Key workers are thanked with rainbow using Marischal College’s new lighting system

22 October 2020

All key workers in Aberdeen including NHS Grampian staff, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Aberdeen City Council staff were today thanked by a special rainbow light display on the front of iconic Marischal College.

The beautiful display was the first viewing of the new exterior feature lighting at Grade A listed Marischal College, Aberdeen City Council’s headquarters, which are designed to change colour at the touch of a button.

The feature lights making a colourful display on the side of Marischal College was popular with charities and other good causes and a decision was made that a more modern control system would be beneficial. Previously, ACC staff had to manually fix coloured gels to ground-mounted spotlights.

The new lighting system will see the building lit with white lights from sunset until midnight and from 5am until sunrise unless there is a particular colour applied in support of a charity or other event. The rainbow display will be in place until Saturday when the first charity week starts.

The work to fit the new LED uplights and control system has had to fit around weather conditions, the contractor’s schedule, events in Broad Street such as SPECTRA and the Christmas Village, and lately COVID-19 restrictions.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett said: “Key workers all over the city have been hard-working and dedicated since the start of coronavirus, often putting their own lives at risk to help our communities.

“We want to thank them for their efforts and it is only fitting that the first display of the new lighting system on our beautiful baronial Marischal College building recognises them using the rainbow which was such a feature during lockdown.

“It’s great that we’ll be able to light up Marischal College again as it’s a popular feature with residents, and it’s fantastic when we can highlight the work of charities and other good causes.”

Charities wanting to inquire about getting Marischal College lit up should email LordProvost@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

PICTURE CAPTION: Watch Commander Matthew Croll, Paramedic Lynne McDonald, PC Darren Gibb, ACC Roads Response Neil Crichton,