lights
In case you are not familiar with the less famous Wall St, ( people in Orlando might argue that theirs is more famous ) let me fill you in on the area. A brief bio of the are taken from http://www.orlando.com/ will give you some more insight into the rocking nightspot.
Wall Street Plaza is one of the go-to locations in Orlando’s Downtown core for wall-to-wall bars, pubs and clubs – many of which double up as laidback diners during the daytime, before the crowds arrive. Even though many of the bars here get packed-out with day-trippers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and international tourists, Wall Street Plaza still offers a more ‘local’ experience compared to other nightlife areas in Orlando.
This entertainment complex promises a fun mix of laidback restaurants, lively bars, and all-out nightclubs, with 7 venues in total. This is also the epicenter of many a party in Downtown, with the outdoor square getting packed out for special events such as New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween and a few local events such as RumFest, Florida Music Fest and City Skip Day. The road is close-off to traffic every Friday and Saturday night from 9 pm for their weekly ‘Block Parties’, with live DJs and no cover charge.
Before & After
As is often the case we were approached by bars around the area and asked to come up with a plan that would best suit the area. There were a number of challenges to address with this particular install.
- The distance that the lights had to cover. Wall Street is a long street where people come to play during the wee hrs in Orlando. This pedestrian street is over 80 ft long and 20 ft wide – that is a lot of area to be covered.
- Street Lights posed a particular issue – when two lights are competing for the same space the brighter, whiter light will win out, essentially killing the look that you might be hoping to achieve.
- Durability – whatever lights we used had to be durable and unobtrusive. They needed to be able to take the sweltering Florida sun, handle the crazy storms and survive hundreds of people throwing beer up into the air when Orlando Soccer Team score a late goal
https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ - We needed full control and color-changing options. Our clients https://www.wallstplaza.net/ had a vision beyond the regular festoon lights that are everywhere. On a project this size, they are impractical, and potentially a hazard if the break.
Solution
We came up with a solution that solved all of the above issues – there is always a solution:). We used RGBW acrylic ball string lights to span the area. The trick here is to have them supported strong enough, not too close or too far apart to make the too costly or ineffective.
We used airplane cable wire to support the weight of the lights and ran our control system to an upstairs office within the bars. This allows for different effects and colors to be used on different occasions. We can be Red, White, and Blue for July 4th and Green for St Patricks Day.
The key to great lighting is great planning followed by the right material, installers, and programmers. We tick all of the above boxes at Smart LED Concepts. If you are considering an upgrade or a new project. Reach out with us today and see if we can help you reach your goals.
