Dynamic lighting transforms the San Diego Trolley Station

The canopy was originally lit with metal halide fixtures that did not provide adequate light for the space below, resulting in safety and security concerns. The maintenance of the fixtures was both labor and cost intensive—often requiring a scissor lift to reach fixtures up to 35 ft (10.7 m) in the air—and disruptive to the trolley service. The lights could sometimes run for up 15 hours resulting in expensive electric bills. Given the safety concerns and costs, it was time to seek an alternative lighting solution.

Lighting designers, Rebecca Ceballos and Debra Fox of LPA, Inc., were commissioned with the task. The design objective for the project was two-fold—to improve the light levels and light uniformity, to increase safety, and to reduce the maintenance and energy costs. Ceballos and Fox knew that an LED lighting system would achieve both goals. It would also be a way to introduce color-changing light to highlight Jahn’s design and provide a unique experience for people traveling through the station. As the project progressed, it became clear that the color-changing lighting would also provide another opportunity—to revitalize the city and the whole downtown experience.

“As we worked on the project we realized that through the use of color-changing lighting, we had the chance to essentially brand the city,” said Fox. “The new lighting could extend beyond the station and tie back to city events and happenings, and with the nearby commercial railroad station, we could create a ‘gateway’ to San Diego.”

To uplight the canopy, Ceballos and Fox used a combination of four Color Kinetics ColorBlast Powercore and two iW Blast Powercore fixtures mounted within each of the 12 existing metal shrouds located 35 ft (10.7 ft) above the station which replaced high wattage metal halide uplights. More than 30 different themed lighting shows were programmed—both static and dynamic—and run during trolley operating hours treating travelers and passersby to a lighting experience. After hours, the uplights switch to white light in order to increase safety and security in the area. The new lighting system has reduced the overall energy consumption by 80%.