Reconciliation Bridge

Originally opened in 1910, the truss bridge - which connects downtown Calgary to neighboring communities - was due for a lighting upgrade. Considering the history of the bridge, especially its renaming to Reconciliation in 2018, CMLC saw an opportunity to develop a lighting program which recognizes and celebrates important Indigenous stories, history and culture.

The initial inspiration for the new lighting program came from the bridge’s structural form itself, and how it could best be revealed and showcased. Knowing how iconic and graphic the iron and steel truss looks when illuminated from behind in silhouette, we determined that locating the dynamic lights on the interior sides of the bridge structure would best provide this silhouetted glowing effect – akin to how an old gas lantern casts the shadows from its metal casing when lit.

Once the method of illumination was determined, SMP Engineering began envisioning how the dynamic lighting sequences would interact with the structure and what sort of thematic expression could be produced. This process led us to some high-level decisions around pacing and directionality for the lighting to flow; for instance, most lighting sequences change in a North to South pattern as that moves with the flow of traffic for which the bridge is most commonly used.

Lastly, the specific colours and patterns of the lighting sequences were heavily informed from our engagement sessions with the City of Calgary Indigenous Relations Office. The key moment was to focus on Indigenous stories and celebratory cultural elements; to find the happiness and the laughter. Although there are important sequences recognizing the solemn and tragic experiences of the Indigenous People, these were not to be the foundational elements of design. The new lighting program will regularly cycle through lighting sequences that mark changes in the seasons, the lunar cycle, and special events and occasions.

Products Used:

GVA Lighting FL100, FL25, Infinity® Technology
EcoSense Rise F080
Lithonia Lighting WST LED
Selux Lighting M125