Since the 1930s until today, artists as diverse as Bing Crosby to Ed Sheeran have been singing about the romance and beauty of dancing beneath the stars. Adjacent to the Hotel Covington in northern Kentucky (not far from Greater Cincinnati) that lovely vision has become a reality thanks to a dazzling new LED light display in the lightwell that connects the award-winning Hotel Covington with the newly expanded boutique Hotel North that features 53 new luxury suites and lofts, as well as a new meeting space and bar.

In total, the renovation effort, including the hotel, added retail space and lightwell, is valued at more than $26 million and encompasses nearly 85,000 square feet that were once home to a bank and a YMCA gym facility. Today that space is occupied by two of the area’s more glamorous lodging options.

Built atop a former swimming pool, The Lightwell at North by Hotel Covington offers a banquet-style ballroom with a reception capacity of 500 feet that includes a built-in dance floor and bar.  The pinnacle attraction of the ballroom is the dance floor directly beneath the lightwell. A glass ceiling allows guests to gaze upward at the spectacular lighting display and, beyond that, the starry night.

Also visible from four luxury guestrooms and the hotel’s Knowledge Bar & Social Room, the radiant lighting display consists of 370 lights staged in three vertical bay areas and hung in multiple rows to create a starry night/firefly effect.

A Breathtaking, Yet Affordable Solution

“We wanted a lighting display that was unlike anything else in the region or even the country,” said Justin Ham, general manager of the Hotel Covington. “We were looking for something that complemented the look and feel of our historic building without seeming contrived or overly done. What we ultimately achieved was something that is exciting, dynamic and romantic all at once.”

Lightwell was the vision of Amanda K. Bennett and Meghan Smith of AMBIA Lighting Design, a Cincinnati-based full-service architectural lighting design studio that specializes in crafting innovative lighting solutions.

“From the beginning, the client challenged us to create something exceptionally awesome in the lightwell,” said Bennett, principal of AMBIA Lighting. “They didn’t have specific ideas in mind but were open to any designs that would showcase the beautiful urban void and be easily visible through the glass ceiling of the dancing area, as well as through the multiple windows that looked in from the hotel rooms, retail space and trendy new bar.”

According to Bennett, she and her senior lighting designer were determined to create a dynamic art piece through light that could be experienced from various angles.  “We wanted it to be sculptural and alive,” said Bennett. “A major challenge, however, was to create a permanent installation that is exposed to the open air in a huge space roughly 50 feet long by 25 feet wide by 50 feet high.  And, of course, it had to come in within budget, be easily maintained, and look great day or night.”

Tivoli Helps Make Vision a Reality

To bring her lightwell vision to life, Bennett turned to Tivoli Lighting, an award-winning, California-based provider of architectural and theater LED-focused products. Bennett specified Tivoli’s ADAPT True RGW+W Drop System in a drop length matrix from 7-46 feet to create her starry night/firefly effect that covered a 7,770-square-feet-area.

“Tivoli’s RGB+W series had all of the features we needed,” said Bennett.  “It was an RGBW light source with a clear etched globe to grab the light and create sparkle. It was also a wet-rated system with cable suspension to span the buildings. We were additionally pleased to learn that Tivoli’s globes were individually addressable so that the drop lengths could be customized. The company also had the capability of creating light shows. This gave us the ability to design endless lighting shows and experiences. We used multiple storyboards to develop lighting shows that were inspired by nature, changing seasons, local sports teams, and community events.”

A prime example of how the display could be customized to support community events was one of the Pride Celebration lighting shows that featured a horizontal rainbow on a continuous loop raining down the lightwell. Bennett’s design team used a horizontal band with vertical colors of light so that all of the colors could be viewed together from various angles.

“Tivoli was a strong collaborator and trustworthy partner,” added Bennett.  “We held regular meetings with the entire team to work through important details during the design, fabrication and installation phases. Together, we were even able to select a mounting system that allows each row to be pulled to one side to facilitate window cleaning.”

The True RGB+W LEDs, under the control of Tivoli’s proprietary three-channel data box algorithm, deliver unparalleled color saturation and TRUE white performance, outshining conventional four-channel systems. Enhanced by MADRIX 5 software, the visual experience is a multi-sensory spectacle that allows precise control of each globe to create a unique and personalized environment for guests of Hotel Covington.

A Dazzling Vision from Every Angle 24/7

“It was important for us to achieve a beautiful, exciting experience from every angle, from top to bottom, day and night,” said Ham. “We also needed something that could withstand the wind and weather without exceeding our budget. We knew this was a big ask, but it’s exactly what we got.  The lights twinkle when they blow in the wind. They weather storms. They sparkle in any type of weather which brightens everyone’s mood and causes quite a stir in the local area. They just feel special and have such an emotional appeal.”

The ADAPT Drop True RGB+W is part of the ADAPT family that includes 11 designer glass globes along with Tivoli’s proprietary True RGB+W LED and three factory-standard drop lengths of 12”, 24”, and 36”. All ADAPT globes are silicone-coated and shatter-resistant to reduce fragmenting, should the glass break. IP67-rated for exterior wet applications, ADAPT Drop True RG+B performs in temperatures from -40֯ C to 65֯ C (-40֠ F to 149֯ F) and maintains 70% of its lumens for 60,000 hours. The system comes with a three-year warranty and complies with North American safety standards.

“We feel we have successfully achieved our goal for this large space,” said Ham. “The lights, which are both dynamic and romantic in their ability to seemingly fill the sky with hundreds of stars, can be enjoyed from inside private suites where guests can be sipping on champagne or from the dance floor below, allowing both overnight guests and event visitors to experience something unique and beautiful while basking in our hospitality.”