Confluence Park

Located at the confluence of the San Antonio River and the San Pedro Creek, Confluence Park is a living laboratory and education center designed to give visitors a greater understanding and appreciation of the South Texas region's ecotypes and the function of the San Antonio River watershed. The concrete petals that form the central pavilion seem to be barely touching the earth, yet they create a geometry that collects and funnels rainwater into a water catchment system. This thoughtful, exciting design needed a lighting scheme that would be both subtle and complementary to the structure's curves and bends while also facilitating evening activities within the pavilion.

To achieve this, lighting designers Mazzetti used Lumenpulse Lumenfacade Inground luminaires to illuminate the concrete petals. Mazetti performed two mock-ups on-site that were critical in achieving the desired uniform glow on the panels. These mock-ups also helped to inform the contractor of the required installation details. The linear Lumenfacade Ingrounds were then installed at the base of each leg of the sculpture. They serve to uplight the entire structure with a warm temperature (3000K) and provide a uniform dramatic glow. The flood optics of 30º X 60º creates an even covering of uplight while keeping light spill to a minimum. Each luminaire is equipped with an anti-glare louver to create a pleasurable experience for visitors.

To lower the structure's impact on the local environment, the Lumenfacade Ingrounds are controlled by an astronomical time-clock with a low voltage control station for dimming. They also possess a manual override for special events. The photovoltaic array provides 100% of the energy used by the project.

The architecture of the BHP Pavilion — the main pavilion of concrete petals — has already garnered much applause, winning the 2016 Texas Architects Studio Award, the 2018 Architizer A+ Jury Award — Cultural Pavilions, and the 2018 Tilt-Up Achievement Award. The lighting design has helped turn a once vacant staging lot into a welcome distraction to guests and locals alike while celebrating the organic form of each concrete petal and stem.

EQUIPMENT SPECIFIED
28 x Lumenfacade Inground, 2 ft, 2700K, 30º x 60º