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Transforming the Woodruff Arts Center With the RETRO Series

The Woodruff Arts Center is a visual and performing arts center located in Atlanta, Georgia with a mission to pass the power of art on to the next generation through access and education. Opened in 1968, it is home to three renowned artistic institutions: The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art.

The Arts Center had previously upgraded their Atrium/Lobby fixtures from PAR 56’s, but they were non-dimmable without 0-10V. Thus, they were looking to change these out as they wanted line dimmable fixtures. Barbizon Lighting Company recommended Canto USA and the RETRO series for the job based on previous experience with the product line.

A previous lamp install in the Arts Center had damaged the gimbles on the original adjustable PAR 56 fixtures. As such, we had to make some adaptor rings for standoff height, as well as rotation to allow for the RETRO to be used in the existing fixtures along with custom trim covers. The original fixture cans and wiring also needed to be updated before the installation. After a small learning curve for the installation process, an electrical contractor was able to complete the installation of 125 RETRO-Classic 500’s in about a week. The upgrade was a success with everyone at the Woodruff Arts Center amazed at the difference the lighting made in the space.

“Everyone is very pleased. The space really pops and it is much brighter and elegant. It really highlights the renovations done throughout the Memorial Hall Space,” said Josh Fisher, Systems Integrator, Barbizon Lighting Company.

Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 6
Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 5
Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 4
Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 3
Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 2
Woodruff Art Center After Canto Usa Retro Install 1

About CantoUSA

Founded in 2013, Canto USA is a manufacturer of houselight retrofits and followspots. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to our mission: “Our customers come first. In order to do this, we continuously train our team on the latest trends and needs of the industry, while at the same time becoming a trendsetter in the development of new products and technology that no other company has available.” 

Have a custom job we did for you and want to be featured in one of our blogs articles?

Canto USA’s RETRO Series Travels to Italy

The Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy has a long rich history dating back to 1740 when it was first constructed. It’s name and ownership has changed through time. Napoleon even attended performances there on 3 occasions. Destroyed by a violent fire in 1936 the theatre took almost 40 years to rebuild. The new Teatro Regio was inaugurated on April 10, 1973.

As technology improves and the need for energy savings rise the Teatro Regio is taking steps to modernize its lighting. Canto USA recently had to chance to interview Enzo Trovato of Decima 1948 about his experience working on lighting upgrades to Teatro Regio.

What prompted the theatre to upgrade its lighting?

Decima 1948 won a tender for the technological upgrade of the stage machinery in the main stage and lighting package in the small stage. In the lighting package, the Regio Theater wanted to change the old flood halogen lamp with LED technology.

What made the theatre choose Canto USA and the RETRO series for the job?

Fabiano Besio of Canto USA International suggested Canto USA’s RETRO Series. It can be customized with a good fade in/out to use with a normal dimmer. That’s what I was looking for. He put us in contact with their dealer Zalight and we were able to deal directly with Canto USA.

What were some of the challenges?

The main aim for installing the new led light fixtures was not to touch the false ceiling for the passage of new electrical or signal cables. It also had to have excellent dimming and stability of the LED even at a low percentage of brightness.

Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Install 2
Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Series Installation

What were some of the customizations that had to be done?

Canto USA had custom adapter plates made to fit the square profile of the ceiling to avoid any extra modification to the 37 RETRO units installed. Basically a plug-and-play product.

Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Install 3
Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Series Installation

How long did the install take?

Only one week but 3 other days were necessary to change lenses and make adjustments.

Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Install 3
Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Series Installation

What was everybody’s initial reaction when the job was done?

The Lighting designer was very happy, especially with the fade.

Enzo, thanks for talking with us about your experience with our product.

Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Install 1
Teatro Regio After Canto USA RETRO Series Installation

The RETRO Series Line of Products

RETRO-Fusion™ – Lighter & Smaller

CantoUSA RETRO-Fusion Series Product Photo

With the RETRO-Fusion being lighter and lower profile, along with a beveled top edge, it is able to squeeze into more shallow fixtures without having the lens protrude from the front of the trim ring. That reduces any type of glare. This new design opens up more opportunities and applications.

RETRO-Classic™ – Flexibility & Customization

CantoUSA RETRO-Classic Series Product Photo

The RETRO-Classic our original 0-100% phase dimmable (forward and reverse) variable wattage LED 2700K-6500K 80-97 CRI engine retrofit house light and most customizable RETRO in the entire RETRO family. They are heavier than the Fusion, yet lighter than Passive.

RETRO-Passive® – Absolute Silence

CantoUSA RETRO-Passive Series Product Photo

Being fanless, the RETRO-Passive is perfect for sound-sensitive spaces like museums and concert halls. They also have heavier heat sinks to compensate for not having active cooling.

RETRO-PAR – PAR Lamp Replacement

CantoUSA RETRO-Par Series Product Photo

The RETRO-PAR is easy to replace/install, modular, and customizable. Customizable features include active or passive cooling, different wattage outputs, and different optical beam spreads. It comes in PAR 38, 46, 56, and 64 styles, as well as custom.

RETRO-HPL

CantoUSA RETRO-HPL Product Photo

The RETRO-HPL is a direct replacement for existing Source 4 PARs in the marketplace, especially those used for house lights.

