Changzhou Cooling Tower Lighting Project

# Changzhou Cooling Tower Lighting Project: An Innovative Fusion of Industrial Heritage and Urban Aesthetics

On the banks of the Ancient Canal in Changzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, three towering cooling towers have once again captured the public’s attention, aglow with a dazzling display of light and color. This landmark structure, which has long embodied the city’s industrial heritage, has undergone a dual transformation—featuring vibrant murals and dynamic lighting—reimagining itself from a drab industrial facility into a striking urban art installation that seamlessly blends cultural significance with visual impact. Anchored by the “Industry + Cultural Tourism” concept, the project has repositioned the cooling towers as a new signature icon for Changzhou’s eastern gateway, setting a benchmark for urban regeneration and cultural preservation.

## I. Project Background: From Functional Facilities to Cultural Landmark

As a supporting facility of Jiangsu Huadian Qishuyan Power Generation Co., Ltd., the cooling towers have stood as a significant testament to Changzhou’s industrial development since their construction in the 1990s. With the shifting focus of urban development, one of the towers was demolished in August 2023, while the remaining three underwent functional transformation through the “Beautification, Enhancement, and Illumination Facilities Procurement and Installation Project.” The project was awarded to Wuxi Lighting Co., Ltd., with a total investment of RMB 12.95 million, encompassing elements such as mural design, procurement of lighting equipment, integration of intelligent control systems, and production of digital content.

Guided by the principles of “tower-specific positioning and cultural empowerment,” the renovation team has assigned distinct thematic identities to the three cooling towers:

Tower No. 1 is themed “Smart Manufacturing Hub,” incorporating landmark elements such as the Zhongtian Building and the CRRC Qishuyan facility. Through geometric lines and metallic-textured murals, it showcases the technological sophistication and modernity of Changzhou’s manufacturing industry.

Tower No. 2 centers on “Canal Culture,” using century-old industrial relics such as the Qijiang Locomotive Factory and the Qijiang Power Plant as its backdrop and employing the traditional ink-wash blending technique to depict the historical thread of “a millennium-long canal and a century-old factory.”

Tower No. 3 emphasizes “ecological livability,” drawing inspiration from natural landscapes such as Fangmao Mountain and Songjian Lake. It employs gradient colors and abstract patterns to convey the concepts of rural revitalization and harmonious coexistence.

## II. Technological Breakthroughs: Lighting Challenges and Innovations for Tall Buildings

As a cylindrical structure with a diameter exceeding 80 meters and a height exceeding 100 meters, the cooling tower’s lighting project faces multiple technical challenges:

1. **Structural Safety and Material Compatibility**: The project employs a Jotun industrial coating system, utilizing a five-layer coating process—primer treatment, epoxy primer, micaceous iron oxide intermediate coat, acrylic topcoat, and decorative paint layer—to ensure superior corrosion protection and long-lasting color retention. To mitigate the risks associated with high-altitude work, the construction team reinforced the tower connection components with carbon fiber and used lightweight aluminum panels as the substrate for the decorative painting, thereby limiting the increase in individual tower load to no more than 5%.

2. **Lighting Design and Dynamic Control**: The tower structures are illuminated using a combination of LED floodlights and wall-washing lights, with an intelligent dimming system that dynamically adjusts brightness over time—low intensity during the day and high intensity at night. At the top of Tower No. 1, laser projection equipment is installed, capable of switching among seven different light-and-shadow patterns, including starry skies and swirling maple leaves; Tower No. 2, meanwhile, employs an RGB controller to create dynamic effects such as rippling canal waters and the silhouettes of industrial buildings.

3. **Lightning Protection and Energy-Saving System**: An aviation warning light and a lightning rod have been installed at the top of the tower. The lighting circuit uses IP67-rated waterproof connectors and is equipped with a photosensitive sensor that automatically adjusts the power output based on ambient light levels. Calculations show that, following the retrofit, the annual electricity consumption of each tower is reduced by 60% compared with conventional lighting, thereby meeting green building standards.

## III. Cultural Empowerment: Revitalization and Dissemination of Industrial Heritage

The project breaks away from the “function-oriented” approach typical of conventional lighting projects, transforming the cooling tower into a vehicle for cultural dissemination:

1. **Narrative Quality of the Thematic Mural**: Tower No. 2 uses the canal as its central axis, integrating historical elements such as the Qijiang Locomotive Factory’s steam locomotives and the old buildings of the Qijiang Power Plant into the mural. Combined with the “Centennial Industry” lettering projected onto the tower’s surface by lighting, this creates a dual effect: “a painting by day, a light show by night.”

2. **Integration of Public Service Advertisements**: LED screens have been installed atop each of the three towers, continuously displaying slogans such as “The New Highland of Intelligent Manufacturing in Southern Jiangsu” and “Changzhou Teaches Me How Not to Think of Her,” thereby strengthening public awareness of the city’s brand.

3. **Interactive Nature of the New Year’s Eve Event**: On December 31, 2023, the cooling tower kicked off the New Year’s Eve celebration with a laser countdown, drawing more than 50,000 local residents to attend in person. The associated social media buzz exceeded 20 million views, successfully establishing the site as a “social-media-star landmark.”

## IV. Social Benefits: A Model for Urban Renewal and Industrial Integration

Following the implementation of the project, foot traffic in the area surrounding the cooling tower increased by 300%, boosting revenue in supporting sectors such as catering and accommodation along the Ancient Canal Cultural and Tourism Belt by more than RMB 50 million. Taking this opportunity, Dingyan Subdistrict has launched an “Industrial Study Tour + Canal Night Cruise” itinerary, linking the cooling tower with popular attractions like Qingguo Alley and Tianning Temple to create a new, integrated tourism model for the entire region.

From a technical perspective, the project was awarded the 2024 Jiangsu Lighting Award for Green Design, with its innovative technologies—such as the self-cleaning spherical wall washer and the intelligent dimming system—incorporated into provincial standards. From a cultural perspective, the transformation of the cooling tower exemplifies the principle that “industrial heritage is not a burden on cities but a cultural asset,” providing a replicable model for the transformation of old industrial bases.

## V. Future Outlook: Sustainable Operations and Maintenance and Model Export

Currently, the project has established a maintenance regime comprising quarterly inspections and annual major overhauls, leveraging an IoT system to monitor luminaire status in real time and reducing fault response times to within two hours. Moving forward, Changzhou plans to extend the cooling-tower model to industrial facilities such as power-plant chimneys and water towers, while also exploring value-added services like AR-based virtual tours and customized light-and-sound shows, thereby further unlocking the cultural value and economic potential of industrial heritage.

From drab, gray concrete towers to dazzling urban beacons, the Changzhou cooling-tower illumination project has used technology as its backbone and culture as its soul, seamlessly transforming an industrial facility into an artistic installation. This transformation not only reshapes the city’s skyline but also offers an innovative answer to the question of “how to make industry…”