Energy Efficient Lighting

TAG | color kinetics

Apr/15

23

LED lights bring atmosphere to Kings Cross Square

Visitors to London’s King’s Cross station used to arrive at a drab 1970s extension that hid the Victorian façade. The extension was knocked down in 2012 as part of a major redevelopment of the station, freeing up space for a new public square.

Now the space in front of the façade can be enjoyed again, by day and night, with the help of an all-LED lighting scheme.

Working throughout the project’s design and construction phases with architect Stanton Williams and stakeholders including Network Rail, London Underground, English Heritage and local authorities, the lighting design practice was tasked with creating a subtle but characterful space for an anticipated 140,000 users a day.

To balance functional and accent lighting, StudioFractal integrated its systems into surrounding buildings. As a result, the furniture and structural elements of the space are prominently defined at night and, in line with the project brief, ambient lighting from stainless steel columns makes Lewis Cubitt’s Grade I-listed Victorian station façade a focal point of the city’s first new public square for 150 years.

StudioFractal used in-ground Iglu luminaires from architectural LED manufacturer ACDC to light the ground floor of the façade.

In-ground luminaires from ACDC light the King’s Cross Station façade

ACDC’s high-power Integrex linear luminaires were surface-mounted to wash light further up the façade. Connected by a combined power and data cable, the Integrex luminaire sends light 10m up the façade, while its integrated dimmable DMX driver offers a high level of control. A slim 53mm profile makes it a discreet presence on the façade.

As StudioFractal partner Chris Sutherland explains, ‘As well as highlighting the broad expanse of the façade, we also wanted to gently pick out the small niches and cornices with the same lighting effect, so that the horizontal surfaces would be illuminated as well, adding interest and drawing the eye.’

The listed status of Cubitt’s façade meant the luminaire fixtures had to be located in existing mortar lines to protect the integrity of the façade, and approved by Borough of Camden conservation officers and English Heritage.

Based in Gatwick, West Sussex, Studio Fractal has previously delivered a complete artificial lighting solution for Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2, which won the Lux Award for Industrial and Transport Lighting Project of the Year in 2014.

Visit Novel Energy Lighting to discuss your architectural lighting needs. We can supply LED flood lights, wall washers, coving, and LED programmable RGB solutions such as the Color Kinetics range.

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Editor in Chief, LEDs Magazine and Illumination in Focus:

Historic railway bridge over the Ohio River now carries pedestrians and cyclists and Louisville has added iconic LED architectural lighting.

Philips Lighting has announced an LED architectural lighting project installed on the historic Big Four Bridge that links Louisville, KY and Jeffersonville, IN across the Ohio River. The dynamic, color-changing solid-state lighting (SSL) is intended to help revitalize the Louisville waterfront and make the pedestrian and bicyclist bridge a destination point in the region.

The Big Four Bridge was originally built in 1895 as a railway bridge and was named based on the four railways served — Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis railways — which were collectively dubbed the Big Four Railroad. The bridge was decommissioned in 1969 and much later renovated by a public-private partnership for pedestrians and cyclist and reopened in 2013.

The project is certainly not the first to use dynamic LED lighting to highlight a railroad heritage in revitalization efforts. For example, the Light Rails project in Birmingham, AL back in the fall of 2013 has drawn tourists and increased safety in Birmingham.

In Louisville, the reincarnation of the bridge had already been a hit with as many as 1 million people visiting annually including both residents and tourists. The architectural lighting was intending to add a nighttime element to what had become a popular draw, with the SSL project able to act as a backdrop for waterfront events. The lighting was included in a six-year plan launched by Mayor Greg Fischer to leverage energy-efficient LED lighting to create a green and inclusive environment around the city.
“This was a strategic opportunity to leverage LED technology to further enhance the city’s most popular attraction and continue the momentum of moving Louisville forward as an innovative and independent city,” said Mayor Fischer. “The new lighting will make the bridge safer at night, enhance waterfront events, and contribute to the artistic flair and pride of this community.”
The project utilized more than 1500 Philips Color Kinetics luminaires on the interior and exterior structure of the bridge. The dynamic software-based control system was installed by Vincent Lighting Systems. The light show is visible from dusk to 12:30 AM nightly from the bridge and surrounding parks.
Louisville hopes that LED architectural lighting will help boost tourism just as SSL projects have done so in other cities. For example, the San Francisco Bay Bridge “Bay Lights” project has been very positive for the California region and is nearing the end of a two-year run, although plans are underway to revamp that project.
Philips has been instrumental in supplying the SSL products for many of the most significant outdoor architectural lighting projects around the globe. Philips was the supplier behind the Birmingham and San Francisco projects. Philips also supplied the lighting for the dynamic lighting of the Miami TowerNew York’s Madison Square Garden, and many more SSL projects.
“Illuminating iconic structures creates a meaningful impact in a community, a source of pride for residents that brings people together, attracts visitors, and is a reflection of the city,” said Amy Huntington, president of Philips Lighting Americas. “The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge is a shining example of the positive impact that public-private partnerships can have in our communities. We are committed to working with city officials and local organizations to help make neighborhoods more livable.”
Novel Energy Lighting supplies Philips Color Kinetics products, including coving, DMX, and Pro controllers. Contact us for your architectural lighting needs: sales@novelenergylighting.com or Tel: 0208-540-8287

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