SPECIAL PROJECTS

Project Name: Club Panacea

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Client: Poris Associates

Project Type: Hospitality

This award winning project consisted of the transformation of a neglected historic structure into a hip downtown Detroit techno nightclub. The project had many challenges, including a small budget and a tight design and construction schedule. Despite the challenges, the project was also an opportunity to create a lighting plan that has both practical and fanciful elements.

The building is lit with no intrusion on the century old façade. The club presents a luminous glow to the street, as the arched windows are illuminated from within with a palette of carefully selected colors. This colorful glow is a distinctive element within the club, done without overwhelming the ambient light. Custom designed drink rails and bars are internally illuminated with dimmed, color-sleeved fluorescent fixtures. The back bar is lit with color-sleeved fluorescents with a higher intensity, drawing attention to the club's profit center.

The dance floor has 6 moving lights located above. These fixtures with color mixing, gobo projection, prism manipulation, and strobe effects dramatically reduce the number of luminaires necessary. This has the benefit of reducing initial costs, as well as reducing energy and maintenance costs.