Color kinetics relights Philadelphia boathouse row

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jul 11, 2005

Intelligent solid-state lighting system expected to save $57,000 in annual operating costs.

Color Kinetics Incorporated, a pioneer of intelligent solid-state lighting systems and technologies, today announced the prominent role of its technology in the relighting of Philadelphia's famed Boathouse Row.

Unveiled at a public ceremony on Thursday, June 30, the new LED-based lighting system replaces the previous 30-year-old incandescent system, and is expected to save the Fairmount Park Commission approximately $57,000 in annual operating costs.

A popular Philadelphia landmark, Boathouse Row comprises twelve boating clubs in ten, architecturally distinct buildings along a half-mile stretch of the Schuylkill River.

Prior to the relighting project, the Fairmount Park Commission was spending more than $50,000 per year on bulb replacement and $8,000 per year on energy costs.

The new system encompasses more than 12,000 individually controllable nodes of Color Kinetics iColor Flex SL - a flexible, LED-based "string light".

Each node is driven by Color Kinetics' custom-engineered Chromasic microchip, allowing for intricate, colorful lighting sequences in addition to simple white light that closely matches the previous incandescent system.

The LED-based system also features the benefits of long source life, durability, and reduced energy consumption, which translate to reduced operating costs.

"We knew that LEDs were the optimal light source for the project, based on their energy efficiency, lifetime and controllability, yet Color Kinetics' technology even exceeded our expectations," said Shannon Yott of Pennell and Wiltberger (PWI), who co-managed the architectural lighting design and specifications with Troy A.

Martin-O'Shia, architectural and lighting designer with Hase and Associates, .

"Not only do we have the ability to cut operational expenses with the LED-based system, we can quickly and easily program customized effects for special occasions - an option that was not possible with the dated, incandescent system.".