Vari-Lite theater lighting renovation at North Central Texas College

Gainesville, TX – A 20-year-old performing arts center in Gainesville, Texas has been transformed with a comprehensive theatrical lighting renovation from Vari-Lite, a Signify brand, unlocking new creative possibilities for students, faculty and the wider community at North Central Texas College.

The Performing Arts Center is a 360-seat proscenium theater housed inside a striking Monolithic Dome structure, which posed a unique architectural challenge that had long made lighting the space a complex undertaking. Since opening in 2005, the facility had relied on its original dimming, controls and lighting systems. As Calvin Russell, Visual and Performing Arts Facilities Coordinator at North Central Texas College, puts it: "We quickly realized that we needed an upgrade so we could unlock this building's true potential."

Rick Robinson, Principal of Media Design Group, was brought in to assess the facility's long-term needs. The new system needed to serve theater productions, music performances, lectures, community events and student showcases, all while functioning as a working classroom. As Robinson notes, "the design had to balance creative flexibility with reliability, ease of operation and long-term maintainability." Signify’s Vari-Lite team and Media Design Group worked with college stakeholders to develop the full design package, reusing the existing electrics and truss system by reconfiguring the wiring and adding a new DMX512 distribution network. The solution protected the college's investment while delivering a fully modernized result.

Infrastructure was central to the design. A RigSwitch+ 48, Custom Control Rack, and Vision.net Controls form the backbone of the system, with constant power controlled via a DMX relay system feeding both static and automated fixtures.

At the heart of the system sits the Neo X5 Console. "The Neo is a much more user-friendly software that allows an easier experience to a lighting designer," says Russell. "The Neo makes the use of moving lights so much simpler than other systems."

The fixture package balances reliable stage coverage with creative flexibility. VL600 Acclaim PLE and ZoomSpot fixtures provide front-of-house and stage coverage, while Acclaim Fresnels deliver soft, even washes across the performance space. VL600 Acclaim Cyc fixtures illuminate the cyclorama, and VL800 EventProfile and EventWash fixtures expand the rig's ability to support concerts, dance, and special events with saturated color and sharp beam control. RGBL LED technology gives the team dynamic color control at the touch of a button. The project was awarded to Associated Controls and Design (AC+D) of Dallas, Texas, who completed the installation on schedule and provided full training for theater personnel.

For Robinson, the project delivers on every objective: "By combining robust infrastructure, flexible controls and adaptable fixtures, the design provides North Central Texas College with an impressive theatrical lighting system that supports all events and helps prepare students for modern performance environments."

Credits

Client: North Central Texas College
Lighting Designer: Rick Robinson, Media Design Group
Facilities Coordinator: Calvin Russell, North Central Texas College
Electrical Contractors: Leonard Miller, Associated Controls and Design (AC+D), Dallas, Texas

Photo Credits: Leonard Miller

About Vari-Lite

Leveraging a rich legacy of innovation pioneering the entertainment industry’s most iconic lighting solutions, Vari-Lite, a Signify brand, offers an end-to-end portfolio of advanced, energy-efficient LED luminaires, data, architectural control, consoles, and power solutions that the world’s top lighting designers and consultants rely on to create unforgettable looks that amaze. This includes spectacular rock and roll shows, sporting events, moving dramatic performances, spiritual worship experiences, and memorable film and TV productions - at venues large and small. Inventing the first modern moving head fixture for entertainment, Vari-Lite has earned three Grammy awards, numerous patents and industry awards, and the devotion and respect of designers around the world. The brand’s advanced, reliable, and intuitive solutions enable lighting designers to realize their creative vision.