Philips Lighting has donated a range of state of the art LED lighting solutions towards the creation of the Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy.

The Sydney Story Factory is a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people. It utilises a volunteer base to offer students free one-on-one or small group help to write stories which it then seeks to publish. The Martian Embassy gives the centre a space-age theme to inspire young writer’s imaginations.

The programs are open to all, but are catered towards marginalised young people and those from indigenous or non-English speaking backgrounds.

“Philips is proud to be involved in the creation of the Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy,” says Philips Lighting Australia general manager Michael Downie.

“Our mission is to improve people’s lives through meaningful innovation. With the creativity and collaboration of Xenian and Arup, the Philips LED lighting technology now creates a Martian environment which will inspire children to write and create.”

Designers from global consulting firm Arup designed how the Philips LEDs would work with Philips Color Kinetics distributor Xenian donating the commissioning of the lighting solutions. The installation which includes 220 ColorFuse Powercore LED modules provide professional-grade colour mixing to give the space a colourful and dynamic ‘Martian feel’.

“The Arup design team are proud to have had the opportunity to creatively assist in the development of this remarkable community asset,” says Arup lighting designer Tim Hunt.

“The facility encourages creativity and we believe we have helped design a space which will fire the imagination.”

The Sydney Story Factory and its attached Martian Embassy and Gift Shop will be unveiled on Friday July 20 to the media, ahead of its official launch on July 21 by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir.