A carefully selected range of ADJ lighting fixtures is bringing festive sparkle to one of New York City’s most prestigious commercial buildings. Canal Sound & Light has delivered a striking Christmas lighting installation inside the atrium of iconic 1 Bryant Park – also known as the Bank of America Tower. Designed to complement a large-scale holiday décor display, the temporary lighting adds dynamic movement, visual depth, and seasonal atmosphere to the landmark Midtown Manhattan space.
The project saw Canal Sound & Light working alongside Cambridge, a specialist supplier of high-end holiday décor and floral design, who were commissioned to create an elegant seasonal environment within the landmark location. Canal was brought in to design and supply a lighting system that would enhance the décor, elevate key elements of the installation, and complement the architecture of the expansive glass-filled atrium.
To achieve this, Canal supplied Cambridge with a selection of ADJ fixtures chosen for their output, versatility, and visual appeal. At the heart of the design were nine Focus Spot 4Z Pearl moving heads, featuring distinctive white external casings that allow them to blend seamlessly into light-coloured installations where fixture visibility needs to be kept to a minimum. The luminaires were used to project custom snowflake GOBOs across the space, programmed with slow, subtle rotation to introduce movement and atmosphere while preserving a refined, elegant look.
“I was initially worried that the Focus Spot 4Z Pearls might not be bright enough to make the snowflake patterns really stand out, as during the day there is a lot of glass to let in light,” explains Canal Sound & Light owner Jeffrey Kwan. “But they proved to be more than up to the challenge, the GOBO projections are clearly visible during the day and really pop when you see them after dark. They are great, compact and versatile fixtures, and the white finish made them ideal for this project where the aesthetics of the whole installation, not just the light output, was very important.”
Additional definition and focus were provided by six Encore Profile Pro Color ellipsoidal fixtures, fitted with EP LENS 36 optics and finished with a custom white powder coat to blend seamlessly into the décor. Four of these fixtures were used to highlight a large decorative wreath, while the remaining two illuminated the installation’s central Christmas tree, ensuring both elements stood out within the vast atrium. Although warm white light is being used in this instance, Canal recommended the fixture for its comprehensive RGBWAL color mixing system to provide versatility to Cambridge for use on future installations.
To further transform the space, 32 UBL12H linear LED fixtures were installed to uplight festive tree decals applied directly to the building’s windows. Although discreetly positioned, their impact on the overall environment was significant.
“It was difficult to capture in a photograph, but the UBL12H bars made a huge difference to the space,” enthuses Jeffrey. “They are really very bright and totally transform the windows versus when they are off. We were able to use the regular black version, without having them power-coated like the ellipsoidals, as our client hid them very effectively behind little white trim pieces.”
Control of the lighting system was handled using myDMX5 software, which allowed Canal to provide the building’s management team with a simple and intuitive interface. A single preset look can be activated each day to bring the installation to life, while a blackout option allows all fixtures to be easily deactivated at the end of the day.
In addition to supplying the fixtures, Canal Sound & Light also carried out the full temporary installation inside the building. Jeffrey worked closely with lighting technicians Uriel ‘Chicken’ Cora and Gabriel Perez to design and implement the system, navigating a number of logistical challenges along the way.
“The logistics of this project were very challenging,” comments Jeffrey. “First of all, we had to get the job done outside of regular business hours, starting at seven in the evening and working through to three in the morning. We also had to negotiate rigging the lights on top of glass revolving doors. Finally, we experienced a problem with the building’s power supply, which delivered inconsistent voltage that caused the fixtures to keep resetting, but Chicken and Gabe went above and beyond to get the job done to our usual high standards.”
Despite these challenges, the finished installation delivered a polished, festive transformation that enhanced Cambridge’s décor while respecting the refined corporate environment of 1 Bryant Park. By combining thoughtful design, careful fixture selection, and the flexibility of ADJ lighting solutions, Canal Sound & Light successfully created a seasonal installation that truly commands attention at one of New York City’s most iconic buildings.
Project
1 Bryant Park Christmas Décor Illumination
Client
Cambridge
www.cambridgeny.com
Lighting Vendor & ADJ Dealer
Canal Sound & Light
www.canalsoundlight.com
Project Manager
Jeffrey Kwan
Lighting Technicians
Uriel ‘Chicken’ Coria and Gabriel Perez
Lighting Gear List
9 x Focus Spot 4Z Pearl
6 x Encore Profile Pro Color with EP LENS 36
32 x UBL12H
