Pharos powers immersive sensory experiences at Parakiore

Advanced lighting control technology from Pharos Architectural Controls is helping deliver an inclusive and immersive sensory experience at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, a world-class venue in Christchurch, New Zealand. Started in 2018 and completed in 2025, the redevelopment is a cornerstone of post-earthquake regeneration in the city.

Now set to become one of New Zealand’s premier aquatic and recreation destinations spanning 32,000 sql, the Parakiore facility has been designed to provide accessible and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages and abilities. As part of the development, a new Sensory Aqua Centre was created to deliver a dedicated interactive sensory room. Combining lighting, water effects and integrated control systems, the space offers a safe, adaptable environment that promotes relaxation, sensory stimulation and meaningful interaction for its users.

Lighting controls specialist Annelise Goodwin of LS Group was appointed to deliver the lighting controls solution for the sensory room via Grant Robertson of The Light Site. The design brief called for a highly flexible and intuitive system capable of supporting multiple room states, interactive experiences and personalised user settings, while integrating seamlessly with wider building operations.

At the heart of the installation is a single-universe Pharos Designer LPC controller with two Pharos four-port DMX repeaters. Together with a Q-SYS integration platform, the system enables sophisticated control across interactive water features, lighting zones and sensory elements.

The Designer LPC provides the processing power and reliability required for the complex installation, managing more than 100 custom scripts and over 400 commands across the sensory environment. Through a combination of LUA scripting and the Pharos API, the project team developed advanced control functionality that allows dynamic timeline shuffling for the bubble wall installation, as well as simplified recall of individual timelines without the need to create hundreds of separate triggers.

The system controls 10 interactive water features, four non-interactive water features, lighting across four separate zones and an integrated bubble wall feature. Q-SYS is utilised to trigger commands within the Pharos system, allowing the various sensory experiences to operate seamlessly together while providing intuitive control for staff and users.

To enhance accessibility and ease of operation, the installation includes five customisable user presets for regular instructors and returning guests, alongside five base room states (Calm, Colourful, Full Room, Party, Interactive). These presets allow the sensory environment to adapt quickly to different users, activities and therapeutic requirements.

The system also integrates with the wider building management system (BMS), using relay triggers to automatically respond to occupancy and operational states, including open, closed, cleaning and unoccupied modes. This intelligent automation ensures the sensory room remains both energy efficient and easy to manage as part of the wider facility.

Annelise Goodwin of LS Group, said: “The goal was to create a sensory space that was immersive, adaptable and easy for staff and visitors to interact with. Pharos gave us the flexibility to develop highly customised scripting and control functionality, while still maintaining a reliable and intuitive user experience throughout the installation.”

From a Pharos perspective, the project demonstrates how lighting and show control technology can support accessibility and inclusivity within public environments.

Tony Symms, Regional Sales Manager for Asia Pacific at Pharos Architectural Controls, added: “Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre is a fantastic example of how intelligent control systems can create meaningful and engaging experiences for users of all abilities. By combining an LPC with advanced scripting, API integration and Q-SYS control, the team has delivered a highly responsive sensory environment that showcases the creative flexibility of Pharos technology.”

The result is a future-ready sensory space that combines lighting, water and automation to deliver calming, interactive and engaging experiences, reinforcing Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre’s commitment to accessibility, wellbeing and inclusive community design. 

Project Credits

Client: Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City Council.

Project: Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.

Lighting Controls: Pharos Architectural Controls.

Lighting Controls Integration: LS Group – Annelise Goodwin.

Lighting Supplier: The Light Site – Grant Robertson.

Integration Partner: New Wave.