Philips Lighting Celebrates Big River Crossing Grand Opening with Smart Lighting System

• Dynamic lighting installation illuminates the country’s longest public pedestrian bridge
• Philips ActiveSite technology enables efficient monitoring, maintenance and management of more than 100,000 Philips connected LEDs

Philips Lighting, a global leader in lighting, announced a state-of-the-art connected LED lighting system to be unveiled on the Big River Crossing as the finale of its grand opening celebration on October 22, 2016.

Spanning nearly one mile in length, Big River Crossing will be the longest public pedestrian/bike bridge across the Mississippi River. The new lighting installation will allow the region to showcase spectacular light shows and stunning dynamic effects, creating a center of activity for the local community and visitors while enhancing the vibrant waterfront and encouraging further development.

“Over the last century, the Harahan Bridge has been a centerpiece for the Memphis metropolitan area, its citizens, visitors and local businesses. Revitalizing the bridge and adjoining Big River Crossing through dynamic lighting experiences will ensure its role as a source of great pride for our city and the region for the next hundred years and more,” commented Mayor Jim Strickland.

The installation will feature more than 100,000 Philips light points including Philips Color Kinetics ColorGraze Powercore MX4 luminaires. These connected luminaires offer an expanded palette of more than a billion intensely saturated colors or finely tuned pastels and hues in a variety of beam angles so that the full volume and depth of the bridge will be showcased. These capabilities allow the LED lights to produce hundreds of possible configurations and light distribution patterns to create static displays or dynamic color shows that can be programmed to commemorate special events, holidays and important civic causes.

The installation is further enhanced by Philips ActiveSite System, a cloud-based connected lighting platform that provides remote monitoring and management capabilities to ensure operational efficiency and the ability to program the lights without being tethered to the bridge. Historical analysis and reporting tools also offer unprecedented insight into system operations, allowing system managers to evaluate and optimize performance.

“Technology is radically transforming the way public spaces are illuminated while also helping to contribute to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of the local community,” said Amy Huntington, CEO of Philips Lighting Americas. “This dynamic lighting system featuring high quality, energy efficient LED lights is designed to enhance tourism and community impact by reimagining how people experience the iconic boardwalk.”