Lighting Designer Creates Dynamic LED Art Installation with Traxon Technologies

LDS Osram Traxon Art 400

July 31, 2019

Traxon Technologies, an Osram business, is brightening the skyline in San Francisco as the exclusive lighting provider for an art installation at San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) long-term parking garage.

The art installation by Johanna Grawunder, titled Coding, uses a range of Traxon lighting technologies to create a subtle light show that is visible throughout the day and night, and uses the building’s existing steel beams and mirrored windows to suggest dots and dashes, ultimately spelling “San Francisco” in Morse code.

“We are in the age of coding,” Grawunder said. “San Francisco is a city of layers that can be discovered slowly in neighborhoods and microclimates, or breathtakingly all at once, such as from the Golden Gate Bridge. Each layer has its own complexities and ‘codes’ to be cracked. Coding is an immersive environment installation defined through layers of codes — decorative elements that each express a specific quality and experience of the elevator tower at the long-term parking garage. These code-layers are dynamic day and night through the use of materials that respond to reflection, luminosity and programmed color-changing light.”

The artistic lighting installation at SFO, commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission, uses dynamic lighting solutions from Osram’s Traxon Technologies, including Dot XL-9 RGB and Washer Quattro RGBW as well as dynamic lighting controls by Osram’s e:cue. In the elevator cabins and shafts, Traxon’s Washer Quattro RGBW and Dot XL-9 RGB create an immersive experience through coordinated light shows which change throughout the day and night. Additionally, customized light boxes internally lit with Traxon Dot XL-9 RGB create a soft-glow of color-changing lighting that adds to the dynamic installation. A centrally located control system operating e:cue SYMPHOLIGHT lighting control software coordinates the lighting between the light boxes and elevator shafts and cars to execute Grawunder’s artistic vision.

“San Francisco International Airport has established a reputation as not just a place where one catches a plane, but as a destination for some of the country’s most ambitious public art installations,” said Tom DeCaigny, Director of Cultural Affairs, San Francisco Arts Commission. “With each new capital project, the San Francisco Arts Commission has the opportunity to innovate and stretch the imagination of what public art at an airport can be. We are incredibly grateful to the airport for partnering with us as we continue to push artistic boundaries.”

Grawunder’s Coding art installation will be on permanent display at SFO’s new long-term parking facility as one of the many art installations at the airport.

Go HERE for more information

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Oct 8, 2026 - Canada Light Expo 2026 To Unite Canada’s Lighting Industry Under One Roof - CLE 2026

    Canada Light Expo 2026 To Unite Canada’s Lighting Industry Under One Roof

    Canada Light Expo 2026, the country’s premier exhibition for the lighting and LED technology sector, will return to the International Centre, Toronto, on 18–19 November 2026. Marking its 3rd edition, the event is expected to bring together more than 100 leading brands and showcase over 1,000 lighting solutions, connecting manufacturers, designers, specifiers, distributors, contractors, and… Read More…

  • Oct 7, 2026 - Eureka Wins Multiple GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards

    Eureka Wins Multiple GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards

    Eureka is pleased to announce that five of its luminaire families have been recognized in the 19th edition of the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards. Jarry, Orelia, Scout Accessories, Torno, and Tulip all received GOLD CERTIFICATION in the Product Design – Lighting/Indoor Lighting Fixture category. The GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards is an international competition… Read More…


Design

  • LEDVANCE: Toyota Lighting Case Study – Brossard, Quebec, Canada

    LEDVANCE: Toyota Lighting Case Study – Brossard, Quebec, Canada

    Located 15 minutes from Montreal, Toyota’s Quebec Regional Office in Brossard, Canada houses a first-floor training and service area, and second-floor offices where financial services and dealer network operations are conducted.  With environmental sustainability representing a core pillar of Toyota’s mission, the Brossard location has long been committed to embracing products and practices that conserve… Read More…

  • CSC LED: How Product Availability Impacts Project Timelines

    CSC LED: How Product Availability Impacts Project Timelines

    When planning an LED lighting project, the focus is usually on performance, specifications, budget, and application requirements. But there is another factor that can have just as much impact on the project: product availability. A fixture may be the right choice on paper, but if it is not available when needed, it can affect installation… Read More…


New Products

  • SATCO|NUVO: Dual Head Security Lights – Bullet & Square Heads Models

    SATCO|NUVO: Dual Head Security Lights – Bullet & Square Heads Models

    SATCO|NUVO’s Dual Head Security Lights deliver dependable outdoor illumination for residential and commercial applications. Available in traditional bullet head designs as well as architectural square heads, these fixtures feature selectable 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K color temperatures and are offered in black, white, and bronze finishes to complement a variety of exteriors. Constructed from rugged die-cast… Read More…

  • ABB Ready-Lite: RSAUR Series – Surface-Mount Architectural Remote Fixture

    ABB Ready-Lite: RSAUR Series – Surface-Mount Architectural Remote Fixture

    The RSAUR Series surface-mount architectural remote fixture is designed specifically for installations requiring a junction box, whether recessed, surface-mounted, or suspended. Engineered for easy installation, it combines performance with simplicity and style, making it a smart choice for commercial and architectural environments. Recognized with Grands Prix du Design | Gold Certification 2026. Read More…