Philips invigorates iconic National Theatre in Accra

On the occasion of Philips’ sixth consecutive Cape Town to Cairo roadshow, Philips uunveiled the newly illuminated National Theatre of Ghana. Philips, the global leader in lighting, has provided the theatre with a stunning makeover, using its latest connected LED technology to boost the beautification of the city of Accra, while also cutting energy consumption by up to 80%, as compared to the existing conventional lighting. The new lighting system is installed throughout the entire façade of the National Theatre, enhancing its distinctive architectural structure and contributing to the building’s energy saving performance.

The National Theatre of Ghana opened in 1992 and is a hub of culture and heritage, as well as a source of national pride for the city of Accra. The elegant and imposing National Theatre has a complicated construction molding and novel exterior features. When looked at from a distance, the whole structure looks like a gigantic ship or a seagull spreading its wings.

Philips’ lighting concept is focused on highlighting the significance of this iconic building as an architectural masterpiece and as a source of national pride to Ghana, and in so doing assist with the building’s energy saving performance.

The connected LED lighting technology used by Philips, creates more light, while making it more focused and controlled. Philips used its Vaya LED lighting solutions and tailored them to the specific needs of the National Theatre of Ghana; which included devising effective lighting while respecting the authenticity of the building. The lighting needed to enhance the beauty of the theatre without at any time overwhelming it.

The new connected lighting system covers the 78m base platform of the National Theatre and illuminates the entire area of the central ship, as well as the columns supporting the ship. With a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, the new Philips lighting fixtures last much longer and reduce the need for periodic replacement. Each installed luminaire has its own IP address; making it feasible to produce up to 16 million different lighting colors as well as remotely monitoring the performance of each light point.

Commenting on the illumination of the National Theatre of Ghana, Felix Darko, General Manager – Lighting, Philips West Africa said, “The magnificent lighting at the National Theatre of Ghana is testament to the incredible advances that are being made in the efficiency and beauty of LED illumination. Connected LED lighting innovations are providing cities with completely new opportunities in the areas of energy efficiency and city beautification - policy makers and governments the world over are realizing the benefits. The LED lighting system at the National Theatre of Ghana, not only improves the commercial attractiveness of the facility, but will also contribute to the reduction of energy consumption in Accra.”

The announcements in Ghana formed part of Philips’ annual pan-African Cape Town to Cairo roadshow that kicked off on 11th May 2015, in Cape Town.  Ghana is the sixth stop on a journey covering 12,000 km across 11 cities and 8 countries over a period of 4.5 months. The roadshow has gained significant momentum over the past five years, allowing Philips to get to the heart of some of the key issues facing Africa –  including Mother and Child Care, the rise of non-communicable diseases, energy efficient LED and solar lighting technologies, as well as shining a spotlight on the need for clinical education and training.