Millennium Square
Smart lighting creates a safe and vibrant nightscape that adapts to community life
Millennium Square is a large outdoor public space at the heart of Leeds' Civic Quarter. Surrounded by iconic buildings such as the Civic Hall, the Leeds City Museum and the Electric Press, it is a popular venue for community events and celebrations. Events such as Leeds Light Night and concerts by renowned artists, which attract up to 5,000 attendees, are held here regularly.
Given the high daily footfall through the square and the large crowds that gather for special events, a state-of-the-art lighting system was essential to adapt the lighting to ensure safety at all times. Schréder worked with Leeds City Council to ensure a safe, welcoming and sustainable public space.
Seamless event management with customised control
Leeds City Council required a user-friendly CMS with powerful light control capabilities to ensure smooth event management. We deployed the Schréder EXEDRA platform with a customised dashboard designed specifically for the council’s needs. The system includes three pre-set lighting modes for effortless operation:
- On: 100% light output for events
- Off: 0% light output
- Calendar: lighting class C1 (30 lux) during normal operation.
The intuitive interface enables the Leeds City Council events team to easily manage the lighting during celebrations while ensuring that street lighting engineers have full access to the dashboard for day-to-day operations. As part of the service level agreement, Schréder provided on-site training and demonstrations to ensure the team could operate the system with confidence.
With remote access via the Schréder EXEDRA app, the lighting can be adjusted instantly from any connected mobile device. This enables fast responses to on-the-ground requirements and improves operational efficiency.
Stylish and functional lanterns for a cohesive aesthetic
We proposed a combination of NEOS and VALINTA luminaires to light Millennium Square while maintaining its architectural integrity, ensuring both high performance and visual harmony with the surrounding area.
Thirty-three NEOS luminaires have been mounted on masts, with three per mast. These elegant, compact luminaires feature high-performance optics that deliver highly efficient uniform lighting across the square to meet safety requirements. They have a pure white finish to complement the aesthetic of the Leeds Civic Hall and plaza.
All of the NEOS luminaires have 7-pin NEMA nodes and are connected to the Schréder EXEDRA platform for remote control. Smaller versions of the NEOS have been installed to provide emergency lighting in case of power outages.
Six decorative VALINTA CURVE luminaires have also been discreetly recessed into the 'Off Kilter' sculpture, an architectural installation by Richard Wilson which houses a light and sound control tower linked to the performance space. Mimicking theatrical spotlights, these lanterns enhance the event atmosphere and reinforce Millennium Square’s identity as a premier cultural venue.
Also with a pure white finish, they seamlessly blend into the square’s surroundings. The luminaires deliver the required lighting levels to optimise visibility, improve security and enhance the overall visitor experience.
A bright future for Millennium Square
The council is happy with the new smart lighting system.
Kupac
Primena(s)
I was at the first event on Wednesday evening and can confirm the lights came on perfectly when the command was sent via the platform. I would just like to thank you all for your efforts and accommodating the system to the events team’s request.
It has made Millennium Square a safer and more engaging place, enhancing both daily use and large-scale events. Leeds continues to shine as a city of innovation, sustainability and cultural excellence.
