Products Tested In-House
Urban Splash: Waulk Mill
Ultra LEDs proudly supplied the LED strip lighting and profiles for Waulk Mill’s striking new light installation, designed by internationally renowned light artist Ben Rousseau. Alongside our products, we provided in-house technical support, pre-programming dynamic lighting sequences to ensure a seamless and impactful installation.
Set in the heart of Manchester’s Ancoats, this Grade II* listed building features a 15-metre spiral light sculpture that redefines its entrance, blending Victorian heritage with cutting-edge design.
Commissioned by Artistic Statements for Urban Splash, the installation features our 24V Advance Toning RGB LED Strip Lights housed within 30 Circular Suspendable Aluminium Profiles.
These LEDs are powered by DMX Decoders, pre-programmed to deliver seamless, dynamic lighting sequences that transform the space throughout the day.
The Vision Behind Waulk Mill
Waulk Mill, a historic landmark, was first transformed by Urban Splash in the early 2000s, earning a prestigious RIBA Award for Architecture. Blending preserved Victorian features with contemporary design, it now serves as a hub for modern office spaces, starting from 620 sq ft.
As part of their latest investment, Urban Splash sought to create a captivating centrepiece for Waulk Mill’s entrance.
The design needed to work across multiple levels, drawing visitors in from the entrance and maintaining interest throughout the building. Inspired by the building’s spiral staircase, Rousseau created a dynamic, flowing light sculpture that offers an immersive experience from multiple vantage points.
Introducing Ben Rousseau
Ben Rousseau, the creative mind behind this project, is celebrated for his high-end lighting designs and large-scale installations. His global portfolio includes projects at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, illuminated ice suites in Arctic Sweden, and exhibitions at the V&A Museum in London.
For Waulk Mill, Ben drew inspiration from the building’s spiral staircase and dramatic vertical space. His design — a spiral of light — perfectly accentuates these elements while creating a dynamic visual experience.
The installation invites viewers to look up, amplifying the sense of space and movement throughout the building.
"Our solution was an atrium installation that complements the architecture while adding visual excitement. The design needed to work across multiple levels, drawing visitors in from the entrance and maintaining interest throughout the building."
“We started with a series of static colours, beginning with red to align with the brand colours, followed by white — often the best choice for most designs. Then we added two-tone effects with a pulsing colour and energy that truly showcased the light strips.”
The Spiral Light Sculpture
At the centre of Waulk Mill’s transformation is a 15-metre spiral light sculpture, designed to enhance the building’s industrial aesthetic while drawing attention to its height. The structure highlights Waulk Mill’s architectural features with a modern, dynamic element.
- Dynamic LED Lighting: The sculpture incorporates 30 Circular Suspendable Aluminium Profiles, fitted with our 24V Advance Toning RGB LED Strip Lights. These strips were pre-programmed to create smooth colour transitions and dynamic sequences, maintaining a visually engaging display throughout the day. The combination of static colours and flowing animations enhances the impact, ensuring the installation remains captivating from every angle.
- Precision Engineering and Materials: Built from mild steel and powder-coated to match Waulk Mill’s original plumbing, the structure blends seamlessly with its industrial surroundings. Suspended by steel cables, the design achieves a clean, modern look while preserving the building’s architectural integrity.
- Immersive from Every Angle: Whether viewed from the entrance, balconies, or lift, the spiral installation delivers a dynamic visual experience. Its upward flow highlights the building’s impressive height, drawing attention to its industrial heritage while introducing a modern, vibrant centrepiece.
The Lighting Behind The Project
A project of this scale required precision-engineered solutions to seamlessly blend form and function. Ultra LEDs supplied and pre-programmed key components, including LED strips and control systems, to deliver precise colour transitions and dynamic lighting sequences.
These elements ensured the installation not only met its aesthetic goals but also performed flawlessly within the challenging architectural environment
- Circular Suspendable Aluminium Profiles: We supplied 30 Circular Suspendable Aluminium Profiles, offering durable, lightweight housing for the LED strips. These profiles ensure even light distribution and integrate seamlessly with Waulk Mill’s industrial design, enhancing both the functionality and visual impact of the installation.
- 24V Advance Toning RGB LED Strip Lights: Our 24V Advance Toning RGB LED Strip Lights deliver vibrant and dynamic colour effects. With a wide beam angle and high LED density, they provide smooth, consistent illumination across the entire spiral. The toning capability enables precise control for both subtle ambient lighting and bold visual statements.
