Fulton Market Gateway – Chicago
JRLX was approached by M1 Interactive to design and provide a cohesive lighting solution for the Chicago Department of Transit’s (CDOT) new Fulton Market Gateway project.
While the retro look and “feel” of traditional glass neon was highly sought after for this project, it’s cost, fragility, and limited nature demanded that a modern solution be implemented. Hundreds of feet of RGB LED Neon Flex (a flexible solid-state lighting product) was integrated into the design. After approval, City Lights, Ltd. commissioned JRLX to provide the system. Special care had to be taken to insure the longevity of sensitive electronic components such as connections, LED drivers, and power supplies in Chicago’s harsh climate of intensely hot summers and below zero winters. The construction schedule mandated that the lighting elements were installed offsite and transported to the site in pieces to be assembled and commissioned as well.
Controlled by an on-board Pharos Architectural system, the signage can change color and intensity on a per-letter basis based on seasonality and holiday schedules using the fully-implemented astronomical-clock functionality. The ethernet based protocol of the Pharos control system allows for future expansion and control of additional architectural elements and signage in the vicinity of the Fulton Market District.