--- title: Portland’s Theatre Scene Gets A Double Upgrade With ETC – et cetera... description: Theatre technology is moving so fast that it hasn’t had time to create its own vocabulary.  A refurbishing project now sounds like an overheard Silicon Valley conversation. Torms, footlights, and cyc strips have taken a backseat to network […] image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NewmarkTheatreLightingUpgrade-PhotoByJeremyJeziorski-web-750x500.jpg --- - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [ABOUT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [AUTHORS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [CONTACT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [![EtCetera_319x104](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "EtCetera_319x104")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) [![ETC Blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "ETC Blog")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) Search ## [![blog-header](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-header.png?width=476&height=155&name=blog-header.png "blog-header")](https://www.etcconnect.com) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [✕](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/05/portlands-theatre-scene-gets-a-double-upgrade-with-etc#gwen-offcanvas-primary) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) # Portland’s Theatre Scene Gets A Double Upgrade With ETC ![Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/marshall-bissett.png?width=34&height=34&name=marshall-bissett.png)By [Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/marshall-bissett) 2 May 2019 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NewmarkTheatreLightingUpgrade-PhotoByJeremyJeziorski-web-750x500.jpg)   Theatre technology is moving so fast that it hasn’t had time to create its own vocabulary.  A refurbishing project now sounds like an overheard Silicon Valley conversation. Torms, footlights, and cyc strips have taken a backseat to network protocol, backbones, and contact interfaces. Faced with bringing old installations up to modern standards, many theatres opt to keep their instruments and upgrade their controls, onstage and front of house. The [Newmark Theatre](https://www.portland5.com/newmark-theatre) and the [Dolores Winningstad Theatre](https://www.portland5.com/winningstad-theatre), sister spaces at the heart of [Portland’5 Center for the Arts](https://www.portland5.com), are a good example of control “heart transplants” – with ETC. Their architectural DNA could hardly be more different. The Newmark Theatre, named for its benefactor, opened in 1997 and most resembles an Edwardian-style theatre. It offers what management calls “one of the most intimate theatrical experiences you’ll ever encounter.” Located in the same complex, the Dolores Winningstad Theatre is an open courtyard-style design where flexible seating plans can turn the whole room into a performance space. ![ArcLamp LED fixtures in the Newmark Theatre](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NewmarkTheatre-ArcLampLEDFixtures-PhotoByJeremyJeziorski-web-350x233.jpg?width=350&height=233&name=NewmarkTheatre-ArcLampLEDFixtures-PhotoByJeremyJeziorski-web-350x233.jpg) ArcLamp LED fixtures from ETC were a significant upgrade to the house lighting at the Newmark Theatre. Photo by Jeremy Jeziorsky #### The Newmark Chris Ochocki, Senior Consultant for [PLA Designs](https://www.pladesigns.com), got the call to replace the old control system in the Newmark and upgrade lighting controls for house and work lighting in both theatres. “As the on-call theatre consultants, we knew these buildings very well,” said Ochocki. “In both the Newmark and Winningstad, we replaced the entirety of their architectural controls systems, emergency lighting transfer systems, work light controls, stage manager’s panels, and as a last-minute decision replaced all existing house and light fixtures with LED based fixtures.” Backstage in the Newmark, Strand CD-80 dimmers were replaced with 240 channels of ETC [Sensor3](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Power-Controls/Racks-and-Panels/Sensor3/Overview.aspx) dimming, run by ETC [Gio](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Legacy/Console/Eos-Family/Gio/Features.aspx) and [Ion](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Consoles/Eos-Consoles/Ion-XE/Features.aspx) consoles. More than 250 ETC Source Four fixtures were run dimmer-per-circuit using Socapex distribution. Front of house, an extensive ceiling and wall wash lighting system was brought back to life using [ArcLamps](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Lighting-Fixtures/ArcLamp/Features.aspx?utm_campaign=Architectural)run through a [Paradigm](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Architectural-Systems/Paradigm/) control server. #### The Winningstad The Dolores Winningstad Theatre received a similar makeover. Its existing, half-full ETC Sensor3 rack was filled with Thru Power Modules. Ochocki was tasked with renovating the house lights while maintaining the look and feel of the of the existing jelly jar fixtures. “We created a custom LED fixture to match the originals and added some ArcLamp cylinders and it turned out beautifully.” ![Paradigm from ETC controls architectural lighting in the Winningstad Theatre](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WinningstadTheatre-LightingUpgradewithETC-PhotobyMattCarbone-web-350x233.jpg?width=350&height=233&name=WinningstadTheatre-LightingUpgradewithETC-PhotobyMattCarbone-web-350x233.jpg) Architectural control in the Winningstad Theatre is handled by ETC’s Paradigm system. Photo by Matt Carbone The renovation was not without its challenges