Client: Brookfield Properties

Overview

When Brookfield properties reopened the Wintergarden after a total renovation, it was obvious that we needed a completely new holiday decor installation. The tree at Rockefeller Center was a icon of the season and I wanted the opposite impact. It needed to be less about celebrating particular religious or pagan rituals and more about what connects people. It also needed to be interactive and could change every year. I approached David Rockwell and asked if he would be interested in creating his first holiday installation. He immediately agreed and along with the Rockwell Lab, we conceived the idea to be about light, based on Chinese Lanterns. A schedule of choreographed light patterns was created along with boxes that when touched would send different color lights streaming across the entire upper level.

Goals

To create a contemporary celebration of light during the holiday season that could be changed every year. Luminaries has become the downtown NY holiday icon.

Process

It was a long and elaborate collaboration between David Rockwell, the Rockwell lab and the Brookfield arts and operations teams.

Additional Information

We created a charity tie in and donated one dollar for the first 25,000 people who interacted with Luminaries which was given to a different arts related charity every year.