In 2009, building managers Raine and Horne contacted AET to see if it was possible to illuminate the Telstra Tower with a high intensity lighting solution that could deliver many colour variations and would be aesthetically pleasing. AET jumped at the opportunity to put together such a challenging project and overcame a host of obstacles including:
- Illuminating a concrete colored building that absorbs light
- Protecting the system that gets struck by lightning over 1000 times a year
- Installation challenges
- Meeting client expectations for the installation
- No fixed budget allocation, the homework started from the ground up
After a variety of proposals were put to the clients, AET shortlisted a variety of products from many reputable brands. LED technology was in its infancy and AET needed to partner with a reputable brand that could walk the talk in terms of product performance. This led to an AET joint venture with Show Tech Lighting. Together, they installed a system that can control the LED fittings, called the Martin Light Jockey. This system allows for thousands of combinations of colours so that the Tower looks amazing at night and became a feature of the Canberra nightscape.