Work on Bond art is a shining light in design

THE man who lit up the Gold Coast now has his own name up in lights.

Local lighting whiz Tony Dowthwaite has picked up an award for his company FPOV’s work on the Limitless sculpture at Bond University, unveiled to mark the institution’s 30th anniversary this year.

The Award of Excellence from the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand brought Mr Dowthwaite’s 38-year career full circle – he worked on the planning and construction of the Bond campus three decades ago.

He went on to design feature lighting for Pacific Fair, Q1, The Darling at The Star Gold Coast, and Jewel, as well as other projects around Australia and the world.

But Mr Dowthwaite said Limitless was one of his toughest assignments.

The 6.5m stainless steel artwork by Gold Coast sculptor Ian Haggerty is inscribed with the names of 26,000 graduates and is lit from underwater and above, creating a rippling effect on the underside of the University’s iconic Arch building.

“We modelled it on computer using a model from the sculptor, so there’s a bit of science to it, but it’s a reflective, polished surface – try lighting a mirror,” Mr Dowthwaite said.

“Until the moment we turned it on there were a few sleepless nights because this (Bond) is an important institution on the Gold Coast.”

He paid tribute to FPOV’s Alice Handoyo, who also worked on the project.

Mr Dowthwaite started his career on the Gold Coast in 1981, working with electrical and mechanical building services consultancy Norman Disney & Young.

Eighteen years later he launched his own company, Tony Dowthwaite Lighting Design, which merged with international lighting and audio visual design studio FPOV two years ago.

Mr Dowthwaite stayed on as studio director and is still based on the Coast, while his son Ash is also a studio director of FPOV.

Other recent projects by FPOV include W Brisbane and the State Government “Tower of Power”, at 1 William St.

“It was a bit of a lucky dip when I started my own group, but it’s paid off,” Mr Dowthwaite said.

Local lighting whiz Tony Dowthwaite (inset) has picked up an award for his company FPOV’s work on the Limitless sculpture at Bond University, unveiled to mark the institution’s 30th anniversary this year.