[SML] Florida Venues - Orchestra Pit Lift?

[Riter, Andrew]

We have a Gala Spiral Lift as well.  5 or 6 lifting units, off of 1 motor.

We were built on a stream bed, and while the orchestra pit, and the well below the performer level (for the depth of the pit lift), stayed dry, 2 shafts that act as T-Track stabilizers for the lift platform were wet for years.  Eventually the tracks rusted enough to cause damage, but 20+ years of technological change later, there was a water proofing compound that finally is keeping those 2 shafts dry.

As for the lifts themselves.  They sit on the slab.  No shafts.  I agree with the No Movement During Performances because of noise (also in  BC it’s considered an Elevator, and people can’t be in the Elevator “shaft” when it’s moving.)

Initially, the design called for safety inter locks in the railing panels between audience Row A and the pit.  If the pit walls were not all in place, pit would not move.  This system never functioned, and they couldn’t get it past commissioning.  It was eventually bypassed by the manufacturer.

We recently had an issue with electronics and battery failure within the control cabinet (but again, the gear is 20 years old).  Gala tech spent 2 hours on the phone with the local elevator tech, and got it sorted.

I support going with a Gala product.  However, you will need to get some local elevator techs (campus staff?) trained up on the gala system, so they can do basic inspection/maintenance, without flying a Gala tech in quarterly or yearly for it.

I would strongly urge to the get the lift to move in some number of sections other than 1.  Yes, you’ll need more motors down there, but the flexibility increases.

Gala also does some really neat things with stage flooring becoming audience seating, all at the push of a button.

Andrew M. Riter
Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

604-822-2372
andrew.riter at ubc.ca<mailto:andrew.riter at ubc.ca>

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