Specialist lighting design for Hotel Indigo

Gateshead-based Park Electrical Distributors has helped to shine the light on the recently opened Hotel Indigo, Durham.

Grade II listed, The Old Shire Hall, has been refurbished as a boutique 83 bedroom hotel.

Park was appointed to design internal lighting for the Marco Pierre White restaurant and bar area by Durham-based, KM Electrical Services, who installed the electrical facilities.

Simon Mooney, specialist services sale director at Park Electrical Distributors, said: “The Old Shire Hall, newly refurbished as the Hotel Indigo, is a very well-known landmark within Durham and we were delighted to be brought into the project by KM Electrical Services to assist in the transformation of the building.

“It is a very impressive structure and we worked with the architects and designers to maintain and protect its original features.

“Within the bar areas the period light fitting was 100-years-old and antique in its style.  The original feature was maintained. We created a bespoke hanging decorative pendant with 40 drop glass shades in a finish to match the room. The pendant was built so as to resemble the original features.

“What was the former council chamber room, the restaurant has maintained many of its traditional features, such as the original light pendants which hang from the ceiling and fit the character of the building. These pendants have been refitted with new low energy, long life, LED lamps reducing the energy by over 90%.  The domed ceiling is incised with a number of original stain glass decorative feature windows. To highlight the windows, we utilised a ground breaking product which is a technological gem in terms of light clarity. The fitting is mounted on the sill providing a 360-degree narrow beam of light illuminating the window rebate.

“The room has a series of sound absorbing acoustic panels also hung from the ceiling keeping the background noise in control.

“The restaurant has four booths forming the central eating area within the main section of the restaurant that are Ideal for larger groups.  Each booth has a bespoke fixed feature lamp designed for the tables, providing a charming setting for guests as they relax into the evening.

“Other areas of the restaurant are lit using a mixture of high-level LED spotlights and more bespoke feature pendants with shades to match the seating.  The restaurant has a balcony area overlooking the main eating area illuminated using both wall and down lights.

“The lighting provides a stunning backdrop within the building, providing a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution. We look forward to seeing the building being enjoyed and used for years to come.”

The restaurant and bar areas also have a control system which manages the lighting environment during lunch and dinner periods.

Kevin Anderson, managing director at KM Electrical Services, said: “We have a long-standing, working relationship with the team at Park who always deliver quality products, on time and within cost.

“We wanted to bring a trusted team into the project and knew they could deliver. We worked alongside Park, to provide the electrics including fire alarms, CCTV, audio system, data network structure and disabled assistance alarms.”

Park Electrical Distributors is the North East’s largest independent electrical wholesaler with just over £20 million turnover. Established in 1990, it has branches in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham and Teesside. In addition to its role as a wholesaler, the company has its specialist services team, Lighting Design, Energy Solution, Building Technologies and Industrial Services supporting all branches. Environmental stewardship is high on the company’s priorities, this is achieved by focussing on innovative lighting technology and building control systems that significantly reduces both the carbon footprint and energy costs to the business.