Case Study: Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Project Overview
Client: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Event: Lightscape – After-dark immersive light sculpture walkthrough
Audience: Public event; families, tourists, art lovers, and New Yorkers
Scope: Seasonal nighttime trail featuring international and local artists, over a mile of immersive lighting, and site-specific sound design
Project Objectives
Transform Brooklyn Botanic Garden into a luminous, multisensory spectacle after dark.
Showcase artistic light installations from around the world, elevating community engagement during the winter season.
Ensure a memorable, accessible, and safe guest experience for all ages.
Our Approach
1. Technical Production & Project Management
PLAN Experiential provided comprehensive technical expertise throughout the planning and installation process, leading the lighting and electrical execution for the entire site.
Managed and coordinated skilled electricians and technicians for seamless end-to-end implementation.
Oversaw rigorous site build-out and system integration to maintain quality, safety, and aesthetic standards amid challenging winter conditions.
2. Creative Collaboration & Experience Design
Supported an international roster of artists with technical rendering, AV integration, and production assistance, ensuring each light sculpture achieved its intended impact.
Integrated immersive soundscapes and musical scores, carefully calibrated to each installation and garden zone for a unique audio-visual experience.
Assisted with drafting, rendering, and documentation to visualize and approve creative concepts ahead of installation.
3. Guest Experience & Accessibility
Ensured all pathways, installations, and amenities were accessible to audiences of varying ages and abilities, including clearly marked routes and sensory-friendly entry times.
Coordinated site operations, staffing, and guest services to manage attendance, safety protocols, and visitor flow.
4. Sustainability & Community Impact
Leveraged energy-efficient lighting and materials to minimize environmental footprint.
Featured the work of both local and international artists, fostering community pride and cross-cultural celebration.
Provided technical training and experience to local crews and partners.
Key Results
Trail Length: 1+ mile illuminated route
Light Installations: 16 sculptures, new and returning, by global artists
LED Lights: Over 1 million throughout the garden
Attendance: Thousands nightly through peak season
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, sensory and verbal tour days
Social Media & Press: Featured widely in local and national outlets
Season: Nov–Jan, running during the holiday and winter period
What Set This Project Apart
Immersive Scale: Transformed the landscape with more than a mile of dazzling installations, blending artistry and high-tech event production at NYC’s most celebrated botanical venue.
Community First: Prioritized inclusivity, from sensory-friendly experiences to diverse artistic representation and robust guest accommodations.
Technical Precision: Orchestrated advanced lighting design and responsive site systems to perform reliably in variable weather, upholding safety and spectacle.
Creative-Technical Synergy: Supported artists in realizing ambitious visions while maintaining operational excellence and visitor satisfaction.
Lessons Learned & Recommendations
Early, collaborative technical planning prevents creative compromises and costly revisions.
Investing in accessibility—both physical and experiential—expands the event’s reach and reputation.
Sustainability, through efficient technology and local talent engagement, delivers added community and PR value.
Complex seasonal productions benefit from robust documentation and on-site agility.
FAQs
Q: What was PLAN Experiential's role in Lightscape?
A: Led technical production, lighting and electrical implementation, site build-out, and project management for one of NYC’s largest outdoor holiday installations.
Q: How was sustainability addressed in the project?
A: Prioritized efficient lighting, material reuse, and minimized resource consumption through innovative system integration and planning.
Q: How was accessibility ensured for guests?
A: Implemented fully paved and accessible paths, special sensory entry times, live verbal description tours, and comprehensive guest services for inclusivity.
White Space and Future Opportunities
Extend the multisensory journey by adding interactive digital elements and post-event virtual tours.
Amplify data-driven storytelling by capturing visitor feedback, energy use, and social reach.
Continue expanding local artist involvement, community workshops, and public programming.
Pilot new technologies, such as AR overlays or real-time analytics, for enhanced engagement.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden stands as a benchmark for large-scale, public experiential installations—a harmonious blend of art, technology, accessibility, and community that transforms a winter night into a moving, memorable event. Through rigorous technical execution and community-minded design, PLAN Experiential demonstrated leadership in both production excellence and guest-centered innovation.
