Guildhall Square, Southampton

Guildhall Square is a vibrant public plaza that hosts events, exhibitions, and performances, while serving as a key gathering space for the University of Southampton community and visitors alike. Originally regenerated in 2010 with modern lighting, paving, and street furniture, the square quickly became a destination for concerts and art shows.

By 2024, one of the four main lighting columns had become unstable, prompting Southampton City Council (SCC) to update the scheme. SCC approached installer Utili-light and trusted supplier Urbis Schréder to propose a resourceful lighting solution that would halve energy consumption, minimise waste, and revitalise the space.

Innovative retrofit solution

Our modern VALINTA MAXI CURVE lantern was chosen for its performance and contemporary aesthetic. The challenge, however, was in mounting VALINTA to the existing columns. To reuse the existing lighting columns, bespoke bracketry was designed using our in-house design services. Our product managers visited the site to develop a retrofit solution that allowed the VALINTA’s to be fixed to the existing metalwork, significantly reducing cost, waste, and installation time.

The unstable column, that prompted the scheme, was removed for testing by installer Utili-light. Once passed as acceptable, Utili-light reinstalled the column to prevent any unnecessary waste. Outdated reflectors were also removed, relieving stress on the columns and inefficient uplighters were replaced with the VALINTA Maxi Curve, halving energy consumption across the square.

Lighting that enhances safety and experience

Following an onsite assessment, 32 static white (4000K) lanterns were installed to achieve C2 lighting levels. The result is a uniform illumination that improves perceptions of safety and security for gatherings and events.