Radius, Arden Square

Radius, Arden Square is a modern mixed-use development located in the heart of Crewe. This striking building combines commercial office spaces and residential apartments, offering a prime location within the town’s vibrant business and cultural district. 

With project partners AEW Architects & Space Invader Design, lighting designers Artin. commissioned The Light Lab as specialist contractors, to fabricate and install a bespoke 16m high digital light art installation situated in the vertical circulation core of the building.

The feature, titled ‘Abacus’, inspired by the ancient calculating tool, consists of 130 individually controlled colour-changing RGBW LED battens; designed to form a unique and eye-catching focal point. 

The LED battens comprise a metalwork body with a tube diffuser all mounted on a custom fabricated metalwork structure, spanning the full 16m height of the stairwell from the ground floor to ceiling. This structure offers support to all the battens whilst also providing a cableway for the significant power and data cable requirement for a feature mounted within a central space.    

The Light Lab also designed and supplied the control system using a custom motion sensor arrangement to actively trigger dynamic content via the Pharos DMX controller as the user steps on to the stairs.  

The dynamic lighting transforms the stairwell into a visually immersive experience, enhancing the space with a sense of movement and depth, while evoking a modern, energetic atmosphere.

As Luke Artingstall, Director at Artin. describes:
‘The interactive piece, connects and reacts with the uses of the staircase, creating subtle animations which ripple and reverberate vertically across the installation. This is triggered by movement and the playful interactions with the abacus beads.

From concept through to realisation this piece has been highly anticipated, and we are over the moon with the final outcome. Thank you to the client and construction team for helping realise this piece.”