Description

Philadelphia City Hall joins 14 buildings along the Avenue of the Arts as “performers” in a free, outdoor art display in the heart of Philadelphia’s arts and culture scene.  Styling a Second Empire: A Light and Sound Experience features animated graphics, moving lights and color-changing effects that re-interpret the architectural elements on one of Philadelphia’s most outstanding buildings, City Hall.  More than a dozen other buildings are united in this “ballet of light,” set to original music composed by University of the Arts students.  It will enliven the skyline nightly along four blocks of Philadelphia’s most artistic street.  Dusk to 1:00 a.m., April 15 - May 19.  Avenue of the Arts from Market Street to Pine Street.

The project is a collaboration between student artists from the University of the Arts, lighting designers from The Lighting Practice and sound system designers from Metropolitan Acoustics.  Student interns were engaged in workshop sessions to develop the lighting and music concepts, system design and program content.

City Hall has been at the center of Philadelphia for more than 100 years.  Built in the last decades of the 19^th century, it was in the forefront of architectural fashion with its French Second Empire style, lavish sculptural ornaments and position as the world’s tallest building.

Supported by:  Philips Lighting; Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, Philadelphia Section; NECA / IBEW Local 98; Gordon Group Electrical Construction; Center City District Foundation; University of the Arts; Metropolitan Acoustics; Penn Lighting Associates;and The Lighting Practice.

Featured Collaborators

Metropolitan Acoustics, LLC

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The Lighting Practice

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