London Bridge hasn’t fallen down–yet. But any 117-year old bridge is bound to need a few updates here and there. The latest round of improvements will help cut the amount of energy required to light the landmark by 40 percent.
There’s no denying that London Bridge is an icon–a song praising its usefulness in times of conflict is sung to children before they can walk. But in recent iterations, the bridge has incorporated inefficient technologies that mar its noble history.
It was over 25 years ago that the London Bridge lighting system, used to illuminate the landmark at night, was last upgraded. But GE and its UK partner EDF Energy recently received a formal approval to retrofit the 800-foot bridge with new energy efficient LED technology and a cabling system that will bring it into the 21st century with style.
The new system is designed to enhance the architectural features of the 117-year old bridge. GE’s multi-color LEDs with variable intensity will illuminate the bridge’s Victorian gothic turrets, granite and stone towers as well as an aerial walkway and suspension chains. Kinga Kalocsai of GE Lighting says that the new lighting will “emphasize the lines of force” of the bridge. “The light will reveal the tonalities in harmony with the architecture of the structure,” says Kalocsai.
Look for the new LED lighting to be on display during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in the British capital next summer.
Article by Beth Buczynski, appearing courtesy Crisp Green.
3 comments
Isn’t that called Tower Bridge 🙂
You do realize that the the bridge in your picture is the Tower Bridge and not the current London Bridge ( London Bridge )?
This is a great story, but the photo above is of the Tower Bridge, which is located near the Tower of London. London Bridge is a little ways up the Thames River. This is a common mistake made by Americans because the Tower Bridge is an icon and the London Bridge just looks like a normal bridge.
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