Overview
As the tallest building in Idaho, 8th & Main towers above downtown Boise with a bold, striking signature of postmodern structural elegance. The clients desired an enduring and dynamic lighting upgrade to enhance the facade of this 17-story spire-topped landmark, and our BL Lighting was appointed to deliver the complete lighting and controls solution.
TOWER OF TRIUMPH
Key requirements for this LEED certified building were energy efficiency, suitability for the exterior location, and the ability to customize colors and lighting levels to suit any occasion. BL Neonview ticked all the boxes, being manufactured with materials that are proven for true 4-season operation, packing a punch of vibrant illumination that consumes very little power at just over 3 watts per foot, and offering color control capabilities, giving the client precise control over color and brightness at various times of the day. The client can change colors of individual lengths, match the spire color, or oppose spire colors to create different effects for various events, and the initial light up was a huge success with a lighting show featuring Boise blue and orange that got the whole town talking about it!
CAPABLE CONTROLS, A CORNERSTONE COMPONENT
One challenge with this commercial retrofit was finding a lighting system that could be integrated with the existing lighting and control system. Our sales and support team guided the clients through the process and expertly determined which options would work best, ultimately choosing BL Controls Cato touch screen + App. as the controller of choice for compatibility as well as the intuitive user interface. With all programming completed remotely from our Vancouver headquarters, we provided a hassle-free experience, scenes and colors are simply set and selected at the touch of a button.
SOLUTIONS SHAPE SUCCESS
All BL Neonview lengths were tailor made for the project, and attached to the architectural ‘fins’ of the building with our aluminum mounting channel, making installation easy and ensuring a perfectly straight, linear appearance that blends the lights seamlessly into the architecture. With nearly 700ft of lighting to be installed on the impressive existing structure, BL Lighting provided exemplary support and worked with the installation contractors from the planning stage through installation and commissioning, providing custom layout drawings, mapping out connection diagrams, and guidelines to ensure completion of the project was smooth and successful.
Reinvigorating this landmark with our architectural lighting was instrumental in attracting new business and tenants to the area, illuminating a now vibrant urban district, and creating a sense of place for the public, identifying Downtown Boise as ‘the place to be’. The happy clients can make the building come to life with lively illuminated scenes, and change the facade for any occasion, from celebrating a Boise Broncos football win with the team’s signature blue and orange, to marking the annual Christmas Tree light up with festive green and red. As the tallest building in Idaho, the 8th & Main tower punctuates the horizon with a bold, striking signature, and it’s lighting is no different.
