Durban International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre

We have supplied the LED lighting solution for the Durban International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Opened by former president Nelson Mandela in 1997, the Durban ICC was South Africa’s first international convention centre and continues to play a pioneering role in attracting major international events to the country. The multi-award-winning venue is recognised for its world-class facilities, service excellence and ability to host prestigious and complex events.

The Durban ICC complex incorporates the Durban ICC Arena and the Durban Exhibition Centre, offering extensive flexible exhibition and meeting space. Situated directly opposite the Durban ICC and jointly managed with the Centre, the Durban Exhibition Centre is a popular multi-purpose venue for exhibitions, conferences, banquets and consumer shows.

Project Scope

The project formed part of eThekwini Municipality’s drive to improve energy efficiency at the Durban ICC and Durban Exhibition Centre, following recommendations from a previous energy audit. eThekwini Municipality Architecture, through its Electrical Building Services division, served as the implementing department for the project, with the Energy Office Department acting as the client. The scope focused on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions through the replacement of existing lighting with LED technology, supported by occupancy sensors, energy logging, testing and commissioning, and integration with the venues’ existing building management system.

Sustainable lighting upgrade

As part of the Durban Exhibition Centre and International Convention Centre Lighting Upgrade, implemented by eThekwini Municipality Architecture – Electrical Building Services for the Energy Office Department, and delivered in partnership with LN Force, we supplied a compliant, sustainable and durable LED lighting solution suited to the requirements of these high-profile venues and the demands of Durban’s coastal environment.

The upgrade involved replacing older HID and fluorescent lighting with efficient LED technology, which has been designed and manufactured in South Africa. At the Durban ICC, the ECOBAY RP highbay with decorative skirt and DALI dimmable driver was installed, enabling improved control and performance for the venue’s varied operational requirements.

At the Durban Exhibition Centre, we supplied the ECOBAY RP with decorative skirt, together with LED PANEL luminaires and BEKA VAPOURLINE emergency version luminaires.

The selected luminaires were chosen as the best fit for the application and the desired lighting requirements, supporting improved visibility, efficiency and long-term value. By upgrading to LED, the venues benefit from enhanced light quality, reduced maintenance requirements and a lighting solution aligned with modern sustainability expectations.

About the ECOBAY

The ECOBAY is a versatile lowbay and highbay luminaire range designed to optimise light levels and return on investment. Proudly designed and manufactured in South Africa, it offers substantial energy savings, reliable performance and a choice of configurations for multiple indoor applications.

Available with a visually pleasing round or square design and an optional decorative skirt, the ECOBAY is suitable for both lowbay and highbay applications. Its efficient LED technology helps reduce energy consumption, while its robust design supports long lifetime, low maintenance and dependable operation in demanding environments.

About the BEKA VAPOURLINE

The BEKA VAPOURLINE is a robust, high-performance linear LED luminaire designed as an efficient replacement for conventional fixtures fitted with T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes.

Delivering excellent energy efficiency and a service life up to five times longer than fluorescent tubes, the BEKA VAPOURLINE significantly reduces the total cost of ownership by lowering energy consumption and virtually eliminating maintenance requirements.

With low glare and a high colour rendering index (CRI), the BEKA VAPOURLINE creates safe, comfortable and productive working environments, making it the ideal lighting solution for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.

About the LED PANEL

The LED PANEL is a ceiling panel luminaire and offers low maintenance and operating costs thanks to the long lifetime of LED technology, while delivering high efficiency, reliability and up to 60% energy savings. It's very slim aluminium housing, matt white frame and LCD backlight technology provide a modern, unobtrusive design that is ideal for T-bar ceilings.

The luminaire provides low-flicker light through special electronic control gear and offers switchable colour temperatures of 4000K, 5000K and 6500K to suit different application requirements. Installation is simple and efficient, with included steel hooks on the back for easy mounting and a quick wiring connection that does not require the luminaire to be opened.

Conclusion

Through this lighting upgrade, we have helped enhance the functionality, efficiency and long-term sustainability of two of Durban’s most prominent event venues. The installation demonstrates the value of locally designed LED technology in delivering reliable performance, improved visual comfort and reduced energy consumption for large-scale, high-usage facilities.

About Us

We develop and manufacture energy-efficient LED lighting products in South Africa, designed and suitable for local conditions.

We are proud to be associated with the Durban International Convention Centre, eThekwini Municipality, eThekwini Municipality Architecture – Electrical Building Services, the Energy Office Department and LN Force in providing a successful lighting solution for this landmark project.