HMS Prince of Wales
Video Systems | Lighting Systems | Bespoke Systems
HMS Prince of wales is one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK.
Her flight deck is 70 metres wide and 280 metres long – enough space for three football pitches – and she holds 45 days’ worth of food in stores.
She has a crew complement (minimum crew) of around 700, increasing to around 1,600 with aircraft onboard. HMS Prince of Wales’ size and scope is awe-inspiring – she can embark 36 F-35B and four Merlin Helicopters.
She has a crew complement (minimum crew) of around 700, increasing to around 1,600 with aircraft onboard. HMS Prince of Wales’ size and scope is awe-inspiring – she can embark 36 F-35B and four Merlin Helicopters.
I was contacted by the ship to give them a proposal on the new aircraft carrier The Prince of Wales.
Onboard the ship they had a space for the petty officer’s mess consisting of 3 different zones; Zone one being the bar area, zone two they wanted to create a “chill out” area where the officers could go and unwind, read their books, or have a chat and a drink when off duty. Lastly zone three, they wanted an ‘all-singing, all-dancing’ display, almost like a nightclub or a bar atmosphere, where there would be a stage in the corner that would hold live events and they could also put a big screen on and have parties.
Now, bearing in mind they can be in deployment for up to 6 months at a time, I suggested that I would give them something that was almost like home from home, so that any of the officers could go into the mess and go to the bar area and have a good time with their friends, whilst other officers watch sports on the display screen, or they can go to the “chill out” area and socialise.
I also suggested an option of installing systems where they can stream their media to the screen in the “chill out” area and listen to music in there. If they would like to have events on, they can go to the party zone and watch events on the big screen and have karaoke sessions, again creating that home from home feel. Following this discussion, I went away and came up with a proposal for just that!
Starting with Zone One, the “chill out” area.
We commissioned approximately 150 metres of (colour changing) led strip going up the walls to give a cooling effect or a vibrant effect when needed. In addition, we installed a background music system to enable the officers to play their own music and we then provided access for the officers to be able to stream their own iPad’s, iPhone’s and other media content to that particular zone.
Zone Two, the bar area.
We put a collection of top of the range flat screens on the walls, where the officers could watch live football matches when the signal was present. We also installed a vast amount of LED ambient lighting, again around the bar, to produce a calming, relaxed ambience or alternatively, a vibrant Friday night down the pub kind of feeling to create that at home atmosphere at the touch of a button. Following this, we put in place a full round music system, where again the petty officers could stream their own media to the zone they required.
Lastly, in Zone Three the party zone area.
We put a large screen and projection system in place, along with a full round music system and facilities for karaoke, live acoustic acts etc. In conjunction, we then implemented a complex #bose processing equipment system, whereby the officers could make each zone personalised and customised, alternatively, they could establish one full zone and open the partitioning doors between the three zones and they could merge the three zones into one expanded zone to host a big event or gathering of the deck.
On the dance floor of Zone Three, we fully equipped this area with #Chauvet high powered moving effects lights, moving heads, profile spots etc for the desired night life display. Furthermore, we fitted and designed a custom dance floor, which added the main foundation of the nightclub, home from home, creation for the officers.
In addition, we installed a Apple TV system, once again, any content or media that they wanted to stream they could with no difficulty and this essentially is a high tech bespoke system, but easily navigated as the officers could customise it to themselves. Of course, this was highly favoured and created a flurry of excitement from the officers.
