July 4, 2015
The Luminous Veil on the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor Street Bridge) was illuminated for the first time this evening as part of the City of Toronto's Pam Am Games Torch Relay community celebration.
"The Luminous Veil is an example of how art can transform and beautify an important artery in our city," said Mayor John Tory. “The convergence of art and technology completes the vision for the Luminous Veil that will be a lasting legacy of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games for Toronto."
The Luminous Veil, which is part of the safety barrier on top of the bridge, was installed on the Prince Edward Viaduct in 2003 following a national design competition. The original design by Dereck Revington had two intentions for the Veil – to help prevent suicides and to establish the viaduct as a public work of art for the city through a unique lighting concept.
Ten years later as part of the City's 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Host City Showcase Program, Toronto City Council approved a plan to add a dynamic lighting installation to the existing infrastructure. This will successfully transform the historic bridge into an important work of public art and serve as a legacy of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
The lighting installation uses an LED control system to process real-time data from a weather sensor located on top of the Luminous Veil. This sensor trigger changes to the light, rhythm and tone of the light display in response to wind direction and velocity as well as ambient temperature. The lighting system is designed to function throughout the year in all seasons.
Revington, who creates works of public sculpture and sound and light installations, has had work exhibited in Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, New York and Toronto and is a recipient of the Prix de Rome in Architecture Award, the Canadian Architect Award and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for outstanding stage and lighting design.
More information about Revington's original design and vision for the Luminous Veil is available at
http://bit.ly/1HhBUY2.
The Prince Edward Viaduct was completed in 1918 and was a major achievement in city-building, connecting the central city on the west side of the Don River to Danforth Avenue.
The Viaduct is considered among the 10 most important infrastructure projects in Toronto's history and is an iconic example of heritage architecture. It will now become a public art piece for all residents to enjoy.
More information about the history of the Prince Edward Viaduct Illumination project, including a photographic gallery of the construction of the Viaduct, is available at
http://www.toronto.ca/panam2015.
The City of Toronto would like to acknowledge the Danforth BIA, the families who have lost loved ones to suicide from the Bloor Viaduct and the local communities for their support for this project.
Toronto's Host City Showcase Program includes a variety of initiatives and projects that will leave a notable legacy and long-term community benefit while enhancing the experience of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games for residents and visitors.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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