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Utrecht has its own Holland Casino since the 30th of September. De new establishment, located directly next to the Jaarbeurs, is not only worth a visit on account of the architecture but also on account of the special lighting. The company 3TAc has fitted the casino with neon lighting befitting the interior with Art Deco details. The walls have gotten neon contour lines in coves and the ceiling have been, also in coves, fitted with circles of neon. The neon creates a certain atmosphere because it is dimmable, a technique that 3Tac has also used in the Beatrix theater. In total 1,5 kilometer neon has been used.
Director Rene Huizenga of 3Tac – the full-service organization in the field of neon, illuminated advertisements and signage – is proud of the result. Huizenga is the owner of 3Tac since 5 years, before that he was an interim manager for 3 years. Meanwhile the company has grown from 6 to 18 employees. “What is unique for 3Tac is that we have our own glass works, and a pretty big capacity. 3Tac offers a range of possibilities for all forms of illuminated advertisements and signage. Because we have our own glass works we can take care of the whole process, from design and production to the installation and the service, on our account.” Huizenga notes that 3Tac, based in Oss, has built up a respectable clientele through the years, including regional organization like the municipality Oss, hospital Bernhoven, School voor de Toekomst, Holland Office Group and Formido Zaltbommel, but also national companies like Endemol productions, Showbizcity and the Beatrix theater. Huizenga is particularly proud that almost all neon that is visible on TV (including German programs) is made by 3Tac. “There is a cause for that”, he tells. “ Traditionally we have been very involved with certain television programs on account of our delivery speed and the reliability of the delivery. When something breaks, often hours before the start of a program, we can come directly to fix the lighting.” He names television programs like the Surpriseshow, All you need is love, Triviant, GTST, but also TV BvD. Furthermore the stairs of Lee Towers has been fitted with neon, as his name is. An important project was Showbizcity.
Holland Casino
The newest project is Holland Casino in Utrecht. The reason was the request of architect Meijs, but the realized work of 3Tac in the Beatrix theater as well. Huizenga: “All buffets in the Beatrix theater have dimmable neon. For Holland Casino the idea had come up to place neon in coves, neon that is also dimmable. The demand of the architect was that no cold color should arise during dimming. That is usually the problem with dimmable fluorescent lighting. We have made a few samples then, where the architect could choose from different colors of neon. That became yellow with this client, at the Beatrix theater it is a Champagne-color.” The coves were built by an interior decorator. “Then the specific knowledge of 3Tac was called upon”, says Huizenga. “You can’t produce of a drawing in advance. You really have to wait till you have the molds of the coves, because otherwise it will not fit. Glass can only be shaped fittingly during the production process. An advantage that we had here was that the interior decorator also had done Showbizcity and the Beatrix theater. We already knew the whole gang. You can cooperate well together than.” In regards to the molds a deal was made with the interior decorator. “After making the coves out of MDF he let his machines make the molds for us.” Huizenga tells what is so special about this neon lighting. “It is the application: neon is being purely used as lighting that isn’t in view. Normally you see neon in view. Furthermore it is completely dimmable, without losing its warm color. The amount of neon is used is also special: 1,5 kilometer.” The installation therefore has been a gigantic task. In total 3Tac spent 3 months on it.
Contours
The Director shows what happened exactly. “So we made this one and half kilometer dimmable neon internally. It runs all the way by the contours of the wall and the ceiling. Sometimes it runs three-lined and sometimes as one line. Furthermore neon circles have been fitted to the ceiling.” Outside 3Tac went to work as well. “The words Holland Casino on the round façade have been performed in so called box-letters with inset neon systems and has a width of 7 meters. The letters have been mounted on a bent ellipse, which gives a three dimensional effect. Additionally a logo of 9 meters and a logo of 4 meters have been mounted on the façade in un-illuminated box letters. These are being lit up. The façade is being adorned by neon contour lines as well. “ The mushrooms in stone outside the casino are also lit with neon. Sixteen stone sitting elements are being lit from below with neon tubes that have been milled into it. Furthermore the well designed awning of the tourniquet appears to be a starry sky thanks to the use of several techniques.” According to Huizenga the use of neon is a good alternative compared to high frequent fluorescent light, not only in price but also in warmth that the light radiates. “ We are generally able to make every shape and color that is being desired.” Neon also has the advantages that it can fit into a cove of 7 centimeters wide and deep. “You can’t fit fluorescent light there.”
New projects
New projects are already in the pipeline. 3Tac will fit twee office buildings near the Van Brienenoordbrug in Rotterdam with illuminated advertisements. The project starts in November. “We have been commissioned by Slavenburg’s Bouwbedrijven en Royals&Sunalliance Global + Large Risks to fit two very large neon installations. This is technically very challenging, because it is a glass façade. In the meantime we have mounted the sample letters SLG on the building of Slavenburg.” The definite neon will be partially in view and partially behind boards. It concerns black letters with white neon. To be able to hang the neon a construction has to be mounted. To do this glass panels need to be removed from the building to fit them back later on. “This is the only solution”, Huizenga says. “We can’t check if the letters will fit at 50 meters height.”
3Tac will also broaden their field of business. “We have bought all the equipment for metallurgy from a colleague who took over a company in Groningen. To be able to generally do all aluminum work apart from the neon. Until now we purchase a large part of that. It is the aim to make all aluminum constructions independent for the full 100%. Than we can make something in this field within 24 or 48 hours if we want.”
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