The Lions Awaken

Centre Street Bridge Calgary, Alberta

Calgary’s Centre Street Bridge is approaching its centennial year in 2016 and this sandstone structure defines a major, Centre City, thoroughfare.

LDI designers were challenged to create a respectful acknowledgement of this heritage asset after dark.  Featuring the structure through illumination, provides a visitor experience at night that is different than the daytime experience while preserving the original intent of the structure’s ornamentation.

Four ornate lions on plinths demarcate the pedestrian entry points to the bridge.  The understructure features three river archways punctuated by piers and the arch over Memorial Drive is adorned with a medallion commemorating the bridge.

The bridge satisfies multiple urban design categories, defined in the City’s Planning and Guideline documents; Entry, Path, Landmark, and Historic and Cultural Resource.  The new lighting design needed to meet the requirements of each of these categories of usage and value.

3000K, LED sources wash the bridge understructure in light that accurately renders the color of the bridge finishes.  The understructure luminaires are a small diameter linear with a custom paint finish to disappear from view during daytime.  The arches, now highlighted, draw attention to the engineering feat required to cross the Bow River in the early 1900’s.

Previously unlit, the Lions are now illuminated with 3000K, 8W warm white adjustable LED accent lights that are mounted on custom fabricated rails.  The rail design minimizes points of attachment to the plinth while maximizing adjustability of aiming.  The finish color and dimensions of the rails minimize appearance in the scene.

The replica globe sconces of the Lion Pavilions are now lamped with a lower wattage, 3200K CMH source to match the warm white color of the new architectural feature lighting.  The lower lamp wattage reduces viewer glare and improves appreciation of the Lions.

3000K, 8W LED fixtures are mounted to the arms of the replica globe sconces and are aimed downward to visually delineate the corners of each pavilion.  Small accent lights allow aiming for highlight and shadow on the Lions.

Fill light is provided for the Bison Head with 3000K, 8W LED, mounted on existing streetlight poles.

GOBO images are projected on the sidewalk entering the pavilions and enhance the pedestrian experience with color and landmark symbolism.

Existing streetlights were group relamped. The Memorial Drive arch medallions are spot lighted with the same LED luminaire used for the understructure.  16 hours of nighttime commissioning realized the designed scene.

Piers were purposefully unlit to punctuate the plunging of the arches into the river.  Precision aiming of all light ensures surfaces are properly illuminated without the stray scattering of light into the line of sight of observers and drivers.

The Centre Street Bridge has taken its rightful place in the City’s nightscape and the newly lit Lions dramatically present the workmanship inherent in their casting.  Visitors experience the reposing pride at day.  But at night, Lions are awakened, active, and roaring.

In 2013, this project was nominated for an International Award of Excellence in Lighting Design and received the DE Frost Award for Best Lighting Design in Southern Alberta.  In 2012, this project received a Lion Award from the City of Calgary Department of Heritage Conservation.