A new lighting facade for the Movistar Arena featuring scenographic flexibility, DMX control, and operational efficiency.
The Movistar Arena has implemented a new facade lighting system aimed at strengthening its urban presence and providing the building with greater visual adaptability depending on its programme.
The intervention, developed by LEDVANCE, follows a functional approach: transforming the building envelope into a dynamic visual element capable of adapting to different use cases—from sporting events to concerts or activations—without modifying the installed infrastructure.
In this type of venue, exterior lighting must fulfil a dual function: coherent architectural reading and the ability to deliver scenographic variation. This requires careful consideration of both photometric distribution and control flexibility.
The facade thus shifts from a static element to a programmable surface integrated into the visual identity of each event.
Technical configuration of the solution
The system combines FL PFM 150W/4000K ASYM 55X110 BK LED floodlights with RGBW luminaires controlled via DMX. This configuration separates functions: base architectural lighting and dynamic scene generation.
The use of asymmetric optics enables more precise distribution on vertical surfaces, improving uniformity and reducing light spill outside the facade plane. This is particularly relevant in urban environments, where beam control and real installation efficiency are critical.
The RGBW layer provides colour variation and scene programming capabilities, with centralised control via DMX. This allows the building’s appearance to be adapted to different events without physical intervention.
For this project, LEDVANCE also incorporated the LINEAR LUMINAIRE 100W RGBW DMX, developed to meet the specific requirements of the facade.
Operation and maintenance criteria
In a venue with a high turnover of events, lighting must be designed from an operational perspective: ease of control, system stability, and minimised maintenance interventions.
In this context, LED technology reduces replacement needs and optimises energy consumption. At the control level, DMX integration simplifies scene management and enables adaptation to different usage configurations. The result is a solution that combines efficiency and flexibility without increasing operational complexity.
Adaptation to a multi-use environment
The Movistar Arena hosts a continuous programme of sporting events, concerts, shows, and corporate uses. This diversity requires technical solutions capable of adapting with speed and visual consistency. The new facade lighting responds to this need, enabling different lighting identities without compromising system stability.
The combination of high-performance LED luminaires and DMX control has enabled the development of a flexible and easy-to-manage system, capable of generating different scenes while maintaining efficiency and maintenance criteria, says Fernando Álvarez, Project Manager at LEDVANCE Spain.
Background: interior lighting upgrade
This project complements the interior lighting upgrade carried out in 2023, also by LEDVANCE. In that intervention, 124 500 W floodlights were replaced with 56 projectors featuring 15° and 25° optics, each rated at 1,280 W, integrating DMX control to improve system flexibility.
The installation reaches levels above 2,000 lux, with a CRI of 91 and a flicker index of 0.1, meeting broadcast requirements. The venue also complies with Class I standards and has optimised maintenance needs compared to the previous installation.
The combination of interior renovation and facade upgrade reinforces the role of lighting as a key technical infrastructure in multi-use venues with demanding audiovisual requirements.
