Dairy Block is excited to unveil “Downpour,” an immersive art experience now floating above Blake’s Passage, the pedestrian walkway that runs from the middle of the activated alley out towards Blake Street.
Dairy Block contracted Denver architecture firm Davis Partnership Architects to help elevate foot traffic in Blake’s Passage. Lisa Bartlett led the lighting design team at Davis, developing a lighting concept coined “Downpour,” which features almost 400 programmable color-changing spheres that playfully imitate a rainfall of colored light.
The experiential “Downpour” lighting installation is open to all – the lights will be on daily from 30 minutes before sunset until midnight on Sunday–Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“It was clear from the beginning that lighting was the key ingredient needed to draw people to Blake’s Passage,” said Bartlett. “We wanted to heighten the level of engagement and intrigue and to create a space that is magical and rich with social media moments.”
The dynamic points of light symbolize raindrops and are programmed in compositions that change through the days and seasons, with special programs “chiming” the hour – ushering in holidays or celebrating Colorado’s professional sports teams. The color-changing dynamic “Downpour” is complimented by delicate hoops of white light floating high above Blake’s Passage. Dynamic lighting compositions including the hour-long “Colorado Journey” were completed by James Sale of James Sale Lighting.
“We are constantly seeking new ways to energize the unique Dairy Block Alley space and to work with local creatives,” said Dairy Block General Manager Don Cloutier. “We are thankful for continued support from the City of Denver as we work to create these dynamic downtown experiences.
Bartlett is now lighting studio director for Denver’s AKLD Lighting Design. Other local partners on the project include APCO as the electrical contractor, Guadalupe Cantu of Davis Partnership Architects, David Lewis of SA Miro as the structural engineer and Travis Middlebrooks of MEP Engineers as the electrical engineer.
Dairy Block is committed to supporting a wide variety of local makers by hosting ongoing art events and installations, including the massive new 50-foot-tall mural titled “Makers” by Denver’s Magik Studios.
