Nearly 650 luminaires, a listed historic building, and demanding real-time performance requirements: together with GDS and PIK GmbH, VisionTwo has successfully modernised the historic lighting installation of the BCC Berlin Congress Center using GDS’ centralised Drive Hub architecture, IPM Multi-Channel Control and a range of project-specific custom solutions. All while the venue remained fully operational.
Anyone looking up into the dome hall of the BCC Berlin Congress Center experiences a carefully choreographed interplay of ceiling luminaires, wall luminaires, chasers and warm dimming curves. The distinctive lighting has shaped the identity of the venue for decades. The challenge was therefore not simply to replace an ageing lighting system, but to preserve the character of the space while completely renewing the technology behind it.
The original halogen installation had reached the end of its practical life. Energy consumption was high, maintenance demands were increasing, and the ageing infrastructure was becoming more difficult to support.
At the same time, the building’s listed status ruled out a straightforward replacement. Any new solution had to faithfully reproduce the familiar lighting effect, deliver exceptionally smooth dimming, retain the characteristic fade-to-warm behaviour of the original halogen system and recreate the existing dome show with complete accuracy.
Working alongside British lighting manufacturer GDS, VisionTwo acted as the German sales and project partner, while PIK GmbH carried out the on-site installation and system integration. The result is a modern lighting infrastructure that preserves the architectural character of the space while preparing it for decades of reliable future operation.
Nearly 650 luminaires replaced in three weeks
The BCC Berlin Congress Center was built between 1961 and 1964 to designs by renowned architect Hermann Henselmann as part of the architectural ensemble surrounding the Haus des Lehrers. Today, the complex is a protected historic building and one of Berlin’s most distinctive event venues. At its centre sits the impressive dome hall, whose identity has long been defined by its unique lighting installation.
The scale of the modernisation was significant. Around 600 ceiling luminaires within the dome were replaced, together with 34 perimeter wall luminaires containing two light sources each and a further 13 stage luminaires. Each of the original ceiling fittings consumed 205 watts, resulting in substantial energy usage and ongoing maintenance costs.
Despite the scale of the work, the venue’s busy events programme could not be interrupted. Installation, commissioning and integration all had to be completed within a three-week window, making careful planning and close collaboration between all project partners essential.
When light and architecture become one
Within the dome hall, lighting serves a far greater purpose than simple illumination. The ceiling luminaires, known as “Stars”, the perimeter wall luminaires, known as “Planets”, and the stage lighting combine to create a theatrical lighting environment that defines how visitors experience the space.
The objective was never to reinterpret the architecture through light, but to carry its distinctive visual identity into a modern LED infrastructure. The new installation needed to provide higher light output, improved efficiency, simplified maintenance and significantly enhanced control. All while remaining visually indistinguishable from the original system.
Selecting the right system architecture
Before committing to a final solution, the project team undertook an extensive evaluation process. “The challenge at the BCC wasn’t simply replacing luminaires,” explained Anke Schierenbeck, Head of Project Business at VisionTwo. “It was about preserving the unique lighting character of the dome hall within a modern LED infrastructure, including its warm dimming behaviour, precise chaser sequences and long-term maintainability, all within the constraints of a listed building.”
Together, VisionTwo, GDS and PIK GmbH developed a solution specifically tailored to the technical, architectural and operational requirements of the venue. This collaborative engineering approach proved essential in balancing heritage protection, existing infrastructure and the demanding performance expectations of the client.
GDS Drive Hub moves driver technology out of the dome
One of the project’s most important engineering decisions concerned the location of the LED drivers. In conventional LED installations, driver electronics are typically mounted locally to the luminaires. Within the BCC dome hall, however, this approach would have created significant long-term maintenance challenges due to the restricted ceiling void, difficult access and demanding thermal conditions.
Instead, the project team adopted GDS’s centralised Drive Hub architecture, relocating maintenance-critical components from inaccessible areas within the dome to easily accessible service locations. This approach not only simplifies maintenance but also provides centralised access to driver technology, automated system monitoring and energy management, significantly improving long-term reliability while reducing service time.
LED Technology with halogen characteristics
One of the most demanding aspects of the project was ensuring that the new lighting did not appear “new”. The original halogen installation produced a warm, fluid dimming characteristic that forms an essential part of the dome hall’s atmosphere.
