Ironworks Plaza Skate Rink and Sculpture Park

Lead Designers Michael Cohen

Entry Description

The city embarked on an endeavor to renovate an obsolete industrial area next to the river into a public amenity. An ice skating area was developed with an adjacent amphitheater and facilities building. Close coordination with ownership, design architects, engineers, sculptor, lighting designer and programmer were required to create this project. An interactive fog garden is anchored by one of 5 sculptures. A multiple timeline lighting controller is programmed to coordinate the dynamic lighting for the sculpture, fog, rink and facade. The sculptures have varying presence during the day, dusk and evening. The animated luminous sculptures create focal points around which skating and non-skating viewing occurs. The lighting controller also triggers the operation of the fog zones. A QR code allows users to interact with the fog animation. Maintenance access to lighting within the sculptures is through removable rib sections and flexible slide out mounting panels. The DMX addressable pixel controlled lighting is independently controllable at the stainless steel ribbing and at the textured glass spines. Ground mounted uplights glow the sculptures to complement and contrast with the internal light sources. The rink, sculptures and building facade lighting programming are coordinated for color and pacing. An interface facilitates the light sources to animate with music being played.

Sustainability Approach

Energy efficient and long life/low maintenance LED sources are used exclusively. Programable controls limit extend lamp life by limiting on time for any single RGBW component light source. Stainless Steel and Aluminum integrated sculpture and fixture housing materials are recyclable.