Rainbow Bridge

Project Details

Project Description

A proper pedestrian connection was required to join the Long Beach Convention Center and Long Beach Performing Arts Center. While the initial plan was to build an elevated sidewalk as an alternative to the existing path which required visitors to climb stairs and pass through loading docks, an overwhelming response to an RFQ revealed that a more complete public amenity could be constructed.



The “Rainbow Bridge” is a spectacular pedestrian bridge consisting of 76 custom-welded bent-steel ribs framing the top, and approximately 1,200 cubic yards of poured-in-place concrete shaping the base. The bridge canopy features 3,500 color-changing LED node lights, 100 downlights, and 70 floodlights, all of which can be programmed and synced to music to create different effects.



The overall design is heavily influenced by its beach surroundings (the bridge was, in fact, first dubbed “Riptide”). Structural elements such as the hull-like formation have been married with the elegance and uniformity found in waves, while the LEDs were affixed to cables to convey a net-like feeling or the rigging of a ship. Built-in benches, in addition to discreet phone charging stations, create a public space that encourages visitors to stop, relax, and convene on the bridge and enjoy ocean views.



Worth noting, the final form was impacted by budget constraints and the pending development of an adjacent lot. The architects, however, were able to bring the overall cost of the project down to $10 million by simplifying the steel geometry and modifying the concrete profile of the bridge. Prior to construction, the bridge called for 80 or more uniquely formed concrete rib beams. The design team was able to optimize the geometry in such a way that just one concrete shape could achieve a similar dynamic form when placed in repetition.