Skybridge Syncopation

By CS Design, The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative, Iregular, EGP Group and SMP Engineering. 

Plus Plus Plus Fifteen 

Syncopation is rhythm in which the emphasis is not on beats that are normally emphasized. In Skybridge Syncopation wave forms overlap and the physics of sound is rendered visible. This interactive installation invites you to break from your normal routine in the city on one of Calgary’s classic +15 walkways. Check out the rippling luminous composition that resonates as a result of your movement. This urban intervention is a cross-Canada collaboration with artists, architects and engineers from Calgary and Montreal.

This artwork is a product of the Big Bang Residency Program, made possible with support from Calgary Hotel Association and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. 

With special thanks to H&R REIT, Brookfield Properties, City of Calgary, OSRAM/Traxon and Optic Lighting

Hours

September 19 - 23

7:00 am - 9:00 pm

NOTE: These camera are sensors. You are not being recorded. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Artist Facts 

1) What is the skybridge syncopation? How does it work?

Skybridge Syncopation is a large scale urban light installation that attempts to visually recreate the interaction of multiple wave forms, represented by a series of light pulses, in real time. Based on input from pedestrians and vehicular traffic, a series of punctual and directional cues trigger “waves” of light which then syncopate, amplify, and attenuate over the length of the bridge (+15). The Bow Tower +15 site was chosen for its clean, neutral appearance and because it forms a natural focal point on Centre Street , easily visible from Stevens Avenue, the Beakerhead center of operations.

2) Which individual was responsible for what part? 

Our team was a highly diversified group, both geographically and by discipline. While CS Design (Conor Sampson, Nancy Elias, Anne-Marie Paquette) developed the original concept and is responsible for the feel and appearance of the installation, the following firms and individuals also played key roles in this adventure:

SMP Engineering: Geoff Bouckley, Steven Holland – electrical engineering and lighting, Calgary

Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc. :  Tim Smith, Marc Boutin – architecture, Calgary

EGP Group: Tom Egli – structural engineering, Montreal

Optics: John Lawlor – lighting logistics and controls, Calgary

Iregular, Daniel Iregui, Gabriel Lavoie-Viau– light concepts, sequencing and programming

3)What is the inspiration behind it, and some impressions the team is wanting to make on the public?

CS Design is very much interested in play and how people spontaneously interact with public spaces. We wanted to create a work where multiple participants have the opportunity to spark large scale dynamic visual effects, while maintaining a granularity and texture which people can physically relate to. We don’t have +15 bridges in Montreal and were really taken with the signature of the +15s on Calgary’s skyline. Projecting forward, we could see this installation developing into a network of iconic elements for Calgary, which could help to structure a nighttime experience of the downtown core.

Beakerhead’s ambition to link science and creative pursuits in a public festival was also a key inspiration. The theme of light waves, river waves and the interaction of wave forms in a live context was a natural fit for the festival theme. While users will intuitively grasp the way waves build, amplify, and destroy each other, if one takes in the installation over time, there is a clear didactic narrative which ties the science theme to the specific, Calgary location.

4) What other projects are being done by your respective companies?

CS Design is primarily engaged in architectural lighting. We work with architects, engineers, cities and private clients to light buildings and public spaces, creating static and interactive luminous spaces. www.designcs.ca

5) What kind of equipment of materials were used?

The installation makes use of a series of simple elements with a fairly complex controls and processing backend. The main visual signature is created by white pixel controllable LEDs, optically altered by an acrylic film. These LEDs are controlled via video feed which is shaped in real time by inputs from a series of cameras. The whole experience is supplemented by a soundscape, which is tied into the central processor and synchronized with the light interaction.