A landmark lighting upgrade at Denver’s iconic Union Station has brought new vibrancy and visual impact to one of the city’s most recognisable public spaces, delivered through the combined expertise of American Lighting, Display Devices and Pharos Architectural Controls.
Union Station has served as a community anchor since 1881, with its most recent major renovation completed in 2014. As the 10th anniversary of that reopening approached, the Union Station Alliance – the private developer managing the property under a long-term lease – initiated a significant refresh of the station’s core public areas, incorporating an advanced control platform from Pharos to support a more flexible and expressive lighting environment. Its goal was to ensure the building remained a dynamic, engaging destination for residents and visitors well into its next decade of operation.
To support this vision, a new exterior lighting scheme was developed to accentuate the station’s defining architectural features. The design emphasises Union Station’s dual role as both a gateway and a destination, creating a nighttime presence that reinforces its identity within Denver’s skyline and urban fabric. More than simple illumination, the lighting enhances the perception of the surrounding cityscape, transforming the station into a visual beacon that signals energy, activity and civic pride.
Display Devices, a US-based AV solutions manufacturer and integrator, connected with lighting solutions provider American Lighting to support both product selection and lighting control design for the project. The two companies collaborated closely throughout design, installation and programming to bring the lighting vision to life, and together they selected Pharos to deliver a flexible, intuitive and future-ready control solution.
The installation uses Pharos Express, a DMX and DALI control system for architectural lighting, connected to Pharos Cloud, a secure remote management and control solution providing operators with instant, practical control over the landmark’s lighting from any Internet-connected device, at anytime, anywhere in the world.
The solutions from Pharos give staff intuitive control over the station’s lighting, allowing them to quickly switch colours, scenes and effects for events such as football matches, parades, holidays and public celebrations, without the need for complex reprogramming.
With built-in scheduling and synchronisation across multiple buildings, lighting schemes can run automatically while still maintaining a consistent look across the city. Simple live override functionality also means operators can respond instantly to unplanned moments or last-minute changes.
Lynn Dee Lindquist Bryce, National Sales Manager at American Lighting, said, “Union Station called for a lighting approach that respected its architectural heritage while introducing a new level of flexibility and visual impact. Our design work focused on shaping a scheme that enhances the building’s defining features while integrating seamlessly with the control and display systems.”
“Union Station required a control platform that could handle architectural nuance, daily operational demands and large‑scale event moments,” commented Michael Grosse (MG), Regional Sales Manager for the Americas at Pharos. “Our Express and Cloud solutions give operators the power to adapt the lighting instantly while maintaining absolute reliability.”
Together, the solutions from Pharos ensure Union Station remains both timeless and adaptable, showcasing its heritage while embracing the demands of a modern, connected city. By combining architectural sensitivity with advanced control, the project delivers a future-ready lighting scheme that can evolve, reinforcing the station’s role as a vibrant, welcoming focal point for years to come.
Project Credits
Client: Union Station Alliance
Lighting Design: American Lighting
AV Company: Display Devices
Lighting Controls: Pharos Architectural Controls
Photography: Teri Fotheringham Photography
