University of Chicago Rings of Light

On the beautiful University of Chicago campus, officials wanted to transform a campus open space that had been left over after construction of a library in the mid-1980s. Unlike other quads on the campus, the space had long just been a pass-through for students; it never had a distinguishing feature or character.

Working with the university’s Offices of the President and Facilities Services, landscape architecture firm Jacobs/Ryan Associates conceived creating a 40-foot square plaza with a focal point feature that would be visible from afar.

After several discussions with the university, the process revealed a desire for a custom light feature by suspending two metal, structural rings of LED lighting over the plaza — providing both illumination and drama.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Lighting Designer: Primera Engineers, Ltd.
• Architect: Jacobs/Ryan Associates
• Products: Plexineon White 1X and 2X Series,
  Plexineon Ring