This article originally appeared on Architectural Lighting.
New York–based design studio Softlab has recently completed a permanent lighting installation for the renovated lobby of 315 Montgomery, an historic 16-story office tower in San Francisco’s Financial District. Titled Stratus, the installation is comprised of two layers of staggered brass tubes, each of which is lined with translucent polyester resin and punctuated with laser-cut holes. Measuring 126″ tall by 120″ wide by 8″ deep, the installation incorporates 60 custom LEDs with frosted acrylic diffusers, set into an aluminum channel. The work is custom-programmed with a “generative noise pattern” that according to Softlab, “simulates air flow” and resembles clouds. TouchDesigner—a node-based visual programming language developed by Toronto-based Derivative—sends the pattern to the LEDs, which are controlled by two control boards.
Courtesy Softlab
Courtesy Softlab
During the day, Softlab notes that the installation resembles a light organ, while at night, it blends into its backdrop and “the cloud-like LEDs appear to flow through the back wall of the lobby.” The installation was commissioned by New York–based Vornado Realty Trust and is on view from the street 24 hours a day.
315 Montgomery from SOFTlab on Vimeo.
