Illuminate Bridge City
Lighting the Future of Portland’s Skyline
A few weeks ago, our team had a once-in-a-lifetime experience: standing atop both the Hawthorne and Broadway Bridges to see Portland from an entirely new perspective.
This special visit, hosted by Multnomah County, offered more than just breathtaking views. It was an exciting milestone in the Willamette Light Brigade’s ongoing work to Illuminate Bridge City, an initiative to transform Portland’s iconic downtown bridges with art-forward, color-changing light.
LIGHTING PORTLAND’S BRIDGES
As owner and steward of several Willamette River bridges, Multnomah County is a key partner in this transformative public art effort. The tour gave the Willamette Light Brigade’s board, staff and project team valuable insights into the engineering, history and structure of these civic landmarks as we plan for future artistic lighting enhancements.
REIMAGINING PORTLAND AT NIGHT
Standing high above the river, it was easy to envision how dynamic lighting could breathe new life into these familiar structures, enhancing our nighttime identity, connecting neighborhoods, celebrating our river and acting as a potent symbol of civic pride. This vision reflects the Willamette Light Brigade’s founding mission, established more than 35 years ago, to enrich Portland’s public realm through art and artful lighting.
Illuminate Bridge City builds on that legacy, setting out to illuminate multiple downtown bridges. The project’s first phase, a comprehensive Master Plan led by Shiels Obletz Johnsen that will define the path forward, is underway now. Future phases will bring upgraded lighting to the Morrison Bridge and expanded lighting to other bridges, establishing a vibrant, connected nighttime identity for Portland.
CELEBRATING COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY
We’re deeply grateful to Multnomah County for sharing their expertise and time, and to our dedicated Board and leadership team for joining in this inspiring morning!
Learn more about the Willamette Light Brigade and the Illuminate Bridge City initiative at lightthebridges.org.
See your cause in lights
Want to light the Morrison Bridge? Learn how at lightthebridges.org. Together, we’ll keep Portland’s skyline bright with meaning and community spirit.
