Following discussions with the site owners, Princes Dock Development Company, lighting designer Graham Festenstein received a commission to develop a lighting scheme for the 'wishbone' structure. The bridge's new dynamic and interactive lighting, installed by W T Jenkins, is an eye-catching addition to the Liverpool dockside.
Festenstein has been involved in Liverpool for several years, working with Liverpool City Council and the regeneration company Liverpool Vision at a strategic level, further developing the master plan for Liverpool City Centre. The Princes Dock Footbridge illumination is also part of a programme in preparation for Liverpool's distinction as European City of Culture 2008. "As part of this work we have identified buildings and structures that could be lit and received commissions to undertake detailed design on a number of these," Festenstein says.
The Princes Dock Footbridge is an existing structure that Festenstein felt should be re-lit. There was a simple existing scheme already in place on the bridge - a white light scheme that utilized T8 fluorescents, many of which were unshielded and consequently glary. Festenstein proposed to reuse some of this lighting but to supplement it with Martin Cyclo 03 fluorescent color changers and EncapSulite MT70 luminaires. The Cyclo 03 is an RGB T5 fluorescent colour changer capable of generating nearly all colours or white light of any color temperature.
"Much of the lighting undertaken in Liverpool is to Heritage listed buildings, making the use of colour very restricted," comments Festenstein. "This structure gave us the opportunity to inject some colour to the lighting in Liverpool in an appropriate and exciting manner. We also wanted to use dynamic / changing light and integrate some fun and drama by making this interactive."
Seven IP65 rated Cyclo 03 fluorescents (54 W), mounted under the perforated steel floor, and six EncapSulite MT70 luminaires operate via a Pharos control system. Architen Landrel was employed as the technical co-ordinator for the project and was commissioned to design, supply and programme the lighting control system.
(Jim Evans)