said Ochocki: “The existing space was a labyrinth of concrete – we had to do extensive documentation of the existing gear and as-built drawings, many of which did not reflect the actual field conditions.” The architectural controls were based around Unison Paradigm and a Central Control Server, with an [Emergency Bypass Detection Kit](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Power-Controls/Emergency-Lighting-Systems/Emergency-Bypass-Detection-Kit/Features.aspx) (EBDK), [DMX Emergency Bypass Controllers](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Power-Controls/Emergency-Lighting-Systems/DMX-Emergency-Bypass-Controller/Features.aspx) (DEBC), and [Echo Relay Panels](https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Power-Controls/Racks-and-Panels/Echo-Relay-Panels/Overview.aspx) filling out the infrastructure, plus 18-inch and 7-inch Touchscreens offering control. The challenge for Ed Williams, Facility Manager for Portland’5 Center for The Arts, was fitting this major renovation into a packed performance schedule. The five theatres in the Portland’5 complex see around 1 million visitors a year with 1,000 performances and seating for 7,800, making it the fourth busiest Arts center in the USA. “It would have been impossible without the co-operation of the vendors, the patrons and the customers,” said Williams. “The decision to move forward was driven by the availability of controllable LED lights that would look good and cut running costs. I am happy to say that everything is up and working.” - - - 0 [#SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) [#Ion](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/ion) [#Paradigm](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/paradigm) [#Gio](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gio) [#Emergency Lighting](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/emergency-lighting) [#PLA Designs](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/pla-designs) [#Sensor3](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/sensor3) [#Newmark Theatre](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/newmark-theatre) [#Dolores Winningstad Theatre](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/dolores-winningstad-theatre) [#ArcLamp](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/arclamp) [#Chris Ochocki](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/chris-ochocki) [#Portland'5](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/portland5) [#Portland](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/portland) ### Happy Birthday from ETC! [Previous article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/05/happy-birthday-from-etc) ### Take on every aspect of the job – Samat Show Technics [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/04/take-on-every-aspect-of-the-job-samat-show-technics) [Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/marshall-bissett) ![Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/marshall-bissett.png?width=180&height=180&name=marshall-bissett.png) Marshall Bissett grew up in Central Scotland and studied theater direction at the Old Vic Theatre School. He worked on the original productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and toured with such acts as Chicago, Neil Diamond, and The Rolling Stones. In 1983 he founded TMB, a worldwide supplier of lighting equipment. He’s kept his hand in directing, which in retirement now vies for his time along with freelance writing and fly-fishing. #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Scott-Ferrara-and-Reiko-Aylesworth-Les-Liaison-Dangereuses-Antaeus-Oct-2017-web-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/antaeus-theatre-keeps-classics-alive) [SoCal](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/socal) ### [Antaeus Theatre keeps the classics alive](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/antaeus-theatre-keeps-classics-alive) By [Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/marshall-bissett) 1-Feb-2018 It’s the middle of October, but the evening is getting late at the Antaeus Theatre in Glendale, Calif. and Technical Director Adam Meyer is coaxing stubborn wires into wall sconces that were never... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/02/antaeus-theatre-keeps-classics-alive) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SeattleArtCenter_DreamingInColor-1-750x500.png)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/03/when-the-designer-is-ready-the-fixture-will-appear) [PAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/par) ### [When the designer is ready the fixture will appear](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/03/when-the-designer-is-ready-the-fixture-will-appear) By [Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/marshall-bissett) 20-Mar-2018  Art and high technology unite in spectacular fashion in the latest iteration of [Leni Schwendinger’s](https://lenischwendinger.com/) *Dreaming in Color* illuminated color field at the Seattle Center Campus. [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/03/when-the-designer-is-ready-the-fixture-will-appear) [Rigging](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/rigging) ### [Three ways ETC keeps Hollywood alive in Vancouver](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2021/04/hollywood-theatre-lives-in-vancouver) By [Marshall Bissett](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/marshall-bissett) 28-Apr-2021 Many movie theatres of the 1930s, like the starlets who graced their screens, have faded away. Time – and real estate developers – wait for no one. But in Vancouver’s west side the art deco... 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