The GE Edison Award competition, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, is open to those lighting professionals who creatively employ significant use of GE light sources (lamps and/or LEDs) in a lighting design project completed during the previous calendar year.
Situated on a promontory overlooking the Pentagon, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, the Air Force Memorial takes its place among the capital city's key monuments. Lighting is critical in establishing the nighttime identity of each of these structures. Soaring toward the stratosphere, the stainless steel spires of the United States Air Force Memorial evoke the precision and weightlessness of flight.
The cool tones of the stainless steel surfaces come to life with the use of GE ConstantColor CMH 4200 K ceramic metal halide lamps. Luminaires with GE 150- and 250-watt T6 and T9.5 ConstantColor CMH lamps, precision optics, and glare-shielding properties highlight this impressive monument. The lighting design complements the modern elegance and precision of the memorial's spires.
The winning project was one of three Awards of Excellence finalists. The other Awards of Excellence winners were: Tampere Power Plant - Naistenlahti (Tampere, Finland), designed by Roope Siiroinen, Arto Heiskanen and Heini Ylijoki of VALOA design (Tampere, Finland); and African Burial Ground (New York, New York, USA), designed by Domingo González and Nancy Lok of Domingo González Associates(New York, USA).
(Jim Evans)
