The Connective Corridor is featured in the April issue of LD+A — the magazine of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. A news story highlighted the CC’s “Corridor of Light” project which is lighting 23 buildings, as well as the Corridor’s current call for public art — aptly titled, “Illuminating a City through Public Art.”

The “Corridor of Light” illumination project is part of the Connective Corridor’s façade improvement and public art program, funded through grants from Empire State Development.  The focus of the project has been both aesthetics and energy reduction through efficient high-quality LED lighting units that can also easily be upgraded to keep pace with the rapid evolution of lighting technology, permitting additional savings.

Innovative lighting projects along the Corridor were also recently profiled in a magazine spread in Landscape Architecture Magazine.

Illumination has been a literal and metaphorical theme of the Connective Corridor – from innovative lighting projects that highlight the City’s iconic architecture, to urban streetscape projects that activate Syracuse as a more vibrant place to live, work and visit. Intelligent LED lighting systems help create sustainable smart cities, as they also enliven outdoor public spaces, buildings, parks and art works.

The Corridor’s lighting projects were designed by local entrepreneurs that include Ephesus Lighting – a tech start-up that launched at the Tech Garden incubator along the Connective Corridor, as well as Syracuse University faculty spin-off start-up companies like SenSyr.  Many of them include intelligent control systems, as well as sensor technology.

More than 20 downtown buildings are being illuminated through the Connective Corridor facade improvement program.  See some photo highlights here.

  

Among some favorites:

• The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) illuminated its turret tower
• Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church illuminated its iconic spire
• The Parkview Hotel replaced its iconic rooftop sign with state of the art LED lighting
• Reid Hall and Peck Hall at 601 East Genesee Street implemented landscape and architectural accent lighting
• Presidential Plaza at 600 East Genesee Street implemented new exterior façade lighting
• Synapse Erie Canal Buildings at 325 E. Water Street and 333-335 E. Water Street refurbished its historic lighting, and installed new exterior façade lighting
• Kenny & Kenny at 315 West Fayette refurbished its exterior historic lighting
• Lemp Jewelers at South Warren and West Fayette installed enhanced exterior lighting
• Temple Concord illuminated its historic facade
• CNY Philanthropy Center / CNY Community Foundation illuminated its portico facing Fayette Park
• Onondaga Tower implemented an innovative complete building lighting scheme with unique lighting controls that change colors and can create special effects
• ProLit/WCNY Public Broadcasting implemented an exterior illumination project as the western Terminus of the Connective Corridor (funded in partnership with National Grid)
• Taksum Development installed new exterior lighting as part of its mixed-use redevelopment of 709 East Genesee Street
• The Erie Canal Museum plans to light its new mural, also funded through the Corridor façade program
• The Hamilton White House plans to illuminate its historic Greek Revival landmark building at the intersection of Townsend and East Genesee Streets
• Victorian era Kitty Hoynes Restaurant and Pub plans a façade lighting project
• Ephesus Lighting plans an innovative lighting project at the Onondaga Tower plaza

  

Public spaces lit through the Connective Corridor streetscape project include:

• Forman Park firefly lighting and Armory Square gateway lighting by Tillett Lighting Design
• Connective Corridor LED column lighting by Tillett and Selux
• Syracuse Stage Plaza exterior illumination, including LED screens, by SenSyr
• Everson Plaza/Urban Video Project projection on wall of Everson Museum

The Connective Corridor is currently working with the City of Syracuse on a tasteful architectural lighting project to illuminate the fountain, statuary and landscaping at Fireman’s Fayette Park.  The project, to be implemented in 2015 as part of the Civic Strip of the Connective Corridor, will be guided by the aesthetic of the beautiful perimeter cast iron fence from the original design by landscape architect C. Hastings.  The park includes the Hamilton White Monument, a statue and seat in memory of Hamilton S. White who lost his life at a fire on March 13, 1899, which was given by fellow fireman and other citizens.  A monument to Fireman who lost their lives in the Collins Block disaster February 2, 1939 was erected by the City on the east side of the Park. The Phillip Eckel Memorial moved there 1979.  The 1.2 acre park has been known under various names through the years – first as Centre Square (1827), then LaFayette Park (1838), Fayette Park (1917) and Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park (1972).

The Connective Corridor lighting initiative is designed to complement other projects such Onondaga County’s lighting master plan for buildings and public spaces in the Columbus Circle area, as well as National Grid building’s iconic lighting design on Erie Boulevard developed by renowned lighting architect Howard Brandston.

“The City of Syracuse’s authenticity is defined by the character of our historic building stock and dynamic public spaces,” says Ben Walsh, City of Syracuse Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development.  “The innovative Corridor of Light program highlights, both literally and figuratively, what makes us uniquely Syracuse.”