Mac’s II Agencies: Lighting Project Highlight – Freedom Mobile Arch – Vancouver, BC
November 12, 2026
Freedom Mobile Arch: Built to Keep Pace with the Energy of Live Events for Years to Come
Set on the PNE grounds in Vancouver’s Hastings Park, the renewed PNE Amphitheatre, now known as the Freedom Mobile Arch, has been envisioned as a year-round, open-air venue where the city can gather for concerts, arts and culture programming, and community moments. Rooted in the PNE experience, the amphitheatre is defined by its starburst mass timber roof. 60 arches arranged in intersecting vaulted segments that span roughly 344 feet and rise to approximately 82 feet creating a warm, sheltered atmosphere below while framing views to the North Shore mountains.
That architecture becomes an experience after dark, where light is treated as part of the structure’s identity. The roof’s sweeping geometry is traced with BL Lighting’s Neonview Bright Side H RGBW linear tape light system, selected for its ability to deliver continuous lines of light, rich colour, and nuanced scene-setting for everything from everyday nights to headline performances.
Like any project of this scale, it took a full team to bring the vision to life, from the earliest design conversations through to drawings, coordination, and construction. Working alongside partners including EllisDon, Revery Architecture, AES Engineering, Houle Electric, and BL Lighting, Mac’s II’s role was rooted in collaboration: staying close to the details, helping champion the right solution, and keeping the lighting package on track when value-engineering pressure could have pushed the project toward out-of-market substitutions.
Across the project, approximately 10,000 feet of linear lighting was used, with nearly 8,000 feet integrated into the timber canopy, making Neonview a true architectural element. Chosen for its output, build quality, proven track record, and the depth of support that comes from a Vancouver-founded manufacturer, the system gives the venue both a signature glow and the flexibility of full colour-changing DMX control. Elsewhere, white light extends the experience beyond the canopy, bringing clarity and comfort to VIP tables, walkways, and benches, as well as key circulation areas and venue signage.
A networked control approach enables individually controllable sections (every 20 feet), opening the door to ambient looks, dynamic patterns, and event-driven moments that can evolve with the amphitheatre’s programming.
Together, the result is an unmistakable new landmark for the PNE and city of Vancouver: welcoming by day, unforgettable at night, and built to keep pace with the energy of live events for years to come.
For a more in-depth look into how the lighting was integrated into the arch, checkout their blog: A West Coast Collaboration: Lighting the PNE Amphitheatre Roof.
Project Details
- End User: City of Vancouver, PNE
- Engineer: AES Engineering
- Architect: Revery Architecture
- General Contractor: EllisDon
- Contractor: Houle Electric
- Distributor: Graybar (Burnaby)
- Manufacturers: BL Lighting
- Photographer: Take Off Photography
- Last Updated: September 1, 2026
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