LED lights lit up the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Friday night, as the venue celebrated 80 years in operation. The new exterior lighting is part of a grander environmental effort as the museum seeks to exemplify a bridge to the future as well as the past.
Built in 1929 in honor of the soldiers who fought in World War I, the Auckland War Memorial Museum has been a landmark for local New Zealanders and tourists alike. Its 80th birthday was celebrated on the eve of Oct. 30, with a ceremonial unveiling of its new LED lighting fixtures.
“We are illuminating the building, not only to honour its architectural magnificence, but to signify the importance of the Museum’s connection to the city. This iconic building should be seen from all vantage points throughout our city, and we are proud to illuminate it in an economically friendly and beautiful new way,” said Museum Director Dr. Vanda Vitali, according to the Auckland War Memorial Museum website.
The Museum teamed up with the Auckland City Heritage Authority for the retrofit, which consists of nearly 400 LED fixtures and illuminates the museum like a gem atop Pukekawa in the Domain. And yet for all of its splendor, the power required to run the lights amounts to only one percent of the Museum’s net electricity usage.
Varying Modes
Three types of light illuminated the Museum throughout the course of the evening, in a stylish showing of the diversity and control of the new fixtures. The Classical Mode emitted a warm, golden hue in the early evening. At midnight, the Moonlit Mode eased on emanating a whiter light, followed by a Sleep Mode, which consisted of a soft blue shade representing the cool before the dawn.
The LED retrofit coincides with the Museum’s efforts to reduce power consumption for the entire complex. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is assisting the venture to make Auckland Museum shine for the next generation as a symbol of sustainability.
