Florida. The Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in Venice, Florida, has recently undergone a major lighting upgrade with the installation of Elation FUZE PAR Z175 luminaires, provided by production and integration company Thunder City Pro.
The venue, which previously relied on conventional Lekos and Fresnels for stage lighting, now offers an enhanced visual experience through state-of-the-art LED wash luminaires with dynamic colour mixing and motorised zoom.
"The goal was to incorporate color mixing and moving lights to enhance the concert experience," said Justin Stancil, president of Thunder City, who notes that the upgrade also included FOCUS SPOT 5Z moving heads from Elation's sister company, ADJ. "The new lighting system really allows for much more dynamic and exciting scenes for all the concerts and theatrical shows they present."
The VPAC, managed by the Venice Institute of Performing Arts, is home to the Venice Symphony Orchestra, the Venice Concert Band, and the Venice Choir, and functions as the main performance space for the Venice High School's Department of Performing Arts. The 1090-seat multi-purpose performance venue plays a critical role in the Venice community, hosting more than 120 events a year, including concerts, plays, musicals, and conferences.
Lighting requirements included RGBW color mixing with motorized zoom, as well as moving head luminaires for effects and gobo projections. Justin turned to Elation's FUZE series again after having a good experience with the FUZE SFX LED Spot FX fixture for a stadium lighting upgrade at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, earlier in the year.
This time it selected Elation's FUZE PAR Z175, a full-color LED PAR light with single-lens COB RGBW LED that projects a single homogeneous beam of light with a uniformly illuminated lens face that appears single-color rather than individual LED diodes. The uniform lens replicates the classic look of old-school PAR lights and mobile washing devices that so many designers and artists prefer.
The installation, completed in October 2023, included 16 FUZE PAR Z175 and 4 ADJ FOCUS SPOT 5Z moving head devices. Thunder City Pro provided the devices and guided the installation process, while the VPAC team executed the installation. All devices are mounted on a structure in the center of the stage and integrated into a suspension rail system. This configuration allows the devices to be raised above the curtains during theatrical performances and lowered to be exposed to the public during concerts.
Thunder City Pro, headquartered in the nearby city of St. Petersburg, Florida, offers its customers customized options, including full design services, using the latest in state-of-the-art equipment. The Venice Performing Arts Center is now better equipped to elevate the quality of its shows and events, reinforcing its importance as a cornerstone of the Venice community's cultural scene.
