Robe Fixtures Installed at De Bijloke Music Centre, Ghent

	De Bijloke Muziekcentrum in Ghent, Belgium.

Robe's ROBIN moving lights have been installed into the two main performance spaces at the De Bijloke Muziekcentrum (Music Centre) in Ghent, Belgium.

De Bijloke offers a diverse program of high quality music, presented both in pure concert form and in new and unique combinations and conceptual formats. The venue produces over 100 concerts, recitals, and performances a year and stages or receives another 80 plus shows and collaborative works. It attracts over 100,000 visitors and classical music lovers and aficionados annually.

The unique venue includes two renovated former civil hospitals, one dating back to the 13th century (the Concert Hall) and one to the 16th century (the Kraakhuis) -- both converted into performance spaces. Another 19th century building (formerly an Institute of Anatomy) is utilized for offices, staff facilities, and administration.

The Concert Hall and Kraakhuis (with capacities of 1,000 and 240 respectively) have now been joined together -- literally under one roof space -- by an elegant contemporary foyer. The steel pillars and vast glass spans of the new construction are an ideal juxtaposition to the original brick and arched window architecture of the hospitals. This bold structural addition unites the entire Centre.

With the shows and programs run at Bijloke increasing in profile, chief electrician, Bart de Dobbeleer, wanted to introduce a moving light systems. He discussed the idea with Bijloke's general manager and director, Daan Bauwens, who agreed that the venue would benefit from the addition of moving light technology.

The 22 Robin 600 LEDWashes and six Robin 600 spots were delivered by the Belgian office of Robe's Benelux distributor, Controllux, to locally based Ghent rental company, City Sounds.

Due to the classical nature of many of De Bijloke's shows, silent running fixtures were essential. Another need was that the lights didn't produce an excessive amount of heat.

In the smaller Kraakhuis venue, there is only a 16A supply available for all lighting, so the six LEDWashes placed there provide a perfect solution, the company says.

"As pioneers in the rock 'n' roll sector, I was especially keen to bring all the quality and style of Robe into a classical environment," says de Dobbeleer who worked with stage technician, Kristof de Dycker.

In both venues, the fixtures are controlled by Chamsys MagicQ consoles.

The installation work was completed by City Sounds working with De Dobbeleer and de Dycker.

Controllux's Bram de Clerck says, "It is a real achievement to have a classical and other music venue of this stature investing in Robe, and a great reference for our products in this slightly different and specialized sector."