Anolis Assists in Renovation of Iconic Paris Theatre Paris' Theatre des Champs-Elysees has had the lighting in its main 1,900-capacity auditorium completely reimagined. A new award-winning design by ProjetScenie, which collected the 2025 LIT Award for Heritage Lighting Design, includes a modern, sustainable feature lighting solution from Anolis to illuminate the famous "shield of light" glass ceiling centrepiece and its surrounding fresco paintings. Lead designer Yann Jourdan chose Anolis Calumma and Eminere LED fixtures to illuminate these very specific elements and satisfy the meticulous attention to detail and eye for creativity that was required to deliver these results. Built between 1911 and 1913, the theatre was one of the first examples of Art Deco architecture in Paris, hailed as a landmark of modern construction and declared a prized French "monument historique" in 1957. On his first visit to the theatre, Jourdan immediately saw the potential for transforming the auditorium's 35m diameter glass ceiling flower-like centerpiece into a "living and breathing" light art feature. As well as being energy-efficient, the brief was to have a new "classical" signature lighting scheme for theatrical performances, and the scope to change colors for other special events and celebrations staged in the room. Jourdan proposed reusing the technical area between the theatre's original concrete roof and the glass auditorium ceiling. For lighting the glass, a white, painted part of the ceiling is lit with strategically positioned Anolis Calumma XLs and Calumma Ms directly, which reflects, coloring the 175 sq. m. of thick glass. The Eminere2s illuminate the circle of frescos around the edge of the center. Originally, incandescent bulbs were used to light the paintings, later replaced with industrial fluorescents that were still in place when ProjetScenie embarked on this mission. The Eminere2s have also been fitted into this technical space together with most of the wiring, all neatly concealed from view. The 96 Eminere2s are arranged in two rows of 48 around the top of the ceiling, where they are hidden from view by the lip of the glass, while evenly and smoothly lighting the paintings on the circular, scalloped ceiling above. The previously used fluorescents had been masked by scenic pieces; however, these additional parts are now not needed due to the more compact physical size of the Eminere2s and their 60cm length, which proved ideal for the circular spread of light. Their greater and more directional output enables the frescos to be lit; the Eminere2s also reflect onto the second balcony, boosting the ambient light levels there. The ten Calumma XLs and 12 Calumma Ms are positioned in the technical area, central to the glass and focused on the white ceiling covering. This masterpiece of Art Deco architecture was originally commissioned by Auguste Perret, who, together with his brother Gustave Perret, designed the building following an architectural scheme by Henry van de Velde. Bruno Francois, the Anolis product specialist from Robe France, worked closely with the design team at the factory to create a special white calibration for the Eminere2s that covers the 1,800-to-4,000-degree Kelvin range. They also completed extensive 3D modelling to accurately predict the colour rendering of the glass surface. "As always, it was a pleasure to work with Bruno and his team," Jourdan notes. The lights are controlled via a Visual Production CueCore3 module with touchscreen access, and the Anolis fixtures can also run on the theatre's house stage lighting console for events. The installation was completed by D6 Bell Light (D6BL) who had to work quickly and diligently with the glass ceiling protected by hard foam for the duration. The entire project was delivered in a very short timeframe of just seven weeks once all the design concepts were green-lit, so Yann also needed a manufacturing partner who could deliver swiftly. 
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