Project: Blackpool Mirrorball rejuvenation
Client: Blackpool Council
Artist: Michael Trainor
Installer: Jordan’s Glass
Tiler: Mirror Finish Tiling Contractors
Engineer: Garmendale Engineering
The Blackpool Promenade is renowned for its many sights and sounds, either by day or by night. A seaside getaway for all ages, the promenade had been adorned with a giant 6m mirror ball showcasing the town’s love of partying and sparkling energy.
Originally installed in 2002, the Mirror Ball has faced many years of standing up to hard winds, damp conditions and corrosive salt spray and had unfortunately become tarnished, losing its lustrous sparkle.
In September 2021, Blackpool Council saw fit to sign off on a refurbishment project to bring the Mirror Ball back to its shining glory. The refurbishment project was a team effort involving Garmendale Engineering, which were responsible for the servicing, refurbishment and reassembly of the full structure, Jordans Glass, Mirror Finish Tiling Contractors, as well as students from Blackpool and Fylde College.
Over the space of two months, the team worked tirelessly to disassemble the massive disco icon, before working to fit over 47,000 new Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome tiles, before returning it to its rightful place on the south end of the beach.
Disco that never dies
Choosing the right materials for a job of this size meant taking into account a lot of ambient variables, such as weather conditions as well as damp. Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome is a special off-line coated mirror, which is resistant to atmospheric corrosion. A versatile product which can be toughened, bent, and laminated.
For this reason, Pilkington UK were the supplier of choice, with corrosion resistant glass that could be bent to conform to the Mirror Ball’s surface without compromising on its integrity or reflectivity.
Ronnie Jordan, owner of Jordans Glass said: “As always, working with Pilkington UK has been absolutely fantastic, the team’s wealth of experience means that no matter the project they always have a solid idea of how to help and making use of the [4 mm] toughenable mirror meant peace of mind for the project’s lifespan right out of the gate.”
“This was a great project to work on and is something I’m really proud to be able to point out to family and friends as something I’ve been a part of within the local community.”
Upon reflection
The refurbishment has seen widespread recognition across the local area with many praising the renewed pomp of the Mirror Ball.
As part of the project, the internal bearings have been refitted to ensure a full rotation of the sparkly globe is completed every minute, scattering rays of sunshine or floodlight across the beachfront at any time of day.
Coupled with Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome glass’ resistance to humidity and damp, the tiles will resist weathering and black spots for many years ensuring that all that glitters does not get old for many years to come.
Ian Critchley, Area Sales Representative at Pilkington UK said: “This project was a real opportunity to leave a mark across one of Britain’s most beloved coastal areas and turn heads to the variety of projects that Pilkington UK is always ready to help support.”
“Around 47,000 tiles of our Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome glass were cut to size, placed and now adorn the South Promenade, it’s a very proud moment for us and all the teams we were able to support across the months long project.”
Andy Farrell, director of Mirror Finish Tiling Contractors said: “As a national tiling contractor, the opportunity to work on such a prestigious project in my very own hometown has been a huge privilege. The Mirror Ball is such an iconic part of Blackpool and it was fantastic to work in collaboration with organisations such as Pilkington UK, Jordan’s Glass and Blackpool Council to restore it to its former glory.”