Florida Fallen Firefighters Memorial

In the shadow of the House Office Building in Tallahassee, Florida, the new Florida Fallen Firefighters Memorial honors 181 men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty since 1885. Commissioned by the State Fire Marshal´s Office in combination with firefighting agencies statewide, the new memorial was unveiled this past March. At its center, a stone podium awaits its pièce de resistance, a pair of bronze guardians to keep watch over two semicircular granite pedestals etched with the names of the fallen.

Knee-high memorial walls encircle the stone center where two benches and abstract red sculptures frame the central podium, forming a Maltese Cross from above. Symbolizing protection and courage, the Maltese Cross is a firefighter´s badge of honor, and it appears again in an alcove nestled within the statue´s platform. Made of bronze, the second cross iterates a firefighter´s fundamental ideals: honor, courage, respect and tradition.

Lighting a memorial of this magnitude was no easy feat. Proper lighting was needed to highlight both the central focal point and memorial walls without detracting from the monument´s overall design.
Tallahassee´s H2 Engineering was contracted to provide expertise with regards to the electrical components of the site. The firm partnered with SESCO Lighting to source the perfect luminaires to enhance the monument.
The firm chose the Eclipse W140¹ Columns from lighting manufacturer, Luminis to emphasize focal elements. Featuring three fully-adjustable LED light projectors with 358° rotation and 90° vertical adjustment enclosed within a sealed UV-stabilized, clear acrylic high-impact cylinder, Eclipse W140¹ Columns are ideally suited for unique site lighting applications where enhancing public spaces is paramount.

"The lighting needed to be just right," said Mike O´Neil, electrical designer at H2 Engineering. "We were really impressed with the Luminis Eclipse Columns. The fixtures are both attractive and high-quality, and the photometrics were really excellent, coming in within a footcandle of what was promised."
H2 Engineering installed Eclipse Columns in planters surrounding the granite walls to highlight the names of the fallen and illuminate the upcoming statue. Elegantly discreet, the columns accentuate key focal points without detracting from the monument itself.
"The Luminis poles worked out so well and I was really pleased with the results," said O´Neil. "They help give this memorial the beauty and dignity it deserves."

Public reaction to the new memorial has been overwhelmingly positive. For many, it has been a long time coming. Recognizing the sacrifices made while carrying out their duties, the memorial commemorates and celebrates the lives of those lost while providing a gathering point for families and friends for generations to come.

^{1- please note product name has changed from W140 to CL843.}