Clever Association bring movie magic to The Children and Young People’s Unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
Together for Cinema are a CIC (Community Interest Company) focussed on delivering cinema rooms in children’s hospices and hospitals across the UK. These entertainment rooms not only benefit children and young adults, but also their families, carers, staff and volunteers.
Clever Association were asked if they’d like to deliver one such room for Together for Cinema at a local hospital, and we jumped at the chance.
The Process
After initial conversations about the project, next up was a site visit to check out the room and meet with the hospital team, to discuss how the space might be used.
We then started our design work, modelling up the space, drawing up a project brief, selecting suitable hardware and creating a technical drawing pack, including wiring schematics and setting out drawings. Ian and the Together for Cinema team then set out to source all the hardware we’d chosen, with the vast majority donated free of charge by manufacturers and distributors.
The Theme
We approached our good friends at Tigerplay, with whom we’ve worked on many projects, as they are a world leader in the design and delivery of children’s play spaces. We couldn’t change the room too much, but we were desperate to make it feel less clinical and Tigerplay came up with the goods. Alongside Creative Joinery & Design, they created a woodland themed vinyl wrap, to cover the existing cabinet doors and walls and even manufactured some fake trees to enhance the theme further. The space had to remain practical, with the ability to bring in beds and wheelchairs, so that all children can enjoy the space.
Products
An existing hoist on the ceiling meant that projection wasn’t going to be an option in this room, so we opted for a 100” Hisense television instead, mounted on a B-Tech bracket, which is more than capable of delivering the big-screen ‘wow’ factor. A Panasonic UHD Blu-ray disc player and a video games console input were both also provided.
PMC on-wall loudspeakers, Audiocontrol processing and amplification and a Bowers & Wilkins subwoofer completed the surround sound audio system.
Our own sensory system, using Brightsign and Nexmosphere hardware made this space somewhere that families can relax and spend time together. Via a simple button press on the wall, the room can be transformed into a relaxing sensory space. Audio-visual content including a woodland scene, a deserted beach, rolling Yorkshire countryside and even more abstract patterns like a lava lamp play back on the huge screen, with a complimentary soundtrack.
The room had a window on one side, which was treated to a Lutron motorised roller blind and Pico wall controller, offering shading and privacy at the touch of a button.
RTI control made the space truly easy to use, with one remote control handset controlling all the audio-visual components.
Opening
We were joined at the opening by one of Santa’s Elves, suppliers who donated hardware and the Together for Cinema team too. Children and their families started to use the space straight away, and it didn’t take long until the Christmas films and popcorn made an appearance!
Well done to Together for Cinema for their tireless work, finding these venues, sourcing the hardware and overseeing everything that goes on. Thanks to all the manufacturers who ‘dig deep’ to help these incredible causes, and to the design and installation teams for pulling these rooms together, including our own.
