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The new €656 million Larnaka Zenon International Airport terminal includes 5,000sq. metres of airside retail space; but the focal point is provided by an electrifying moving LED cultural hub called Sense of Place, which was realised from the ground up by Bedford-based Paradigm AV.

The Airport has been developed in a joint venture between Aer Rianta International (ARI) and Cyprus Trading Corp (CTC-ARI), while Hermes Airport Ltd is the consortium charged with developing and running the new terminal. Three times bigger than its predecessor it has a capacity of 7.5 million passengers per year.

London based travel retail specialists Portland Design were commissioned by CTC-ARI to provide the zone planning and design the commercial areas, including Sense of Place. They tasked Paradigm AV with delivering an ever-changing centrepiece of the main commercial area, incorporating multi-functional retail (that could transfer from a car promo to arts and crafts market), while a permanent upmarket seafood bar is located at the other end.

For Paradigm AV this was a fast fit project. The scope of work included engineering a high elliptical, canopied sculpture, braced with complex aluminium OPTI Trilite trussing. Incorporated within is a 5m diameter copper ‘drum’ design feature, lantern lights, silkscreened lace work patterns and seating and promotional areas.

With its opalescent liquid fascia, the structure measures 26m long x 8m wide and 4.5m high and occupies a total perimeter of 80 metres. Sense of Place (SOP) is brought to life with a complex colour-changing RGB LED lighting system producing cycles of rainbow and many change effects along with rear projected digital signage — all diffused through special stretch printed PVC cladding.

While ARIME Projects & Design acted as project coordinator, Cypriot artist collaborative Twofourtwo, developed a historically authentic graphic motif inspired by Cyprus’s Chalcolithic past and its long association with copper. Since ‘Cyprus’ derives its very name from this element, the iconic copper drum containing laser-cut Chalcolithic patterns is the dominant feature of the SOP feature.

Also integrated under the oval canopy are the ten lantern drum lights, with complex LED light sources, which have likewise been decorated with Chalcolithic motifs.

As with the fascia, the lanterns use Tryka Strip Module 36 and 18 linear colour change battens. Every light is individually addressed by the Pharos DMX control system. Programmed into this are seven scene presets, running 24 hours a day, which delivers Portland Design’s rainbow and colour-change concept.

These lighting programmes can easily be changed on the fly from a wall remote while Pharos Ethernet POE allows the system to be accessed over the internet, at the same time allowing new lighting programmes to be uploaded. The DMX control protocol will be useful as the Airport’s digital signage facility expands further, with its capacity to control other DMX-compatible AV devices.

Paradigm also specified a Panasonic PT-DZ6710 widescreen 1080p HD projector, fitted with a 0.8:1 short-throw wide angle lens to rear project digital signage content as a 2.2m wide curved image. Apart from the superior optics and the warranted heavy-duty use of the Panasonic, its onboard warping facility allows the image to be warped to project onto the tightly-curved fascia end. Content is driven by a local media player fed from the airport’s LAN, which includes welcome messages, information and has potential for revenue generating advertising.

But one of the most difficult project challenges, given the scale and complexity, was the design and delivery of the bespoke OPTI Trilite trussing which would support the whole structure. The modern building design generated complex weight and point loading demands that added yet another layer of complexity to an already complex design.

The earthquake expansion joint in the floor through the centre of the structure required that the entire rig be supplied in two sections and the position of the bar area below meant that each half would not be symmetrical — thus each sectional part would only ever fit in the half it was designed for.

Stated CTC-ARI Airports General Manager Danny Galvin: “We have managed to open on time and on budget probably one of the most spectacular shopping areas I’ve seen. The sheer scale of it is amazing and the reaction of everyone who sees it for the first time is very, very positive.”

Paradigm AV founder Greg Jeffreys, who acted as AV project director, agreed. “As a turnkey contract this has been one of the most challenging projects undertaken in Paradigm’s history. It was an extremely complex and challengingly multi-disciplinary project.

“We are proud of building military simulators too, but no-one in our team would rate this project as anything less in terms of project discipline, tight tolerance design added to the sheer design bravura of Portland’s vision.”

The final word of praise comes from Tracy Ross, Projects & Design Manager Aer Rianta International Middle East. “Everyone is in awe as they enter the retail area and see this truly unique structure, with a fun, vibrant holiday atmosphere.

“It’s many thanks to Paradigm for making this project come to life. Their team were an absolute pleasure to work with, efficient and cooperative but most importantly, they met the deadlines set and delivered within budget.”