- DMX Decoders: Pre-programmed DMX decoders enable precise control over lighting sequences, ensuring smooth colour transitions and dynamic effects. These decoders were integral to achieving the installation’s seamless performance, perfectly realising Rousseau’s artistic vision.
How It Came Together
The efficiency of this project was a standout achievement. Ultra LEDs ensured a seamless process by custom-creating and delivering the LEDs on a tight schedule to meet the project deadline.
Ben Rousseau and his small team completed the intricate spiral sculpture build in just two days, highlighting the importance of collaboration, precise engineering, and high-quality materials in achieving exceptional results under pressure.
The History Of Waulk Mill
Waulk Mill, located in Manchester's historic Ancoats district, is a significant part of the city’s industrial past. Built in 1824, it was a key player during Manchester’s "Cottonopolis" era, when the city led the world in textile production.
The name "Waulk" refers to the traditional process of fulling cloth, highlighting the building's deep-rooted connection to the textile industry.
In the early 2000s, Urban Splash took on the ambitious task of restoring Waulk Mill, blending its preserved Victorian features with innovative modern design. Their efforts revitalised the building, transforming it into a functional and stylish space for contemporary use. The restoration was recognised with a prestigious RIBA Award for Architecture, celebrating the seamless integration of historical and modern elements.
Today, the Mill serves as a hub for contemporary office spaces, offering businesses a unique combination of historic charm and modern amenities. Urban Splash’s thoughtful approach has ensured that the building continues to honour its past while remaining relevant to Manchester’s vibrant urban landscape.
"UltraLEDs did an incredible job translating this vision into reality. We collaborated closely, mocking up and testing sequences at their facility before moving the project to my workshop on the South Coast."
"Their organisation, efficiency, and understanding of our tight timeframe were invaluable. Huge thanks to Dave and the team — the results speak for themselves!"
A Collaborative Effort
The Waulk Mill light installation was made possible through close collaboration between Urban Splash, Artistic Statements, Ben Rousseau, and Ultra LEDs.
Urban Splash - set the vision for the project, aiming to enhance Waulk Mill’s architectural beauty with a bold, modern feature.
Artistic Statements - facilitated the design competition, selecting Ben Rousseau for his expertise in creating striking, immersive light installations.
Ben Rousseau - brought the concept to life, designing the spiral sculpture to harmonise with the building’s industrial character while adding a dynamic focal point.
Ultra LEDs - provided technical expertise, supplying precision-engineered lighting products and pre-programming the RGB sequences to ensure seamless integration and flawless operation.
Overcoming Installation Challenges
Installing a large-scale, suspended spiral light sculpture in a confined space like Waulk Mill’s atrium posed unique challenges. From scaffolding setup to precise alignment of the 30 aluminium profiles, every stage required meticulous planning and execution.
Our team collaborated closely with Ben Rousseau and Urban Splash to navigate these constraints. The pre-programmed DMX decoders streamlined the process, ensuring the lighting sequences were ready to perform flawlessly upon installation.
Despite the tight space and complex design, the project was delivered on time, highlighting the importance of seamless teamwork and technical expertise.
"To elevate the design further, we experimented with full-colour RGB sequences, animating the entire structure as one cohesive unit. This created a mesmerising effect, as the energy seemed to pulse and fade up and down the installation, bringing the spiral to life."
"Each light strip measured 2.5 metres and featured high-quality RGB LEDs with 120 LEDs per metres, running at 11 watts for maximum output. The strips were controlled via a DMX driver, connected to a wall-mounted interface handed over to the building services team for easy control and adjustments."
More Photos From The Project
Watch The Transformation
This project showcases how close collaboration and technical expertise brought Waulk Mill’s spiral sculpture to life. By working seamlessly with our partners, we navigated design challenges and delivered a visually stunning, high-performance installation.
Blending bespoke LED technology with the building’s industrial heritage, the result highlights the potential of custom lighting to transform and elevate any environment.
Check out our YouTube video to see how the project unfolded, featuring our products in action and Ben Rousseau’s creative process in bringing this striking design to reality.
For more information or to discuss your next project, contact Ultra LEDs today.
Visit ultraleds.co.uk and follow @ultraleds on Instagram. Check out @ben_rousseau_studio on social media for more of his work or visit his website here.
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