About CantoUSA

Founded in 2013, Canto USA is a manufacturer of houselight retrofits and followspots. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to our mission: “Our customers come first. In order to do this, we continuously train our team on the latest trends and needs of the industry, while at the same time becoming a trendsetter in the development of new products and technology that no other company has available.” 

Have a custom job we did for you and want to be featured in one of our blogs articles?

Canto USA’s RETRO Series Goes International With Its First Project In Australia

The RETRO series has had a lot of success here in the US. It’s been used to upgrade house lights in churches, schools, universities, and museums to reliable and energy-efficient LED lighting. The simplicity, versatility, and customization of the RETRO make it an economical solution when replacing the entire lighting system is out of scope. The smooth and flicker-free dimming it provides has also made it perfect for performance halls that also record and broadcast video. With all of this going for the product line, it’s only natural that it starts to gather some attention from other parts of the globe.

Methodist Ladies College located in Claremont Western Australia has had a long rich history dating back to 1907. A vibrant all-girls boarding and day school that has grown over the past 115 years to include a world-class geothermally heated pool facility and new drama and music facilities. Expansion and redevelopment over the years had led Doug Hounslow, Theatre and Venues Manager, to search for an LED solution for MLC’s primary venue, Hadley Hall. It had an interesting lighting system comprised of 10 E27 LED lamps, 10 125 watt discharge lamps, and 20 250 watt discharge lamps all of which were switched from different places. To say the setup was difficult to use was an understatement – let alone suitable for performances.

Methodist Ladies College before Canto USA RETRO installation photo 1
Methodist Ladies College before Canto USA RETRO installation
Methodist Ladies College before Canto USA RETRO installation photo 1
Methodist Ladies College before Canto USA RETRO installation

Doug reached out to Darren Irving from LIDA Industries, our new rep based in Burleigh, Australia. “Darren has been such a big help throughout this process. From my initial query 12 months ago through to helping with issues.” Doug said, “His support has been exemplary.”

“The key advantage of the Canto USA RETRO series line is the ROI (Return On Investment),” said Darren, “A client can quickly ‘retrofit’ their venue lighting without the expense of re-cabling, adding additional drivers and reprogramming, all of which add substantial cost to a project.”

The RETRO series was chosen to replace the 20 x 250 Watt discharge fixtures. It was the most compelling solution due to the full smooth 0-100% dimming, no additional DMX/Dali control cabling was required, and the ability to be fitted into the existing infrastructure with minor changes. Removal of the ballast from the fixture and replacement of E40 base to E27 to eliminate any potential arcing were the only customizations required.

Once the shipment of RETRO’s arrived they began building scaffolding as it was the only way to reach the fixtures to do the replacement. Primarily they had 6 of the units fail based on what was believed to be power anomalies due to the fixture’s older lamp bases. They replaced the bases and the issues resolved themselves. Altogether the upgrade and lamp base changes took 15 days.

Staff appreciated better even coverage, the easy dimming control, the consistent color temperature throughout, and the venue looking more inviting as well. “I LOVE the dimming curve,” said Doug.

Methodist Ladies College after Canto USA RETRO Series installation photo 2
Methodist Ladies College after Canto USA RETRO Series installation
Methodist Ladies College after Canto USA RETRO Series installation photo 1
Methodist Ladies College after Canto USA RETRO Series installation

“The RETRO always makes a significant difference to the lighting in every install,” said Canto USA General Manager, John Luhrs, “You really have to appreciate the fantastic dimming curve and the uniform color temperature they provide.”

The RETRO Series Line of Products

RETRO-Classic™ – Flexibility & Customization

CantoUSA RETRO-Classic Series Product Photo

The RETRO-Classic our original 0-100% phase dimmable (forward and reverse) variable wattage LED 2700K-6500K 80-97 CRI engine retrofit house light and most customizable RETRO in the entire RETRO family. They are heavier than the Fusion, yet lighter than Passive.

RETRO-Fusion™ – Lighter & Smaller

CantoUSA RETRO-Fusion Series Product Photo

With the RETRO-Fusion being lighter and lower profile, along with a beveled top edge, it is able to squeeze into more shallow fixtures without having the lens protrude from the front of the trim ring. That reduces any type of glare. This new design opens up more opportunities and applications.

RETRO-Passive® – Absolute Silence

CantoUSA RETRO-Passive Series Product Photo

Being fanless, the RETRO-Passive is perfect for sound-sensitive spaces like museums and concert halls. They also have heavier heat sinks to compensate for not having active cooling.

RETRO-PAR – PAR Lamp Replacement

CantoUSA RETRO-Par Series Product Photo

The RETRO-PAR is easy to replace/install, modular, and customizable. Customizable features include active or passive cooling, different wattage outputs, and different optical beam spreads. It comes in PAR 38, 46, 56, and 64 styles, as well as custom.

RETRO-HPL

CantoUSA RETRO-HPL Product Photo

The RETRO-HPL is a direct replacement for existing Source 4 PARs in the marketplace, especially those used for house lights.

About CantoUSA

Founded in 2013, Canto USA is a manufacturer of houselight retrofits and followspots. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to our mission: “Our customers come first. In order to do this, we continuously train our team on the latest trends and needs of the industry, while at the same time becoming a trendsetter in the development of new products and technology that no other company has available.” 

Have a custom job we did for you and want to be featured in one of our blogs articles?