Bridgeville, Penn. – October 1, 2024 – In the heart of the Midwest, Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio has long stood as a center for innovation and creativity. The studio was built in 1968 and commissioned in 1970. Located on the University of Nebraska’s Lincoln campus, the space measures 100 feet by 60 feet. Its original rigging plan included 109 motorized lighting battens, an engineering feature usually found in major media hubs such as Los Angeles and New York City.
From Incandescent to LED: The Need for an Upgrade
Today, the historic Ron Hull Studio has undergone a complete transformation. Its original lighting system was designed for incandescent loads and had already been revised once. However, Nebraska Public Media needed a more complete retrofit for modern production. Doug Carlson, former Director of Production Services, and Nancy Finken, Chief Content Officer, recognized the need for a full overhaul. Carlson returned after retirement to help manage the project.
Rigging System Revamp
One of the most significant parts of the Ron Hull Studio upgrade was the rigging system. The original setup was groundbreaking in its time, but it needed an update. The new design had to preserve the studio’s flexibility while adding modern rigging technology. One of the country’s top lighting designers, Norman Russell, Principal Consultant and Lighting Group Leader for NV5, served as consultant designer for the project. Russell designed the rigging and lighting systems with design and engineering support from NV5 Senior Lighting Designer Steve Cooper.
“The original rigging system, while a marvel in its time, didn’t fit their current and future needs,” explained Russell. “We created a design that preserved the studio’s incredible flexibility while anticipating the challenges of the next few decades.”
To begin the overhaul, the team took down all the lights, lowered the pipes, and removed the old motors and rigging systems. Then, rows of package hoists were installed along the studio’s 100-foot length. Each hoist measured about 12 to 14 feet wide. The design used three hoists per row across 20 rows, for a total of 60 new hoists. This setup supports lighting fixtures, scenic elements, and other production equipment. As a result, the studio can support many production configurations.
Lighting Heaven: The Power of LED Technology
The rigging system forms the bones of the studio. However, lighting design creates the new visual look. The Ron Hull Studio’s lighting upgrade marked a major shift from the old dimmer-per-circuit system to a state-of-the-art network driver system with LED fixtures.
In the new system, each LED fixture has its own driver. This small electronic device controls the LED output from zero to 100%. In addition, a Local Area Network distributes DMX control signals to all luminaire mounting positions.
Lighting designers can now place fixtures wherever they like and adjust settings with precision. They can dial in the exact intensity, color, and beam angle needed for each shot. This level of control is especially important in a studio with many different productions. Each production has its own lighting requirements. Lighting designer/director Chris Boyd installed the fixtures and programmed the lighting’s DMX controllers alongside Lighting Designer Erik Rodgers.
“The Ron Hull Studio hosts about a dozen different productions with multiple sets,” explained Boyd. “Some are weekly, and some are seasonal. Each one has a slightly different look. However, each production still needs to say Nebraska Public Media while keeping its own character. Now we have so many fixtures, angles, and options for producers. With the new lighting and rigging, they can achieve lighting effects that were not possible before.”
Russell echoed that enthusiasm for the revamped studio. “The flexibility starts in the rig with being able to decide where each fixture goes. Each fixture can be located and dialed in precisely where the user wants it. It’s truly heaven for a lighting designer. There are many places to hang fixtures and create angles for almost any need. If you can’t create great lighting in this studio, you’re just not trying very hard.”
High-Performance Fixtures from Brightline
To meet the highest standards, Nebraska Public Media brought in one of the top names in the lighting business: Brightline. Brightline’s latest studio LED lighting is used at high-profile broadcast stations across the U.S.
Brightline’s Series One L1.4 and L1.2 LED studio fixtures were key parts of the new lighting system. Russell described them as superior directional soft lights. “It’s not at all your typical directional light,” he said. “They don’t create a sharp edge. Typically, you put a profile spot on the subject, and suddenly you have a big drop shadow. It can be hard to get rid of that edge. With a soft light and a soft edge, such as the L1.4 and L1.2, you can accomplish a long throw without that hard edge. That remains true even with an intense amount of light. When you add an intensifier with a narrow angle, you get a nice, tight field that is very bright but still has a soft edge. For my money, Brightline provides the best studio lighting for TV available today.”
Brightline Mako and Minnow profile spotlights and Lupo Fresnels are also included in the lighting redesign. “They offer a comprehensive package,” Russell reported. “All the fixtures are very competitive in terms of cost and performance. Sometimes several luminaires can be listed on a job. However, communication is much simpler when the gear comes from one source. I really appreciate that Brightline has an array of luminaires.”
Project Completion and Key Equipment
The studio’s set design also received a major overhaul, thanks to Devlin Design Group (DDG). DDG is known for innovative and visually striking designs. The team worked closely with Nebraska Public Media’s producers and Brightline to create a set that could support many productions.
Doug Anderson, Branch Manager of IES Commercial & Industrial, provided general contracting support. In addition, key systems integrator and sub-contractor Heartland Scenic Studios handled demolition, removal, and installation work.
The lighting updates in the Ron Hull Studio at Nebraska Public Media include:
- Brightline L1.2X variable white with DMX control (6x)
- Brightline L1.4 variable white with DMX control (57x)
- Mako/2 variable white profile spotlight with DMX control (31x)
- Minnow/2 variable white profile spotlight with DMX control (15x)
- Mako/5 RGBAL profile spotlight with DMX control (10x)
- Lupo 650 DMX variable white Fresnel (8)
- Lupo 1000 DMX variable white Fresnel (33)
- Lupo 2000 DMX variable white Fresnel (4)
- Flex-T1 with DMX control (14x)
About Nebraska Public Media
Nebraska Public Media has connected citizens with news, sports, education, and entertainment since 1954. The statewide public media network provides global and compelling stories from PBS and NPR. It also produces award-winning local content. Its programs and services reach Nebraskans on television, radio, online, social media, and mobile apps. Visit NebraskaPublicMedia.org for more information.
About Brightline
A leading manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting systems for broadcast, videoconference, e-learning, and government, Brightline’s mission is to enable communication through clarity. Brightline serves more than 5,000 customers in over 35 countries. The company specializes in high-quality, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective lighting solutions that enhance the presentation of visual images. Get enlightened at brightlines.com.
Press Contact:
Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
(917) 763-8069
robinhoffman@pipecomm.com
Products:
L1.2: https://brightlines.com/product/seriesone-l1-2-led-studio-fixture/
L1.4 https://brightlines.com/product/seriesone-l1-4-led-studio-fixture/
Mako and Minnow: https://brightlines.com/product-category/profile-spotlights/
Lupo: https://brightlines.com/product-category/fresnels-and-panels/
Flex-T: https://brightlines.com/architectural/
Wireless DMX: https://brightlines.com/product/dmx-rdm/
Follow Brightline:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightline-l-p-/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthebrightline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/myBrightline
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightlinelp/