Convention center's shimmer wall to light up tonight
Published: Thu, Sep. 04, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Thu, Sep. 04, 2008 05:29AM
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closeRALEIGH -- On the eve of opening ceremonies for Raleigh's new convention center, the switch will be thrown tonight to officially light up the building's shimmer wall.
At 8:45 p.m., Mayor Charles Meeker and Chuck Swoboda, Cree Inc. chairman and chief executive, will turn on the lights for the mirrored art work that covers the western wall of the Raleigh Convention Center. The lighting ceremony will take place on McDowell Street, directly across from the shimmer wall.
Cree, which has headquarters in Durham, gave $1 million to Raleigh for the creation of the shimmer wall, a signature symbol for the $221 million building, according to a city news release. Featuring an oak tree that plays to Raleigh's nickname, the City of Oaks, the 9,284-square-foot wall has nearly 80,000 hinged aluminum pieces backlit by LED light fixtures.
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Named the Cree Shimmer Wall, the display houses the 500,000-square-foot convention center's chillers and boilers without blocking air flow. Cree's product line includes semiconductors and LED lighting.
The convention center will officially open at noon Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The opening will be held in conjunction with the third Raleigh Wide Open downtown festival, which will continue Saturday and feature concerts, a parade down Fayetteville Street and fireworks.
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