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LAX Gateway at Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles, California, USA

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the fifth busiest airport in the world, accommodating more than 61 million travelers per year. In 2006 it undertook a major lighting renovation to both improve visual impact and reduce energy and maintenance concerns by taking advantage of intelligent LED illumination.

The project called for approximately 1,800 ColorBlast® 12 Powercore fixtures to replace five-year-old metal halide fixtures within 26 glass pylons leading to the airport's entrance, known as the famed LAX Gateway. Ranging in height from 25 to 110 feet, the translucent pylons can now display custom-designed, color-changing effects that are seamlessly enabled by Chromacore® technology, as opposed to the use of glass filters, colored gels, and electro-mechanical color scrollers that were previously required. Based on preliminary operation and testing, the LED-based system is expected to cut energy consumption by 75%, reduce annual electricity costs from $73,000 to $18,000, and cut annual maintenance costs from $1 million to $20,000 – an excellent example of the return on investment that can be achieved with LEDs in place of conventional sources. On top of the economic benefits, the pylons are more uniformly light from top to bottom with vibrant saturated color.

The pylons of LAX Gateway are visible to airline passengers at 3,000 feet. A series of dynamic light shows was designed for the new LED-based installation, including a patriotic sequence of red, white and blue to observe the anniversary of September 11, 2001. The distinctive, architectural structures were originally designed as part of a $112 million construction and landscaping program intended to make the airport more welcoming and convenient for passengers. They have since become an iconic component of the Los Angeles cityscape for residents and visitors alike.