The Illuminating World of Bridges, Part 5. Community Engagement

Participation is a two-way street (with links to Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4)

Welcome to the final edition of Leni Schwendinger Light Projects' (LSLP) Bridge Lighting Series, The Illuminating World of Bridges. Aspects of physical crossings have been covered in the past 8 months -- contextual approach, physical typologies and ecosystem considerations.

Here, in our final edition, LSLP suggests methodologies to collect local community and stakeholder input to create welcoming and welcomed luminous rooms.

⭐️Links to Parts 1 through 4 are provided at the end of this page.

We are the professionals: designers, artists and engineers. Why enable input for communities and stakeholders?

1. The design team is enriched with local knowledge, which is folded into light and color approach, prospective dynamic patterns, programming for special local dates

2. Community pride and investment is developed: ✅ “I worked on that”

3. Design is ensured to be site specific and unique radiating identity

4. Push back and complaints are reduced or circumvented

Evanston, Illinois' Luminous Crossings project is used as a case study for this LSLP Bridge Lighting issue addressing community engagement.

Intent: An art lighting activation for multiple train line viaducts which run the length of the city

Site contexts: Commercial corridors

Underpasses create visual barriers for pedestrians, often cutting through the center of neighborhoods and retail districts. The negative experience of traversing beneath them is detrimental to feelings of connection, safety, and community enjoyment, particularly after dark. The goal is to design lighting strategies to activate and beautify these underpasses, transforming eyesores into assets for the community and local businesses.

An existing conditions survey launched the project. Photography, measurements, traffic patterns, under-carriage and sidewalk conditions are documented along with contextual atmospheres. This collection provides material data to ascertain design limitations, manage expectations, possibilities and challenges. The next phase of the design process is direct engagement with stakeholders representing each of subject districts.

Read on to be inspired by the NightSeeing™ methodology mentioned in purple by Evanston's Economic Development Coordinator, Katie Boden. The client, stakeholders or an local outreach firm conducts outreach to encourage program attendance. The program consists of several events: in the evening LightTalk + NightWalk (here with an experiential lighting demonstration), followed by the Envisioning Workshop usually convened the next morning.

1 NIGHTTALK

The NightTalk, Leni's creative lighting presentation opens eyes to fresh vantage points to be considered for the future of the site.

Additionally, early feedback is debated. Then designers introduce creative precedents to prepare minds to imagine outside the status quo.

2 NIGHTWALK

Lighting designers and key stakeholders travel to each viaduct to discuss conditions and aspirations.

These are intimate group experiences where points of view can be easily shared.

On foot, on site, any conflicting, strongly held opinions are reduced. Minds are receptive to options.

3 DEMONSTRATION

Stakeholders are invited to experience public light using a collection of battery-powered, color-changing light fixtures. Participants experiment with light and color applications to various parts of the bridge structure: the walls, sidewalk, underdeck, columns, and murals. The group also experiences immersive light to simulate sidewalk down lighting.

4 ENVISIONING WORKSHOP

Stakeholder and community participants are introduced to a educational segment to draw on bridge lighting typologies and methods. Outcome: the attendees develop a common vocabulary to discuss their current experiences and aspirations for the underpasses.

Friends and colleagues, did you miss the previous four chapters of 'The Illuminating World of Bridges' ? They are evergreen, so get your reading glasses on.

⭐️ Part 1 introduces the exciting practice of bridge illumination. Part 2 explores luminous colors and international trends. Part 3 provides a technical focus. Part 4 investigates ecological concerns.