The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has transformed its Preston campus through a £200 million Campus Masterplan, highlighted by a £60 million Student Centre and University Square. Designed by Hawkins Brown, the modern campus draws inspiration from Preston’s textile heritage and future industries. A standout feature is the motion-sensitive “light threads,” created by Jason Bruges Studio and fabricated by The Light Lab using custom Glowline Inground fittings. These illuminated paths, embedded in the stone paving, mimic cotton strands and extend into the Student Centre, enhancing the campus experience.
The Light Lab developed over 300 custom ‘light threads’ using a bespoke version of the GL50 Inground Glowline. Each 1m fitting, with 10 individually controllable pixels, enabled Jason Bruges Studio to create dynamic animations across the site, adding motion to the illuminated pathways. The self-addressing fittings streamlined installation, allowing up to 25 units to be connected from a few driver enclosures, reducing cabling and simplifying the setup.
Check out our fantastic night time drone footage of the installation by Will Selby: