This page showcases two approaches to add sculptural lighting to the plaza: Ground suspension and Building suspension.
Ground Suspension:
Suspension cables with programable RGBW string lights will utilize anchoring to the central monument and lights pole on along the perimeters of the plaza.
Below are examples of a variety of paths the suspension cables and lighting can be installed.
Below are examples of a variety of paths the suspension cables and lighting can be installed.
Designs that have 5 radial points have shorter lengths between street pole anchors than designs that utilize 7 radial points that require the 2 poles on the outer perimeters of the plaza. Spacing between the lights along each cable in the 5 radial designs can be spaced ≥2ft, while 7 radial designs can be spaced ≥3ft.
All the designs above use the historical landmark at the center of the plaza as a anchor point. While anchors can be attached without damage to the monument using a rubber padded steel strap around an upper platform, given it's historical importance, preservation, and potential community disapproval/backlash, it might be a challenge to utilize the monument.
Below are designs that avoid using the monument and use just the poles.
All the designs above use the historical landmark at the center of the plaza as a anchor point. While anchors can be attached without damage to the monument using a rubber padded steel strap around an upper platform, given it's historical importance, preservation, and potential community disapproval/backlash, it might be a challenge to utilize the monument.
Below are designs that avoid using the monument and use just the poles.
The alternating zig zag orientation of the 7 poles of the plaza create a trapezoid shaped foot print that leaves the ends/entryways of the plaza unlit. Installing 2 additional poles allow additional cables of light (marked in orange below) for more balanced arrays to be be installed.
In addition to the challenges of getting permission to anchor to the monument, there is considerable challengers getting permission from DPW an installing on the utility poles. Each pole will need to have 1-2 LED power controller boxes of each. 2 of the 7 poles already have wireless antenna equipment installed an might be off limits to attaching. If any of the poles can not be used to power the LED controllers or if the controllers can not be attached to the poles additional power and data cables must now run along each suspension cable. Due to the spaced out array of poles networking each of the controllers will need addition DMX cables run along the light cables or a wireless RF network will be required.
Having all the lighting and equipment at a lower level increases the risk of theft and vandalism. To keep the controllers out of reach and to access the lighting install and ongoing maintenance a bucket lift will be required.
All challenges mentioned above with Ground Suspension are not concerns with Building Suspension.
Having all the lighting and equipment at a lower level increases the risk of theft and vandalism. To keep the controllers out of reach and to access the lighting install and ongoing maintenance a bucket lift will be required.
All challenges mentioned above with Ground Suspension are not concerns with Building Suspension.
Building Suspension: Ripple
The rooftops of the SF Public Library and the Asian Art museum are both about 80ft tall and 240ft apart. The video above showcases a sculpture called Ripple that uses 25 strands of 21 lights with 10ft spacing. While the design in the video for the Ground Suspension design using 5 radial points earlier on this page uses 512 LEDS bulbs and covers 0.5 acres, Ripple uses just a few more bulbs for a total of 550 but but with 2.5X of a foot print at 1.25 acres.
Beyond lighting up a larger area with Building Suspension it is in many ways easier to install and has advantages over Ground Suspension. With Ripple all 9 of its Power Controllers can come from a single 110v 25A outlet from one of the rooftops. This makes it simple to network them without complex wiring arrays or wireless networks. This also avoids the challenges of using the light poles for power and attaching to the poles needed in the Ground Suspension concept.
With 25 anchors attached to the edges of each roof, the cables can simple be pulled up by hand with rope or a wench system. This make installation easy with along with ongoing maintenance without the need for heavy machinery.
The LED cables of Ripple create a wave effect of the 25 lines at 3 different heights to mimic being below water and complement the new Koi Fish murals.
With the cables at a higher elevation it addresses the concerns for theft and vandalism.
Having the sculpture not attached to the monument keeps its historical significance in tact and makes Ripple an independent piece of Public Art.
With 25 anchors attached to the edges of each roof, the cables can simple be pulled up by hand with rope or a wench system. This make installation easy with along with ongoing maintenance without the need for heavy machinery.
The LED cables of Ripple create a wave effect of the 25 lines at 3 different heights to mimic being below water and complement the new Koi Fish murals.
With the cables at a higher elevation it addresses the concerns for theft and vandalism.
Having the sculpture not attached to the monument keeps its historical significance in tact and makes Ripple an independent piece of Public Art.