Facade
Lighting the Crown of The Republic Tower in Austin
The Republic Tower is a 48-story, 816,560-square-foot office development in downtown Austin, designed as a prominent addition to the city skyline. With hospitality-driven amenities, a large outdoor plaza, and direct connections to Republic Square Park, the project reflects Austin’s continued urban growth and architectural ambition.
At the top of the tower, a seven-story crown structure defines the building’s night-time identity. Lumascape lighting was selected to bring this architectural feature to life with a controlled white light gradient that emphasizes the vertical form of the structure.
A Controlled Gradient Across Seven Levels
The lighting design required white light controlled via DMX, allowing for a smooth gradient of intensity from bottom to top across the crown.
To achieve this, more than 1,600 luminaires were pre-addressed according to seven separate layouts, one for each level of the crown. This precise configuration ensured that each fixture contributed to a continuous and consistent vertical transition of light.
The combination of Quadralux Q2 and Q4 floodlights, and Linealux L3 grazers, all in 3000K, provided the flexibility to illuminate both structural elements and surfaces while maintaining a unified color temperature throughout.
Complex Installation at Height
The crown structure is built on a metal girder framework, with luminaires mounted at both the top and bottom of horizontal elements. Installation required careful coordination, as fixtures and frosted panels were installed at the top of a 48-story building using specialized access equipment.
Extensive cabling was routed between fixtures, using a combination of connectorized and hard-wired connections, all integrated with PowerSync™ Data Injector to support the DMX control system.
Despite the complexity, the system was successfully implemented, delivering the intended gradient effect across the full height of the crown.
A Collaborative Effort
This project was the result of close coordination between multiple teams, including CBB, HKS, Bell and McCoy, Harvey Cleary, Big State Electric, and ProgramPros. Each contributed to delivering a technically demanding installation with a clear architectural outcome.
Lighting Solutions for High-Rise Architecture
Lumascape lighting systems support complex architectural applications, from façade illumination to high-rise crown features. With precise control, reliable performance, and scalable integration, our solutions help bring clarity and structure to large-scale designs.
Working on a high-rise or architectural lighting project? Lumascape can help you deliver controlled, consistent results at any scale. Contact us today.
