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Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building RLB360 experience to feature Holovis clock tower show finale

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RLB360 Clock Tower AV 3

Who says you can only projection map the outside of a building? The operators of the upcoming RLB360 visitor attraction in Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building have lit up the inside of the Grade I-listed structure’s clock tower.

The captivating audiovisual experience will be offered as the highlight of a 70-minute tour of the 322-feet-tall (98m) building when Heritage Great Britain opens RLB360 to the public at the beginning of May. A preview of the projection mapping show, which is backed by an original music score, was provided to invited media on March 14.

The immersive experience, created by Holovis, is digitally-projected directly onto the walls of the historic clock tower. It explores the significance of the building – one of the so-called ‘Three Graces’ overlooking Liverpool’s Pier Head – and how the port city has evolved in the 108-years since it was built.

Christie provided the show’s D20WU-HS projectors, which sit just metres away from mechanism of the north-facing clock face. Holovis also created the media content, which is set to include drone footage of Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage recognised waterfront.

360° views of the city, 270° of media content

The finished production will be 9-minutes long, and offered at the culmination of a 70-minute tour of the Royal Liver Building. Visitors will also be able to enjoy 360° views of the British City, the River Mersey and beyond from the building’s 10th floor balcony.

In the basement, Paragon Creative is working on a free visitor experience. Access to the upper levels, including the clock tower show on the 15th floor, will be £15 for adults ($20/€17.50). Up to 14 people will be able to view the show per performance. Heritage Great Britain is hoping RLB360 will host up to 45,000 annual visitors.

RLB360 Royal Liver Building Clock Tower Show Holovis AV
Peter Cliff from Holovis and Peter Johnson-Treherne and Chris Devaney from Heritage Great Britain experience the show inside the Royal Liver Building’s clock tower

“We wanted to make use of the iconic clock tower structure, and needed to bring in a partner who could deliver an unforgettable, world-class experience, while remaining sympathetic to the building’s listed-status,” says Heritage GB’s CEO, Allan Leech. “The resulting show, beamed onto the interior walls around our guests, uses ultra-modern audiovisual technology to create an unforgettable experience.”

The audiovisual production is one of the most immersive projection-mapped shows ever created, says Holovis’ creative director Peter Cliff. “Unlike traditional projection-mapped experiences, this show surrounds the viewer, placing them in the middle of 270° visuals. The entire 9-minute show – combining planning, research and creating the audio-visual content – has taken almost a year to complete, and we’re very proud of the results. We can’t wait for people to experience it for themselves.”

Three-Graces-Liverpool_Royal-Liver-Building-
The ‘Three Graces’ at Liverpool Pier Head – including the Liver Building to the left

RLB360 – Liverpool’s icon unlocked

RLB 360 has been designed, delivered and will be operated by Heritage Great Britain in partnership with Corestate, owner of the Royal Liver Building and other local assets including Everton Football Club. Together they are marketing the experience as ‘Liverpool’s icon unlocked’.

Heritage GB, whose headquarters are in Liverpool, also operates visitor attractions at Land’s End, John O’Groats and the Isle of Wight, as well as Snowdon Mountain Railway in North Wales and Mattel Play! Liverpool.

A full feature on RLB360 and the making of the clock tower show will follow soon on Blooloop.

Images by Jason Roberts and Owen Ralph.

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Owen Ralph

Owen Ralph

Feature writer Owen Ralph has covered theme parks and attractions for over 20 years for publications including blooloop, Park World, World’s Fair, Interpark, Kirmes Revue and Park International. He has also served on boards/committees with IAAPA and the TEA. He grew up just 30 minutes from Blackpool (no coincidence?)

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