Millennium Bridge, Gateshead

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is an award-winning structure connecting Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne in England. The bridge is sometimes referred to as the Blinking/Winking Eye Bridge due to its shape and the way it tilts.

• Lighting scheme enhances the elegance of the structure’s engineering and exploits the mirror surface of the River Tyne to create a powerful and iconic night-time image
• LPC uses astronomic clock for automated playback, and integrates with a 3rd party touch screen for user to preset override looks for special events
• Programming uses high priority timeline with black preset which is released at sunset – this allows override sequences to be chosen during the day which will already be playing in the background
• Special lighting sequences are triggered to create extra drama when the bridge tilts to allow river traffic to pass underneath
• Lighting refurbishment uses Philips Lighting’s flag ship new product, the Colour Kinetics ColourReach

Specifier: Speirs + Major Associates
Installation: Stage Electrics
Programming: Craig Grieveson
Photos: © Phil Grieveson FBIPP