HOW TO LIGHTING
The idea involved floating illuminated rings as a signature element of this multi-billion dollar redevelopment.
BY SBI SBISTAFF STAFF
Waterfront Magic LED luminaires light up a riverfront neighborhood attraction.
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Sign Builder Illustrated
August 2020
The main public plaza is the perfect spot for taking in the scenic views, both of the water and also overhead. This is also where fifteen rings of iLight Plexineon seem to float aloft at night. And this is the story of how this IES Illumination awardwinning project was brought to life. One Design Challenge (of Many) The idea for these floating circles of light
was conceived by Gilmore Lighting Design of Potomac, Maryland after the firm was brought onto the project by nearby Landscape Architecture Bureau (LAB). Debra Gilmore, president and principal at Gilmore Lighting Design, utilized layers of light for the different scope locations (architectural, landscape, and site) to establish a visual hierarchy relating to activity within the locations.
Photos: iLight.
P
erched along the Potomac River and located within a short walk of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., sat a mile-long stretch of waterfront property that was not only being underutilized by residents but also being ignored by tourists. However that perception all changed recently when a $2.5 billion development transformed the area into a new, bustling 24-acre neighborhood known as “The Wharf” or “District Wharf.” This makeover has turned the area into an attraction for local residents and tourists alike. There are plenty of features and amenities now at District Wharf: concert venues, retailers, restaurants, hotels, residences, and businesses. There is also the restored, historic Oyster Shed, which is now part of the new Washington Fish Market and adjacent to the floating Municipal Fish Market (the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the country).
With all of the cables angled, rather than horizontal, a custom mounting was used.
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