300 West Block – Stephen Avenue Mall
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Welcoming 10,000 pedestrians per hour, the three-block walk along Stephen Avenue is an urban immersion with live performances, festivals, shopping, and dining. A streetscape steeped in culture.
An installation of ten (10) steel tree sculptures are of two forms; the first soars to 85 feet above its base and the second to 69 feet. The sculptures’ scale is enjoyed by thousands – pedestrians, motorists, shoppers in the adjacent three-storey retail areas, workers in the office towers, and visitors perched above in the adjacent indoor city park.
Speed of travel and orientation of view angles were considered while establishing the final collection of lit features that were presented. Lighting design drew inspiration from nature to establish a changeable urban experience. Color changing LED technology outlines – and uplights – tree canopies.
To eliminate the feeling of darkness on this streetscape corridor between tall, corporate towers, the lighting designer specified the white finish on the “tree trunks” to increase daytime brightness and to create a canvas for vertical illumination at night. Color changing LEDs downlight the “trunks”.
CMH gobos, with a stylized leaf pattern, project a carpet (reminiscent of a moonlit path) on the roadway and sidewalks. Pedestrian and motorist view studies were performed during commissioning. Contrast was maintained between the “trees” and the store frontage and restaurant patios. Precision aiming and control of the sculpture lighting maintained critical contrast hierarchy for retailers.
Ten (10) preset scenes were established for the DMX control system. Training was provided for the Downtown Association, who performs scene changes via a web-based user interface. Present scenes include: Four Seasons, Memorial, National, and “I Am Downtown”.
Stephen Avenue was declared a national historic site in 2002 and, the best historic places are used and enjoyed everyday. The lighting of the “trees” creates a sense of place worth visiting – and visiting again.
