4 minute read
Mile High Majesty
Cutting Edge Façade Lighting Brings New Life to Historic Railway Station & Hotel
By Randy Reid
Photography courtesy of Teri Fotheringham for American Lighting
A new lighting system has brought new life to a beautifully stoic landmark that has served as the principal transportation hub in lower downtown Denver, Colorado, for close to 150 years.
Union Station, originally the Denver Union Depot built in 1881, is actually three buildings. The facility services bus lines, expanded light rail, retail space and The Crawford Hotel.
After hosting a historic lineup of guests from Queen Marie of Romania to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the building reached its pinnacle in the 1940s, bustling with over 50,000 visitors a day.
As rail took a back seat to alternative transportation, Union Station slowly sunk into disarray and was due for an upgrade. A grand reopening in 2014 reimagined the complex into a popular shopping, dining and cultural destination.
With a redesigned public square in front, updating the building’s exterior lighting was the next goal. Illuminating the granite and terra cotta façade highlights the architecture and showcases its presence for visitors and residents alike.
That’s why Union Station connected with Display Devices, Inc. to assist in a redesign of the façade lighting to complement internal renovations.
“To enhance the appeal of Denver Union Station, we needed to update our exterior luminaries to highlight the iconic façade while making the lighting more reliable and consistent,” stated Ed Blair, Area General Manager of Denver Union Station & The Crawford Hotel. “Working with our integrator, Display Devices, has been a pleasure. Their expertise and support made the installation seamless.”
THE VERSATILITY OF EXTERIOR ILLUMINATION
Display Devices worked in tandem with Prizm by American Lighting, Denver, CO, to design and install a new LED lighting system.
The advanced control system capable of cloud access is easily operated by the building’s management at any time. The American Lighting team provided a seamless integration of modern controls and exterior uplighting while honoring structural integrity of this historic landmark.
In accordance with the historic registry designation, there could be no new holes drilled into the building’s façade, so creativity was vital to utilize all existing infrastructure when installing the upgraded system.
Prizm reviewed the project needs and highlighted the major product characteristics. Previous lighting suffered from diminished quality and experienced failures, including an older controller with outdated programming and no remote accessibility.
The idea was to elevate usability with a remotely controlled system and upgrade with a versatile, energy efficient, high-quality, RGBW fixture, one that could be globally positioned, with optional accessories like optical plates, for every scenario while also melding seamlessly with the existing lighting.
Denver’s dramatic weather variances, along with the remaining requirements, lead to selecting Sēnik Reflekt RGBW, paired with Pharos Expert Architectural Controls. Scenes can be scheduled/modified wirelessly, allowing the high powered 100-watt flood light to beautifully illuminate the historic architecture and maintain performance.
“Sēnik Reflekt offers ultimate flexibility and efficiency in façade lighting with its modern, scalable approach,” said Lynn Dee Lindquist Bryce, Prizm’s Project Integrator. “The scenes are scheduled and can be changed instantly via the cloud, so if there ever is a concern about light pollution in a bustling area like downtown Denver, they can easily and quickly be modified or turned off.”
Ed Blair added, “This update allows us to schedule our local sports team colors and change themes during holidays/events, all while being able to run a 3000K white to match the remaining lights when colors are not being used."
Sēnik Reflekt accomplished this by individually adjusting fixture heads with 180° adjustability. Each of the 62 fixtures installed to the building – 42 on the front and 20 on the back – can output more than 7700 lumens. All uplighting positions are a single RGBW head with a 12° native beam.
The end result? A showpiece for Denver.
Every holiday or season can be illuminated with colorful accents and celebratory square events like Neighborhood Night and the Anniversary Gala. Spectators can marvel at this historic giant while the operations team easily manipulates the setting with wireless controls and cutting-edge technology.
"We are thrilled with our Prizm lights showcasing the architecture of Union Station. Plus, the vibrancy of the colors is stunning, delighting all who visit,” said Blair. “The ability to control the lights over the cloud adds unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Prizm has truly transformed our space and exceeded all expectations.”
