REFURBISHING THE THÉÂTRE ROYAL DE LIÈGE – HIGH-SPEED GEAR-DRIVEN SPIRALIFT® APPLICATIONS
GALA SYSTEMS
SPIRALIFT TECHNOLOGY:
GOING A STEP FURTHER
It has been more than 30 years since Gala Systems began supplying versatile orchestra and stage lift solutions for auditoriums and concert halls. To date, the company has participated in more than 1,500 projects around the world!
One of its greatest strengths has always been the Spiralift, an ultra-compact mechanism designed to handle large loads with ease. The technology has proven to be a practical solution for unusual applications, notably the limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical equipment in historic buildings. Furthermore, for those applications where high traveling speed is necessary, Gala developed the new I-Lock series of gear-driven Spiralift, which can reach a speed of 0.3 m/s.
High-speed gear-driven Spiralift application
Refurbishing the Théâtre Royal de Liège
From 2009 to 2012, the neoclassic Théâtre Royal de Liège of Belgium, home of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie and built in 1875, underwent a full transformation both inside and out. As a result, the building saw an enlargement in the form of a cubicle construction which rears above the columned portico, and rediscovered the former glory of its Italian-style auditorium (with a capacity of 1041 seats). Technically, all stage machinery had to be perfectly adapted for modern use while also resolving the problem of loading and unloading operations, which take place under the auditorium stage due to the constraints of the original building.
To deal with this issue, the project’s main contractor, Putman Theatec, specialist in stage mechanics and technical installations of theatres, used Gala Systems’ under-stage machinery, including both standard Spiralift and high-speed gear-driven Spiralift from the I-Lock series. Equipped therewith, four mobile platforms can now be handled separately without noise, simplifying loading operations, providing greater efficiency in scene changes and allowing for different stage arrangements. This success in combining tradition and modernity at the Théâtre Royal de Liège is all good news for opera-goers!
Project Credits
Main Contractor :
Putman
30 Rue Henri-Joseph Genesse,
1070 Anderlecht, Belgium
Architects :
ENTREPRISE TEMPORAIRE
A.2R.C __Aa ORIGIN
43 rue Demeuse
4052 Chaudfontaine, Belgium
