Entergy and Philips Help to Light Up Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Dec. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Photos and Video Available Here: http://merchantcantossmr.com/LittleRockBridges

Philips, the global leader in lighting, along with Little Rock's Mayor Stodola, and Entergy Arkansas revealed a new dynamic LED lighting system for the Clinton Presidential Bridge, the Junction Bridge, and the Main Street Bridge last night. Known as the River Bridges, Entergy donated a combined $2 million for the lighting in honor of the company's 100th anniversary. The River Bridges now act as vibrant beacons of civic pride for the city of Little Rock, the state of Arkansas, and its people.  The project fulfills the vision of Mayor Stodola, who first learned about the impact of iconic lighting during his participation in the United States Conference of Mayors over the last two years.

A number of other organizations contributed to the cost of this project including the Clinton Foundation and the Pulaski County Junction Bridge Authority. Unique public-private partnerships like the ones between the City of Little Rock, Entergy, Philips and these organizations allow projects like this to become a reality.

The Clinton Presidential Bridge, named after Arkansas' native son and former president, along with the Main Street Bridge, were previously in darkness, while the Junction Bridge received a retrofit with advanced Philips lighting controls. The three bridges are among six that run along the Arkansas River and connect Little Rock and North Little Rock. Originally used for railcars, the bridges, two of which are now pedestrian walkways, were in need of a lighting solution that would create a feeling of safety for passersby at night, while highlighting their importance to the city.

The lighting ceremony gathered residents and visitors alike to watch a special light show that was designed to celebrate the rich history of Arkansas and the river that houses all three bridges. Former President Clinton was also in attendance to honor the city that he calls home. Philips Color Kinetics worked closely with city officials to ensure that the lighting solutions could meet their goals of not only drawing people to the area, but also helping create a sense of community and civic pride.

Koontz Electric installed over 1,300 Philips fixtures on all three of the bridges and with each fixture being able to deliver 16.7 million colors, the possibilities for color combinations and patterns are virtually endless. The bridges can be programmed to produce individualized light shows for each bridge, or synced with each other to create the same scheme across all three. The result is a diverse collection of gorgeous light schemes which glint against the skyline and river.

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2012 sales of EUR 24.8 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips