Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company Lighting Design Alliance
Lead Designers Andrew Powell
Other Designer's names Panitkwan (Arex) Soontharuch, Chris Bright, Leigh Reimann (Inhabit)
Architecture Company Gensler & Aedas
Client Las Vegas Sands
Photo Credits Grischa Ruschendorf Photography
Completion Date Fall 2023
Project Location Macau, China
Entry DescriptionThe owner desired a change for this under-performing resort, including re-theming of the 6-story podium façade that connects 4 hotel towers, the entire forecourt site, as well as enhancements to the towers lighting.
The new podium façade is a replica of the iconic London Parliament building, complete with Elizabeth Tower / Big Ben clock. Façade lighting on THIS Parliament building has unique requirements the original does not.
The approach to façade lighting is a departure from the floodlighting of the original icon. Luminaires carefully integrated into the façade allow greater expression of the building’s texture, AND granular control zoning of the different layers, giving flexibility for nightly light shows.
ALL podium façade fixtures are RGBW, DMX controlled through 8 servers and over 1,000,000 addresses.
The architect challenged lighting designers to create faux windows with realism not previously achieved, within only six inches of window box depth. High-output linear graze luminaires sit at the bottom of each window box. A film mimicking drapes applied to each window adds depth and realism. Access panels designed into window bases allow for maintenance.
Guests are further transported to London with three different replica light poles, and London icons throughout the forecourt (statues, fountains, red phone booths, a double decker bus…), all carefully accented with light.
Sustainability ApproachControls are programmed to turn most façade lighting off at midnight, conserving energy, and reducing sky glow. The design itself actually limits spill light into the sky. Most lit areas (window boxes, internal spire lights, lighting at sculpture niches) produce little DIRECT light into the sky. Remaining lighting utilizes optics which focus light onto the features, not randomly into the sky.
ALL light fixtures are LED, with the majority of light fixtures are sourced in this region of China, reducing the carbon footprint of the project.
