Defining Community Character with Light

Teatro Municipal E. Buenaventura is a municipal theatre located in the heart of Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Within the urban context of the city, the Enrique Buenaventura Municipal Theater holds exceptional historical and cultural significance that anchors the identity of its surrounding landscape. The theater also serves as a vibrant cultural gathering place that, together with other nearby heritage sites, helps define the character of the city’s historic center. Its presence stands as both a physical and symbolic beacon, uniting the built environment with the cultural memory of the community.

The design challenge lies in illuminating the theater to breathe new life into its historic and urban setting. The theater has been named an Asset of Cultural Interest or BIC, meaning it is recognized for its historical, artistic, and cultural value and has to adhere to special regulations regarding its preservation. The new lighting installation aims to enhance the building’s architectural and cultural value through lighting that harmonizes with the area’s history. In doing so, the project seeks to create a safe, inviting, and visually cohesive nighttime environment that encourages residents and visitors alike to experience and enjoy Santiago de Cali’s rich cultural landscape.

The installation features over 70 Color Kinetics luminaires. This includes thirty 1ft and fourteen 3ft Graze Compact Powercore gen2, IntelliHue luminaires, eight 4ft ColorGraze MX4 Powercore RGBW, luminaires, and twenty-one Burst Powercore gen3, IntelliHue luminaires. The Graze Compact luminaires uplight the second story windows, architectural facade details and the building crown. The Burst luminaires are mounted in the ground and are used to uplight the columns. Data Enabler Pro provides power and data to the system which is controlled by Pharos LPC 1 and integrated with Interact Landmark Gateway.

Color Kinetics products were selected for this project due to their high-quality and reliability. Their innovative technology and flexible design options made them the ideal solution. In addition, they are energy-efficient, which aligns with the project's sustainability goals. In short, Color Kinetics offered a comprehensive solution that met the technical and environmental requirements of the project. End-users noted that the products offered exceptional performance and value.