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As the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, Nebraska celebrates its 20th anniversary, the venue is marking the milestone year with a transformative upgrade to its lighting system. Among the new technology installed in the space is ETC’s Halcyon Silent and Halcyon Platinum fixtures. With these fixtures, the venue ushers in a new era of flexibility, efficiency, and acoustic sensitivity.
Michael Arch, Vice President of Production at TMS and former house electrician at the Holland, has been closely involved with the venue’s upgrade.
“The hall was originally built for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra,” Arch says. “It was state-of-the-art at the time, but the lighting system relied heavily on conventional fixtures. Over time, limitations of that system, like noise and energy consumption, became more apparent.”
As the venue looked to modernize its lighting system, maintaining acoustic integrity was a top priority. Arch says. “Any ambient noise from fixtures can interfere with the experience the orchestra is trying to create.”
After years of searching for the right solution, Arch and the team at TMS conducted a shootout with High End Systems Halcyon fixtures. The results were decisive.
“Halcyon ticked all the boxes,” Arch says. “It gave us the flexibility to illuminate the orchestra with the quality of light they need, while also allowing us to adapt the rig for touring productions and other live events.”
The venue’s new lighting system includes 25 Halcyon Silent fixtures and 18 Halcyon Platinum fixtures, each serving distinct roles. The Silent units are dedicated to the Symphony performances, where absolute quiet is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, the Platinum fixtures provide the punch and versatility needed for more dynamic shows, including pop concerts and community events.
“One of the unique aspects of the space is a large wooden wall at the back of the hall,” Arch notes. “We often use gobos and color to throw texture onto that surface, especially since we don’t use haze. The Platinum fixtures give us the output we need for that kind of work.”
The upgrade came just in time for the venue’s 20th anniversary celebration on October 3rd, featuring a variety of community groups and performances.
“This upgrade isn’t just about new gear,” Arch emphasizes. “It’s about future-proofing the space and making it more universal for the wide range of performances it hosts.”
