New lighting technologies and LED developments have led to cities around the world becoming increasingly vibrant and colourful when the sun goes down. Calgary is no exception. The city's buildings, bridges, and walkways are shining bright in new and vivid ways. Downtown is shining even brighter now that the Telus Sky building debuted its Northern Lights art installation by Douglas Coupland last weekend. Here's a luminous look at some of Calgary's bright lights from Postmedia photojournalist Darren Makowichuk.
If you haven't walked through the 4th Street S.W. underpass lately, do it. This interactive light display changes as people stroll past it. Artist Krzysztof Wodiezko and Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative created the 4th Street Illumination Project, which they described this way: “The introduction of animated light and colour, responding to the flow of people through the space, ensures the redesign remains evocative, varied and timeless.”
Any night light tour in Calgary needs to start with the iconic Calgary Tower, which looks especially spooky this Halloween when reflected on a building. The tower puts on spectacular light shows nightly, with 132 lights used to produce more than 16.5-million effects and colour combinations.
Encana picked a winner when it commissioned Jaume Plensa to create this piece of public art in front of The Bow tower. Wonderland is a popular attraction, both night and day.
The Calgary Tower is framed by the colourful arches at Olympic Plaza.
Reconciliation Bridge is lit up nightly with thousands of LED lights.
Fort Calgary now features an eye-catching light display.
The lights on the Peace Bridge dazzle from any angle.
GAVIN YOUNG
Northern Lights, a colourful art installation by Douglas Coupland, debuted on the Telus Sky building on Oct. 24.
DARREN MAKOWICHUK
One of the grand old buildings of Calgary, Old City Hall, was completed in 1911. The building glows with elegant charm.
DARREN MAKOWICHUK
The legendary St. Louis Hotel still sports its old-time neon signs.