SPF : architects

The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

SPF: Architects

ARCHITECTS
SPF: Architects

STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING + LIGHTING
Arup

MANUFACTURERS
B-K Lighting, Carl Stahl, Lumenpulse, Ohio Gratings, Drinking Fountain, Flouronar, RGM, Watson Bowman Acme

CIVIL ENGINEERING
Arup

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Arup

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA, Siddhartha Majumdar, AIA, Judit Fekete, Adam Sauer, AIA. Ileana Acevedo, Michael Lindell

LIGHTING
Arup

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Hood Design Studio

PHOTOGRAPHS
John Linden

AREA
10800 ft²

YEAR
2017

LOCATION
Long Beach, United States

CATEGORY
Pedestrian Bridge

Text description provided by architect.

The Long Beach Seaside Way Convention and Performing Arts Center Pedestrian Bridge, or “Rainbow Bridge”, provides a direct, public connection between two major Long Beach venues: the Long Beach Convention Center and the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden

Before the construction of the bridge, moving between the two destinations demanded climbing numerous flights of stairs and to cross a stretch of Seaside Way dominated by loading docks and HVAC equipment.

The initial solution proposed by SPF:a was to build an elevated sidewalk between the two centres, but following an overwhelming response to the RFQ issued by the city, SPF:a chose to pursue a complete public amenity.

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden

The finished project is a spectacular 600-foot pedestrian bridge consisting of 76 custom-welded bent-steel ribs framing the top, and approximately 1,200 cubic yards of poured-in-place concrete shaping the base.

The bridge canopy features 3,500 colour-changing LED node lights, 100 downlights, and 70 floodlights, all of which can be programmed and synched to music to create different effects.

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden

The initial solution proposed by SPF: a worked closely with Carl Stahl Architektur to create the custom, three-piece, stainless steel node clip that allows for the bridge’s LED wiring to attach to the canopy.

The unique design also allows for ease of installation and replacement flexibility. Power and drainage for the walkway plantings have been hidden within the concrete spine of the bridge.

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden

The overall design is heavily influenced by its beach surroundings (the bridge was, in fact, first dubbed “Riptide”).

Structural elements such as the hull-like formation have been married with the elegance and uniformity found in waves, while the LEDs were affixed to cables to convey a net-like feeling or the rigging of a ship.

The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden


The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden


The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden
The Rainbow Bridge
© John Linden


The Rainbow Bridge
Details Axonometric
The Rainbow Bridge
Floor Plan


The Rainbow Bridge
Elevations
The Rainbow Bridge
Section

SPF : architects
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SPF : architects
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