London Mayor Boris Johnson says he has a “spectacular” view of the picturesque Tower Bridge from his office. That view will soon get even better.
GE and its UK partner EDF Energy have received a formal approval to install GE’s new energy efficient LED technology and a cabling system to illuminate the 800-foot bridge. The new lighting will replace a 25 year old legacy system and help cut the amount of energy required to light the landmark by 40%.
GE and EDF, a top supplier of electricity in London, are sponsors of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in the British capital next summer.
The new system is designed to enhance the architectural features of the 117-year old bridge. GE’s multi-color LEDs with variable intensity will illuminate the bridge’s Victorian gothic turrets, granite and stone towers as well as an aerial walkway and suspension chains. Kinga Kalocsai of GE Lighting says that the new lighting will “emphasize the lines of force” of the bridge. “The light will reveal the tonalities in harmony with the architecture of the structure,” says Kalocsai.
The flexibility of the lighting design will allow London officials to transform the bridge into a centerpiece for other celebrations and special event’s such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and New Year’s Eve festivities.
The lighting system is just one of 75 many-faceted GE projects connected to the 2012 games. The projects range from supplying uninterruptable power generators for the main Olympic stadium to advanced diagnostic equipment to diagnose strains, sprains and other ailments troubling the athletes. GE will also provide a large number charging stations for a fleet of Olympic electric vehicles.
The bridge lighting will be installed by the French firm Citelum, which has designed lighting for landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
