As progress on Southwest’s The Wharf by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront continues, last night the developer unveiled a new lighting installation on the Francis Case Memorial Bridge. The installation, which brightens the bridge with a long strip of light, was designed by Citelum, the urban lighting company that’s worked on Eiffel Tower.
According to Citelum’s website, the installation is intended to mimic how natural light changes from sundown to sunrise, changing from warm hues to cooler ones as the hours grow later. Citelum’s website sites that building out the light feature required 10,000 man hours and a $2.4 million budget.
“The main objectives of the design-build project were to create a visual experience that supports the renewed activity of the area while blending into Washington DC’s nightscape,” reads Citelum’s announcement of the installation. “The final design creates a vibrant visual experience for nighttime visitors and residents and is expected to boost The Wharf’s nighttime activity, setting a precedent in DC’s illumination.”
Following the unveiling, the installation is now set to light up Case Bridge every night. Take a last night’s lighting celebration in the video below.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