To preserve this visual identity, 598 GDS Puppis 2K Fade-to-Warm luminaires were installed throughout the dome. As they dim, the colour temperature naturally shifts towards warmer tones, replicating the behaviour of traditional halogen sources while delivering the efficiency, reliability and colour quality expected from a modern LED solution.
The existing dome chaser added another level of complexity. Combining rapid movement with slow transitions and smooth fades, the system demanded exceptionally accurate, repeatable dimming performance. The new installation had to respond instantly while maintaining complete consistency across every luminaire.
Existing wiring becomes part of the solution
Not every part of the installation required complete rewiring. While the dome itself received new wiring, the existing power tracks and E27 lamp holders within the perimeter wall luminaires had to remain in place.
Working closely with GDS, VisionTwo developed a bespoke solution based on GDS Puppis 1K luminaires fitted with E27 bases, allowing the new LED technology to integrate seamlessly into the existing infrastructure while preserving the original appearance.
Real-Time performance for the dome show
The completed installation combines several different control technologies into one fully synchronised lighting system. The GDS Puppis 2K Fade-to-Warm luminaires within the dome operate using constant-current technology, while the perimeter wall luminaires utilise GDS IPM Multi-Channel Control. Stage lighting is provided by GDS Sirius fixtures incorporating IPM2 technology, with the complete installation controlled via DMX.
While the underlying driver technologies differ, the system delivers a seamless, unified lighting experience. More than 650 individually addressable LED luminaires operate in real time without visible delays, inconsistent dimming behaviour or segmentation between the dome, wall and stage lighting.
“The greatest technical challenge was achieving perfectly synchronised real-time performance across the entire installation despite the different driver technologies involved,” explained Sigurd Hösl-Taube of PIK GmbH. Rather than reinterpreting the existing lighting design, the objective was to recreate it precisely, including every transition, movement and chase sequence.
“The client required the dome show to perform exactly as before. We had just three weeks to integrate approximately 650 luminaires, and cancelling events simply wasn’t an option,” said Hösl-Taube.
Custom engineering throughout the installation
Many aspects of the installation could not be achieved using standard products alone. Varying mounting arrangements, existing diffusers and challenging ceiling-void conditions all demanded project-specific engineering solutions.
The perimeter wall luminaires also required careful refinement. Through extensive testing, VisionTwo and GDS optimised the light distribution to faithfully reproduce the characteristic appearance of the original halogen installation. The luminaires were also integrated into the ceiling void using dust-tight and light-sealed mounting arrangements, reducing future maintenance requirements and improving long-term reliability.
Sustainability, control and safety
Alongside the main lighting installation, the project also incorporates essential safety functions. A GDS BOB-E emergency lighting driver, certified for the European market, was integrated into the existing power infrastructure to provide compliant emergency lighting operation.
The centralised Drive Hub architecture delivers additional operational benefits by relocating critical system components outside the dome to easily accessible service locations. This simplifies diagnostics, reduces maintenance requirements and improves overall system reliability, while automated status reporting and energy monitoring provide valuable operational insight.
The energy savings are equally impressive. Compared with the previous halogen installation, electricity consumption has been reduced by up to 80%, while simultaneously delivering higher illumination levels. For the BCC, the project represents not only a sensitive architectural restoration but also a significant step towards more sustainable, energy-efficient building operation.
A familiar space built on a new technical foundation
For VisionTwo and PIK GmbH, the project extended far beyond supplying lighting equipment. The objective was to deliver a complete engineering solution capable of addressing heritage architecture, existing infrastructure, demanding control requirements, precise real-time performance and the unique lighting character that has become inseparable from the identity of the dome hall.
Working in partnership with GDS and PIK GmbH, VisionTwo has delivered a system architecture that successfully combines technical modernisation with architectural continuity. The iconic dome chaser show continues exactly as before, warm dimming behaviour has been faithfully preserved, maintenance has been dramatically simplified, energy management has been enhanced, and overall energy consumption has been significantly reduced.
The result is a highly successful modernisation that meets demanding technical, aesthetic and operational objectives while ensuring the BCC Berlin Congress Center is ready for the future without losing the character that has made the dome hall such an iconic space.
