LED technology from Cree was used to light up several key venues in Beijing during the recently held Olympic Games. Two of the most notable installations were in the national stadium or ‘Bird’s Nest’ and the national aquatic centre, affectionately known as the ‘Water Cube’.
Not only were the lighting effects visually stunning, they also served as a larger symbol for the ‘greening’ of the global lighting market as epitomised by the move from traditional light bulbs to LEDs, which is gradually gaining momentum.
The Water Cube
The Water Cube is made of 3000 ‘bubbles’, each with the ability to display millions of different colours. During the games, the Water Cube displayed a different colour pattern each evening. These patterns are computer controlled and the Water Cube is programmed to display different coloured designs, including ones inspired by themes including ‘Blooming Flowers’, ‘Rainy Day’ and ‘Night at the Disco’.
Approximately 496 000 Cree XLamp LEDs in red, green and blue illuminate the exterior of the Water Cube. Modules of eight to 16 LEDs are integrated into the steel structure of all four walls and the roof and each module is uniquely designed to focus the light on the individual bubbles.
Inspired by soap bubbles, the Water Cube’s bubbles are made of 100 000 square metres of plastic that was originally developed to provide insulation for aeroplanes. Each of the 3000 bubbles in the Water Cube can resist the weight of a car; a piece of the 0,2 mm thick material can hold up to 300 times its own weight. The Water Cube’s bubbles also trap more heat than glass, reducing total energy requirements by 30%. This is the equivalent of mounting solar panels on the roof.
Subsequent to the completion of the games, the Water Cube is in the process of being converted into a multifunctional facility for sports, culture and recreation, including a café and waterslide.
The Bird’s Nest
The Bird’s Nest exterior has approximately 258 000 Cree XLamp LEDs providing dramatic lighting effects. The colours of these exterior lights consist of white, amber and red.
The original lighting design for the structure called for fluorescent fixtures. After the fluorescents were installed, designers did not like the fixtures’ lighting effect. So, they switched to LEDs for purer, brighter light.
Cree LEDs were also used in two installations inside of the Bird’s Nest: the video screen behind the main stage, and in the LED scroll lighting up the floor during the opening ceremony.
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