The architectural marvel of the Middle East, YAS Hotel in Abu Dhabi, completed with the launch of the first Formula 1™ race held on October 30th 2009 at the new Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit built around the hotel is the world’s biggest LED project, to date, controlled through RDM (Remote Device Management) protocol by an advanced lighting control solution provided by e:cue lighting control.

The main design attraction of this 500-room, 85,000-square-meter complex, is the curvilinear grid-shell covered with over 5,300 diamond-shaped steel panels, containing nearly 5000 RGBW LED fixtures, controlled by e:cue’s CONTROL SERVER through RDM protocol. Thirty two e:cue BUTLER XTs, RDM capable, provide bidirectional communication between the LED lighting on the grid-shell, and e:cue’s CONTROL SERVER for status monitoring of LEDs. The system sends status reports to building management and automatically adjusts the intensity of LEDs to prevent overheating.



Lighting design firm ARUP Lighting-New York used e:cue’s LIGHTING APPLICATION SUITE 5.1 (LAS) running on a CONTROL SERVER to create stunning lighting effects such as color-changing lighting sequences, and to play low-resolution video content, on the grid-shell. LIGHTING APPLICATION SUITE 5.1 software package provided the tools for the complex video pixel mapping on the curvilinear shape of the grid-shell, and software visualization for offsite programming of the complete lighting design for this 20,000 RDM channel installation. Additionally, the lighting sequences and video can be uploaded remotely through the Internet, and the content is triggered by programmed automation based on an astronomical clock, daylight sensors, and a touch-screen user interface.

Björn Moerman we offers an spectacular gallery of images here.



Lead architects: Asymptote Architecture
Lighting design: ARUP Lighting, New York
Lighting control: e:cue lighting control
Grid-Shell LED Lighting: Enfis/Cooper Lighting
Local partner: RDK International