Cooper Lighting technology deployed in the exterior light structures of the Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi

(15/12/2009)

Located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the Yas Hotel, a 500-room, 85,000-square-metre complex that includes a Formula 1 race track running through its centre, is considered to be an historic architectural landmark, as it combines influences from ancient Islamic traditions with artistry and geometries associated with speed and movement.

Cooper Lighting and Safety recently provided lighting solutions for the new Yas Hotel. The exterior of the hotel features more than 5,400 LED luminaires installed inside a series of individually-designed glass panels, which form a stunning crystal veil when lit up at night. The technologies used in the exterior light structures were created by Cooper Lighting and Safety.

This project is a strong example of Cooper’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions through maximizing creativity, energy efficiency and reliability. Due to the hotel’s location in Abu Dhabi, environmental factors were a major concern throughout the construction of the complex.

The region’s extreme heat, forceful winds and abrasive climate can be destructive to any exterior lighting product. After a series of optical and endurance tests, Cooper Lighting and Safety developed a full operational mock-up of the hotel’s exterior lighting design, which included 12 lighting fixtures that were built on-site in the grueling Abu Dhabi desert for final customer endorsement.

“This was an exciting and demanding project to be involved with,” Kris Beyen, President, Cooper Safety. “It ably demonstrated our capabilities of meeting a wide range of challenges set forth by our customers.”

In order to meet the hotel’s strict design standards, Cooper Lighting and Safety enacted a lean manufacturing clean room environment for the project. In addition, the firm assembled a dedicated and focused project team, which enforced a clear communications structure, robust quality procedures, and strict supply chain systems. These processes reinforced the importance of the hotel’s strict time-frames and budgets, and ensured that any issues or delays were eradicated in real-time, with enough flexibility to adapt to any unforeseen changes.

The hotel hosted its grand opening festivities in conjunction with the inaugural 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which took place October 30 – November 1.

The design of the Yas Hotel was the brainchild of Asymptote Architecture, the New York-based architectural firm known for creating visionary building designs, master plans, and spatial experiments that challenge the traditional boundaries of architecture and integrate the potential of new technologies. The project was completed by Aldar Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi's leading property development, management and investment company.

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