Illuminating Culture, Resilience and Progress

Right in the heart of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, lies the impressive Queretaro Aqueduct. This structure proves to be a testament to engineering and architecture that has provided clean water to the city since 1738 and was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The aqueduct stretches nearly 1.2 km (0.8 mile) and features 74 breathtaking arches with the tallest standing 22.9 m (75 ft) tall.

The Municipality of Queretaro City Hall set a goal to ensure this structure’s prominence among the modernity of the city. The masterful use of light would be the solution. The Querétaro Aqueduct's lighting design blends the threads of history, architecture, and community. By showcasing the structure's natural beauty and textures, the illumination tells the story of a city's transformation and growth. The interplay of light and shadow accentuates the intricate details of the aqueduct's arches, while the warm hues of the illumination evoke a sense of vitality. As night falls, the aqueduct transforms into a breathtaking spectacle, symbolizing the city's resilience, progress, and enduring legacy.

The lighting design utilized 10 Color Kinetics Blast IntelliHue Powercore luminaires, 146 Graze IntelliHue Powercore luminaires and 240, ReachElite High Output IntelliHue Powercore luminaires. This installation is controlled by 63 Data Enabler Pros and powered by one iPlayer 4. Each of the luminaires are mounted in a guard base to protect them from flooding and vandalism. They are placed anywhere from 2.4 to 15.8 m (8 to 52 ft) away from each other and are positioned 1.8 to 24.4 m (6 to 80 ft) away from the illuminated surface depending on the space available in the traffic islands below.

Color Kinetics luminaires were selected as the preferred solution for historic building illumination. Color Kinetics luminaires offer a robust dynamic control system and exceptional lighting performance that meets the unique demands of preserving heritage and architecture. They also allow for a predicted 50% reduction in energy usage.

This thoughtful lighting design has successfully transformed the Querétaro Aqueduct into an iconic nighttime landmark, weaving together history, architecture, and cultural significance to create an unforgettable experience for visitors and locals alike.