Retrofit Project, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
Newcastle University has a number of distinctive public realm lighting installations across its campus, contributing to the character and appearance of the surrounding spaces.
A number of these fittings had failed or been damaged through vandalism, leaving the University with a requirement to restore the lighting while retaining the existing appearance of the installations.
Snapfast was asked to assess the situation and develop a practical retrofit solution.
Rather than simply replacing the complete lighting units, we worked closely with the client to understand the existing installations and determine the most suitable way forward.
This involved consultations with the University, meetings to discuss the requirements and multiple site visits to assess the fittings, their condition and the challenges involved in refurbishing them.
It quickly became clear that a standard off-the-shelf replacement would not provide the right solution. The existing fittings required components to be designed and manufactured specifically around the original housings.
Snapfast therefore fabricated bespoke internal LED gear trays, allowing the existing fittings to be upgraded while retaining their original external appearance.
We also supplied PVC cylindrical lenses to replace damaged components and sourced new LED modules through Vossloh-Schwabe, providing the core lighting technology required for the retrofit.
By combining site assessment, component sourcing and in-house fabrication, Snapfast was able to develop a retrofit solution around the existing public realm fittings rather than requiring the University to replace the complete installations.
This approach allowed the University to retain the distinctive appearance of its campus lighting while replacing failed and damaged components with modern LED technology.
The result
The project provided Newcastle University with a practical route to restoring its public realm lighting without compromising the appearance of the existing installations.
For Snapfast, it demonstrates exactly where our approach adds value: when a standard replacement isn't the right answer, we look at the existing equipment, understand the problem and work out how to make it work again.