The challenge
As a presenting partner of the event, Novatech Creative Event Technology provided a range of supporting equipment and services. This included a large number of immersive lighting and video projection facilities that helped to bring the night-time performances to life.
To ensure Illuminate Adelaide was as vibrant and memorable as possible, Novatech needed to deploy a range of video projectors within the Adelaide central business district for the free night time light trail – City Lights. Adelaide’s city streets were transformed, with laneways and open spaces turned into a nocturnal playground of projections, imagination and light. The projectors were used to deliver visual content in new and interesting ways and needed to be able to withstand all weather conditions.
The solution
After evaluating a range of options, a decision was made in 2020 to deploy equipment from Barco.
“In late 2020, we made a large investment in Barco UDM and UDX video projectors, however the equipment was not used until 2021 due to COVID-related restrictions that forced event closures,” says Leko Novakovic, Managing Director at Novatech Creative Event Technology. “The inaugural Illuminate Adelaide event gave us the opportunity to put the equipment through its paces.”
Leko says because of the scale of the Illuminate event, Novatech was keen to have all projectors sourced from a single vendor. This would ensure operators could work on any installation and be familiar with the projector’s features and functions.
“The sites and material being projected varied dramatically, but the combination of the UDX and UDM units allowed us to design a solution to perfectly suit each building and application,” says Leko.
Sites equipped with Barco projectors included North Terrace (6 UDM units and 4 UDX units), the Institute Building (2 UDM units), the West Precinct (4 UDX units) and the Light Carpark (2 UDM units).
The results
With the units fully deployed for the duration of the event, Leko says both Novatech staff and event patrons were impressed with the results.
“The ability of the Barco projectors to deliver bright and very large video images added greatly to the success of the event. I would certainly recommend them to anyone staging similar large, outdoor events.”
Leko says the event sites around the CBD varied quite a lot and the flexibility of the projectors allowed the Novatech team to successfully cover entire buildings with video images.
“Their brightness allowed clear images to be seen even with the surrounding environmental lighting and other activations,” says Leko. “Image mapping was accurate and allowed the content to shine and be the main focus for patrons.”
Much of the success of the event can be put down to the close collaboration and pre-planning conducted by Illuminate Adelaide and Novatech over an eight-month period. Particular attention was given to the type of content to be projected and how the projectors could be seamlessly integrated together.
“Thanks to our investment in Barco equipment, we now have the capability to support events of similar size in the future, both in Adelaide and around Australia,” says Leko. “I’m confident that Barco will be a valuable technology partner for many years to come.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
