PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
COLLEGE PARK BALTIMORE AVENUE BRIDGE
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
COLLEGE PARK BALTIMORE AVENUE BRIDGE
ILLUMINATING A UNIVERSITY & COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The College Park City-University Partnership contacted Imaginex to conceptualize a lighting design on the Baltimore Avenue Bridge over the Paint Branch stream, located at the main entrance to the University of Maryland. Our design prioritized safety, while adding a beautiful aesthetic to the entrance of the state’s flagship University. Each day, over 40,000 cars drive over this bridge, and thousands of students walk and ride bikes on the paved underpass to attend class and get home. The end result was 500 feet of color-changing lights which illuminate the pedestrian walkway and the freshly painted murals.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Imaginex created a proprietary app that controlled the color of the lights, which can be switched to University colors during sporting events and many other color combinations for holidays and special occasions. The app was designed to turn itself off and on based on sunset and sunrise, and also defaults to a new color mood each day.
INSTALLATION
Our production partners FK Productions created a rigging and installation strategy that did not interrupt traffic or alter the bridge’s structure. Imaginex created 3D CAD models of the entire bridge and the light fixture locations, and FK Productions handled on-site logistics.
PERMITTING AND APPROVALS
We also worked with the Maryland State Highway Administration along with other municipal organizations for permitting and approvals. As one example, it was important to the SHA that the lighting did not distract drivers, which we reflected with our choices on brightness levels and how quickly the colors transitioned.
Source: James Johnson & Nhu-Phuong Duong
College Park City – University Partnership with the City of College Park and the University of Maryland and the College Executive Producers: Park Arts Exchange
Creative Direction, Software Development, Pre-Production, QA: Imaginex
Electrical, Production Management, Rigging: FK Productions
Technical Director, Production Manager: Eric Mintzer
Executive Director of the College Park City-University Partnership: Eric Olson
Installation, QA: Nathan Towles
Photos provided by: James Johnson & Nhu-Phuong Duong
| College Park City – University Partnership with the City of College Park and the University of Maryland and the College Executive Producers: | Park Arts Exchange |
| Creative Direction, Software Development, Pre-Production, QA: | Imaginex |
| Electrical, Production Management, Rigging: | FK Productions |
| Technical Director, Production Manager: | Eric Mintzer |
| Executive Director of the College Park City-University Partnership: | Eric Olson |
| Installation, QA: | Nathan Towles |
| Photos provided by: | James Johnson & Nhu-Phuong Duong |
Press
The Hyattsville Wire: Meet College Park’s New Rainbow-Lit Bridge
Maryland Today: Bright Idea for Paint Branch Bridge
SEE MORE
