Nearly 500 Exterior 600’s at the Democratic National Convention in LA

Al Gore and the Democrats may have come and gone, but the Martin light show at LAX will remain as a lasting effect. Visiting delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles were recently treated to a vibrant and colorful red, white and blue welcome courtesy of Martin Professional’s US subsidiary, Martin Professional, Inc.

Nearly 500 Martin Exterior 600 luminaires are used to dramatically illuminate the Sepulveda/Century entrance of the new LAX Gateway, the first major beautification project for the city of Los Angeles since the Olympic Games in 1984.

Exterior 600s illuminate columns along Century and Sepulveda Boulevards
Dedicated on August 8th just in time for the convention, the Exteriors are used to illuminate 15 circular frosted glass columns, which stand dramatically at the entrance/exit to the Los Angeles International Airport. The colorful light show can be seen at night by the over 100,000 people who pass through LAX each evening. Each column is approximately 30 - 60 meters tall and 4 meters in diameter.

The Exterior 600 fixtures are programmed to change colors and synchronize with an additional 15 smaller glass columns located on Century Blvd, the main road approaching LAX. The columns ascend from 25-60 feet and give approaching drivers the sense that they are about to take off. The complete lighting project is controlled via a customized system of Martin ProScenium lighting controllers.

The project was designed and specified by Los Angeles based Dawn Hollingsworth of MRH Design (Moody, Ravitz, Hollingsworth Design Inc,). Helix Electric, Inc., constructors and engineers for the $25 million LAX Gateway portion of the $110 million LAX improvement project, have supplied the complete job.

The project is possibly the largest automated exterior color changing lighting system in the world and has dramatically enhanced the aesthetics of the airport. Over 60 million people pass through LAX each year.

MRH was selected by the City of Los Angeles to specify lighting fixtures for the LAX Gateway Enhancement Project. California Lighting Sales (CLS), Martin Professional Inc.’s architectural sales representative in Los Angeles, presented the Exterior 600 fixtures to MRH.