A Luminous History

Early attempts to light the Gateway Arch had mixed results. The monument’s brushed stainless steel was too shiny and bounced light into the sky, rather than into visitors’ eyes. By the time Randy Burkett was awarded the job to relight the Arch, its metal skin had developed a patina capable of capturing and diffusing light. To select the appropriate source needed, Burkett studied the monument at different times of day and ran tests on a full-scale mockup. He decided that it looked best in a cool light. Burkett then chose xenon lamps and worked with Syncrolite to develop a custom luminaire with the correct optical qualities and a robust construction for permanent outdoor use.