The 668 square meter Grand Ballroom at the Shangri-La Sydney has undergone extensive refurbishment with a remarkable interior and lighting scheme created by Hong Kong-based design company AB Concept and Tokyo’s Lighting Planners Associates, which is led by internationally acclaimed lighting designer Kaoru Mende.

Their designs have created a contemporary space of contrasting textures that combines modern Australian aesthetics with subtle indigenous motifs to reflect the story behind The Rocks. The Grand Ballroom’s new interior also reflects its location by referencing Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, their curves evoked in four oval chandeliers bordered with 2,148 glowing crystal rods whose light can be adjusted to create scalloped patterns and wave-like motifs on the ceiling and walls.

More than 60 remote controlled spotlights from RCL add further flexibility to the lighting. A combination of DR7 and DR8 LED luminaires form the core of a complete lighting, sound and visual system. This includes a sound system, six high definition projectors and motorized projection screens, and four skylights with customizable color settings so that the Grand Ballroom feels as though it is lit naturally even though it is below ground.

“Like Sydney’s open sky, the design concept reflected an expansive feeling, as if it was an open-air venue, with a bright and comfortable lighting environment,” says Lighting Planners Associates. “The lighting system is adaptable to fit various situations and meets tight energy conservation guidelines in Australia.”

The DR8 features a compact design that is ideally suited to the ceiling troughs of the Grand Ballroom. Special snoots fitted to the luminaires help to reduce glare and direct the light. Both the DR7 and DR8 spotlights can be focused wirelessly using a simple handheld remote controller from floor level, bypassing the need for mechanical lifts or long ladders. This reduces set up time and avoids the costs and dangers typically associated with manual adjustment.

The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 850 guests for cocktail receptions and 500 guests for banquets. It can also be adapted for classroom, boardroom or theater-style seating depending on the event. RCL’s innovative system allows non-technical staff to highlight table centerpieces or specific areas for an event, increasing the versatility of the space.

The refurbishment helped place the Shangri-La, Sydney in Conde Nast Traveler’s Top Ten Hotels in Australia and the Pacific.

“Since launching the renovated Grand Ballroom in late 2013, we have hosted a number of high profile events which were elevated by the space’s state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities,” said general manager Michael Cottan. “Our clients appreciate the option to customize the lighting and ambiance of the Grand Ballroom with the use of color and rotating spotlights. These features have enabled guests to bring their vision to life in a very elegant space.”

The Shangri-La, Sydney represents the 31st Shangri-La Group property to incorporate RCL luminaires into their design. RCL has supplied remote controlled luminaires to virtually every major hotel brand, including Four Seasons, InterContinental, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott and Sheraton.