Leni Schwendinger says that cities don't pay enough attention to the way lighting effects the built environment. She's currently working on the lighting for Times Square's new pedestrianized streets.
Is lighting a neglected element of city planning? Schwendinger says yes:
"I just did a light walk in Washington, D.C. In retrospect, I thought the lighting of the city was adequate but it wasn't at all interesting. What we're trying to understand better is who owns the lighting, who is responsible for the nighttime environment? Basically, it's city agencies, sometimes utilities. The lighting system that we rely on and takes care of us at night is street lighting. It's focused on the streets, but what about the sidewalks?"
FULL STORY: Interview with Leni Schwendinger, Light Artist and Designer
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research