Bringing Phoenix Convention Center to Life After Dark

Situated at the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Phoenix Convention Center is one of the city’s most significant civic venues. The building’s scale and architectural character make it one of the area’s most visible landmarks. As part of the City of Phoenix’s ongoing commitment to creating a cohesive, safe and visually engaging city center, the venue became a clear opportunity to establish a new nighttime presence that could stand alongside the established lighting of other prominent downtown sites.

The goal was to use exterior architectural lighting to draw out the building’s form after dark, improve safety and visibility along surrounding streets, and contribute to a cohesive and visually engaging city center. The installation also needed to be built for longevity, capable of withstanding Arizona’s demanding climate while delivering consistent, high-quality output for years to come. Having worked with Color Kinetics on previous installations throughout the campus, the City of Phoenix had confidence in both the quality of the product and the longevity of the investment to select GrazeElite luminaires for this project.

Fifty GrazeElite Powercore luminaires were installed at ground level around the exterior of the building, spaced between one and two meters (3-6 feet apart). The luminaires throw light upward approximately 18 meters (60 ft) to illuminate the architectural steel at the top of the structure. GrazeElite produces twice the light of comparable luminaires while Chromasync Pro technology maintains accurate, consistent color across every fixture, perfect for this long-throw application. Its rugged aluminum casing and tempered glass construction ensure lasting performance in Arizona’s demanding climate. The full system is controlled via iPlayer 4 with power and data supplied by Data Enabler Pro gen3, giving the venue the flexibility to shift colors and scenes for events, celebrations, and citywide moments.

Bob Fingerman, Assistant Director of Phoenix Convention Center and Venues, notes:

“We installed more than 55 advanced micro LED uplighting fixtures to enhance the Center’s architectural elegance and nighttime identity. The system’s customizable colors not only highlight the building’s form and texture, they also allow us to reflect the spirit of different events and citywide celebrations. It’s a lighting solution that delivers tangible functional benefits, bolstering safety and visibility, while also enriching the visual experience for both visitors and the downtown Phoenix community.”