Tower Bridge to be at heart of 2012 celebrations
Published: 27 June 2011
Plans to put Tower Bridge at the heart of 2012 celebrations have
been revealed and include the temporary installation of giant
Olympic Rings and the Paralympic Agitos during the Games
period.
The news comes following a deal announced recently by the Mayor of
London between City Hall, City of London Corporation and London
2012 Sustainability partners, EDF and GE to install a
state-of-the-art energy-efficient lighting system on Tower
Bridge.
As well as helping to cut carbon and reduce energy costs, the
project will enhance the Bridge's architectural features at night.
It will provide a permanent lighting legacy for one of London’s
most loved icons, but also enable Tower Bridge – which is owned by
the City’s Bridge House Estates - to play a unique and starring
role when the curtain rises next year on the city’s
once-in-a-lifetime Olympic and Paralympic celebrations.
Details contained in planning documents submitted today show
proposals for Tower Bridge to feature Olympic rings and Paralympic
Agitos during the 45 days of the Games, in a similar way to those
already installed at St Pancras station. The new flexible lighting
system would enable beautiful evening lighting displays during
Games time, for example, the use of gold, silver and bronze
lighting effects to mark sporting medal successes.
The project is now seeking to obtain the necessary planning
consents and work could start by September and be completed by
spring 2012, in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is
also hoped the new look will be ready in time for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Stuart Fraser, Policy Chairman of the City of London, said: ‘Tower
Bridge needs new lighting and this proposal - made possible through
appropriate sponsorship recognition for Olympic partners EDF and GE
during the Games - will help improve London’s global image – not
just in 2012 – but for the next 25 years.'
Mark Elborne, President and CEO of GE in the UK, said: ‘As a
sponsor and sustainability partner for London 2012, we are
delighted about the prospect of being involved in this project to
apply our lighting technology to create a sustainable and flexible
legacy for Tower Bridge.'