1st September 2023 - 7th January 2024

Blackpool Illuminations - Illuminated Promenade Arches

Arches

Promenade Illuminated Arches

Promenade Illuminated Arches

At the North and South end of the Illuminations there have been arches spanning the promenade. These arches are illuminated with coloured lights. They are in position all year round and take a serious battering due to the winter weather and sea spray. In 2016 Pixel Motif were given the opportunity to design, manufacture and supply new LED entrance arches at the South and North end of the Illuminations. Here are some technical details of the work that goes into creating a feature in the Illuminations.




Illuminated Arches Construction

Blackpool Gateway Arches Sections

Illuminated Arch Sections

The North and South arches are actually different sizes! The South arch is made from 10 sections per side while the North arch is 8 sections each side.
Each section of the arch weighs 64kgs and contains 30 polycarbonate tubes which have 84 leds within them making 2520 individually controlled leds per section.
Each section of the arch can consume 600w of energy on full white output( thats 6kw for south and 4.2kw for the North)
The sections were designed and manufactured in Sussex by Pixel Motif https://www.facebook.com/pixelmotifltd/.
As you can see from the sections during construction they are made to withstand the wind and salty air that batters them during the winter months.

Illuminated Arches Control Systems

Illuminations Arches Testing in Factory

Promenade Illuminated Arches at Factory

The panels are controlled by a very sophisticated control system. They are controlled by special Madrix lighting software. The panels can be remotely changed. The panles can display text, images and even play videos through the arches at a low resolution! So that's 36 custom frames with a total of 128,000 individually controllable LED pixels!

Laurence discusses Illuminations

North Promenade Installation
of Illuminated Arch








If you want to see the finished arches in action you going to have to visit the Illuminations. :-)