Historic Lorain, Ohio Lighthouse Illuminated with TMB's Solaris Urban Lux The beloved Lorain Lighthouse, a 108-year-old beacon perched on a manmade island in Lake Erie, has been reborn with a lighting upgrade that merges preservation with innovation. Through the combined efforts of the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, ETC, CLI, Vincent Lighting Systems (VLS), and South Shore Electric, this National Historic Landmark shines in vibrant, color-changing brilliance-visible from shore and beyond. The goal was to modernize the lighthouse's legacy metal halide lighting with a contemporary, remotely controllable, energy-efficient RGBW LED system. Given the lighthouse's seasonal inaccessibility and boat-only access, remote operation and durability were non-negotiable design requirements. TMB's Solaris Urban Lux fixtures, engineered specifically for demanding environments, were selected. "Solaris Urban Lux combines high output with rugged reliability. Designed to survive harsh environments and challenging installations, it is suitable for landmark restorations and contemporary structures, including coastal monuments to metropolitan facades. Balancing the integrity of the original structure with forward-thinking technology, the design emphasizes saturated, even illumination across all four sides of the lighthouse. The Solaris Urban Lux fixtures delivered just that, with crisp whites and deeply saturated colors enhancing the lighthouse's bold lines and stately profile, especially stunning against Lake Erie's shifting skies. The fixtures were chosen for their optics, quality of light, and extreme-weather-resistant design. Salt air, high winds, freezing temperatures, and daily freeze-thaw cycles present no challenge for these compact, IP67-rated luminaires, the company says. The installation uses existing cabling, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing cost-efficiency, while highlighting the flexibility and integrative design of the Urban Lux solution. At the heart of the installation is Solaris Urban Lux's exclusive DoP (Data over Power) technology, which combines power and data transmission through a single cable. This proprietary solution dramatically reduced the need for new infrastructure, simplifying the installation and ensuring seamless communication and synchronization between fixtures. Lighting control is handled through a sophisticated, custom remote-control system, allowing precise management of brightness, color, color temperature, and scheduling. Mayor Jack Bradley was among the first to celebrate the upgrade, proudly sharing photos of the lighthouse's vibrant new look with the community. His enthusiastic response reflected the pride Lorain feels in both preserving and modernizing this treasured symbol of the city's heritage. 
|
