Bradford Live zencontrol UK

Bradford Live

Location:

Bradford

M&E Contractor:

Pitts Wilson

M&E Consultant:

Buro Happold

Project Overview

Bradford Live is a landmark live entertainment and events venue, designed to host concerts, performances, conferences and large-scale public events. The project demanded a highly flexible, reliable and intelligent lighting control solution capable of supporting everything from day-to-day operation to complex, show-driven lighting scenes.

zencontrol was selected to deliver a fully integrated lighting control system that could seamlessly connect architectural lighting, building management systems and show lighting, while remaining simple for operators to manage both on site and remotely.

The zencontrol solution

zencontrol supplied a comprehensive DALI-2 lighting control solution, including DALI-2 Application Controllers, Relays, Scene Controllers, Switch interfaces and Sensors. Together, these components form a unified, intelligent lighting network that provides granular control over every luminaire across the venue.

The system integrates directly with the building management system via BACnet/IP, allowing lighting to respond dynamically to wider building operations. In addition, DALI-to-DMX integration enables coordinated control between architectural lighting and DMX show lighting, supporting automatic profile changes and overrides for different event types.

The zencontrol user interface gives operators full visibility and control of the lighting system, whether accessed locally or remotely, ensuring ease of use alongside powerful system functionality.

Why DALI-2?

DALI-2 was chosen as the core lighting control backbone due to its flexibility, reliability and suitability for complex environments such as live entertainment venues. As an open, internationally recognised standard, DALI-2 ensures interoperability between devices from multiple manufacturers, avoiding vendor lock-in and supporting long-term system adaptability.

The ability to individually address, monitor and configure every device allows precise control of lighting behaviour, detailed diagnostics and efficient maintenance. Bi-directional communication provides real-time feedback on luminaire status and performance, helping ensure reliability in a venue where uptime is critical.

DALI-2 also enables straightforward integration with other systems, including BACnet/IP for building management and DMX for show lighting, delivering a scalable and future-proof solution that can evolve with the venue’s needs.

Key features

  • DALI-2 lighting control backbone
  • Human Centric Lighting (HCL) colour control
  • Individual luminaire addressing and monitoring
  • Real-time diagnostics and status feedback
  • Seamless integration with BMS via BACnet/IP
  • DALI-to-DMX integration for show lighting
  • Centralised management through the zencontrol user interface

The result

At Bradford Live, zencontrol’s DALI-2 solution delivers complete control, flexibility and confidence. Venue operators can easily switch between everyday lighting modes and complex, scene-based lighting setups tailored to concerts, performances or events. Integration with BMS and DMX ensures lighting works in harmony with both the building and live productions.

The result is a robust, future-ready lighting control system that enhances the visitor experience, simplifies operation and provides the versatility required for one of the UK’s most dynamic live entertainment venues.