LED lighting is popping up in unusual places all over the world.  Because of its range of colors, long life, and energy efficiency, LED technology is becoming more and more popular for use in art and architecture.  Fountains seem to be particularly well suited to LED lighting, and the Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park is a complex and beautiful example.

The fountain is made up of two glass towers that are fifty feet high and separated by a reflecting pool.  The towers glow from the massive LED lighting display that is housed within them.  The LED lights change color and provide a moody glow to the fountain and pool.  Each tower has about seventy LED units.  Each of the towers shows the light through three sides, and on the fourth has an LED display screen where giant faces appear and even shoot water from their mouths.  These are random close-ups of resident Chicagoans, and they add a whole new dimension to the fountain.  The faces last for about five minutes each, making various expressions and finally culminating in spitting water from their mouths.  The fountain changes at night and instead of the faces shows nature images intermingling with simple solid colors.

The display’s designer, Jaume Plensa, had used LED technology before, and perhaps this is why he was able to so effectively use it to the utmost of its capabilities in this piece.  The team putting the piece together knew that LED was the way to go because if its low need for maintenance.  It wasn’t an easy job, however, since the lighting systems had to be waterproof, and also the designer wanted the glass towers to remain open and light.  The team may have had their work cut out for them, but the smiling faces of the people enjoying the final creation say it all – job well done!

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Trafalgar Square is a popular spot in London, both for tourists and locals.  With a number of historic statues, as well as the popular Trafalgar Square Fountains, the square is a commonly photographed area for tourists, and for locals, it is often the scene of festivals, cultural events, concerts, and sporting events.  The fountains dominate the square, and operate daily.  Built in 1844, they were remodeled in the 1930s, and the current lighting system was installed in 1992.  Over sixteen years old, the lighting system needs to be replaced, and the Greater London Authority is looking at using LED technology instead of the existing halogen bulbs.

Each fountain currently has twenty-eight waterproof lights, which when replaced with LED bulbs, would provide the city with significant cost savings.  The carbon footprint has been estimated to drop by 16,400 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.  Additionally, because LED light bulbs are so long lasting, there will be fewer instances of bulb outages, creating a better experience for visitors.  With LED technology being largely low maintenance, it will also save the city on money and manpower, and will hopefully lower the number of times the fountains have to be turned off to for the lighting system to be cleaned and maintained.  LED lights will also allow for colored lighting that can be used at events and concerts.

The GLA is now accepting proposals from companies interested in working on the project, and hopes to have the new lighting system in place for the annual Christmas festivities in December.  The job will prove to be a big one, since all the existing cables will need to be replaced, and a new lighting control system developed.  However, once completed, the project will be an important step towards energy efficiency, a decreased environmental footprint, and increased visitor satisfaction.
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