The Problem
The historic Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel, California, underwent a significant renovation focused on updating its 1950s auditorium and enhancing the audience experience. A key aspect of this renovation was the reconfiguration of the auditorium with stadium-style seating. This new seating arrangement presented a challenge: the need for a lighting solution that was both effective for safety and wayfinding, yet subtle enough not to distract the audience or performers, all while meeting local building codes.
The project required a solution that could integrate seamlessly with the architectural changes while maintaining the theater’s aesthetic. Any solution considered needed to find a way to mark stair edges and illuminate treads without creating harsh or obtrusive lighting in the performance area; in addition to upgrading hallway lighting that improved visibility and complemented the theater’s artistic theme.
Why They Chose Light Tape
After researching several manufacturers, Light Tape stood out for its quality, style, and affordability. Ken Smith, the Lighting Designer for the project, and his team found Light Tape to be an innovative and elegant lighting solution. Several factors contributed to this decision:
- Thin and Flexible Design: Light Tape’s characteristic of being thinner than a credit card and able to cover almost any surface without a break in light made it ideal for the subtle integration required in the historic auditorium and hallways.
- Versatility: The ability to use Light Tape for both marking stair edges and providing ambient hallway lighting demonstrated its versatility for the project’s diverse needs.
- Aesthetics: The choice of blue Light Tape for the hallways was directly linked to the playhouse’s artistic theme inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night, showcasing Light Tape’s ability to contribute to the overall design concept.
- Support: The team at Light Tape provided valuable support throughout the process, ensuring they found the best solutions for their needs. Ken Smith acknowledged the team’s responsiveness and willingness to help.
The Solve/Results
The lighting solution implemented at the Golden Bough Playhouse successfully addressed the initial challenges:
- Stair Lighting: Light Tape was the theater floor lighting choice to mark the edges of the stairs, providing subtle but effective delineation for safety. White LED tape was used to illuminate the stair treads, offering the necessary visibility for patrons. To achieve a clean and modern look with smooth, glare-free lighting, the white lens of the LED tape was frosted, effectively removing the undesirable “dots of light” seen with other manufacturers.
- Hallway Lighting: Blue Light Tape was installed along the vertical edges of the hallways, guiding people through the space while also enhancing the theater’s artistic atmosphere with its deep blue tones.
- Support and Collaboration: Working through the challenges of calculating power loads and driver placement, Steve Pendlebury and the Light Tape team actively worked to address any and all concerns to ensure a smooth, error-free installation.
- Positive Outcome: The team at the Golden Bough Playhouse is thrilled with the results and highly recommends Light Tape for anyone seeking innovative and elegant lighting solutions. Ken Smith believes the product is working great in the theatre, providing the necessary safety and illumination in both full light and darkness. He also suggested that Light Tape could easily become the best seller for similar installations. The successful integration of Light Tape not only met the functional requirements of the renovated auditorium but also enhanced its aesthetic appeal and contributed to the overall audience experience.
We sincerely thank the Golden Bough Playhouse team for trusting us to be part of their historic renovation. It’s been an honor to contribute to a space that brings such joy and inspiration to its community.
Ready to transform your theater or auditorium with lighting that’s as innovative as your vision? Contact us today to discover how Light Tape can elevate your next renovation-combining safety, elegance, and seamless integration for a show-stopping audience experience. Let’s bring your project to light!
