BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston

The first traditional Hindu Mandir (Temple) of its kind in North America, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston, TX is a peaceful and spiritual place of worship. Dedicated to the worship of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the millennia-old traditions of the Hindu faith, it is a masterpiece of traditional Hindu design and exquisite Indian workmanship. Built by the inspiration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the mandir has more than 33,000 pieces of Turkish limestone and Italian marble which were hand carved in India. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a place of education, experience, and enlightenment through its breathtaking combination of traditional stone art and architecture, and the best of modern media and technology.

The mandir’s lighting system was upgraded from fiber to LED to improve brightness and light source control. Moreover, an LED system provides the flexibility to expand, offers varied and customizable solution options, as well as energy efficiency, and longevity.

A comprehensive, end-to-end Color Kinetics lighting solution was selected for its ability to deliver high performance, accurate color reproduction, scalability, durability, and the diversified product line required for such a unique structure. Color Kinetics ColorGraze MX4 Powercore washes the exterior walls with light. Color Kinetics ColorBlast Powercore gen4, RGB (now specified with Blast gen5, RGBW) illuminates the shrine’s spires. Color Kinetics ColorBurst Powercore gen2, RGB luminaires (now specified with Burst Powercore gen3, RGBW) are also among over 300 Color Kinetics fixtures placed approximately 1 m (3 ft – 4 ft) apart and spaced 15 cm - 5 m (6 in – 18 ft) from the illuminated surface, depending on the location.

Completed in 2015, the breathtaking system is controlled by Color Kinetics Light System Manager (now specified with iPlayer 4) and iPlayer 3, which enable users to author, configure, and control intricate light shows in multiple zones and across DMX lighting networks. Color Kinetics Data Enabler Pro supplies power and data to the sophisticated system.

The lighting helps capture the beauty of the architecture, while tying in with a musical display for the annual Diwali Festival. The controls allow for a variety of programs to fit all of the mandir’s needs. The updated lighting solution helps elevate the transformative visitor experience and the structure itself as a spectacular area landmark.