YEAR 2011 LAMPPOSTS

by Kevin Walsh

It looks like the first lamppost produced by industrial design firm Thomas Phifer and Partners, the winner of the City Lights contest administered by the Museum of the City of New York to replace the familiar octagonal pole with cobra head or straight mast lamppost has been installed on Church Street near Warren, south of the WTC site.

Eschewing the “head” or luminaire that previous lamp models have had going back to electric lampposts’ beginnings in the 1890s, the post sports a grooved shaft that would suppost signage, once they are applied.

The base is bottle-shaped and displays the manufacturer, Lumec. I don’t know if the date of installation will be stamped on these posts, as it is on the octa-poles.

No question, it’s the most revolutionary lamp design since the first curve-necked, groove-shafted Donald Deskey post first appeared on Broadway and Murray Street in 1958. Without a “head,” though, these posts don’t have much of a personality. The entire bottom side of the mast is lined with lamps, unlike light emanating from a single head as has been done previously.

Will flocks of these posts take over the streets? Wait and see.

10/17/11

12 comments

Dan October 17, 2011 - 5:27 pm

Looks expensive, and how will the lamps be changed. Sodium vapor or metal halide?

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David October 17, 2011 - 5:33 pm

What kind of light is emitted? Does it use a more modern type of bulb, light LED or Halogen?

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KevinJWalsh October 18, 2011 - 8:45 am

As I understand, it’s a high intensity fluorescent and glows white

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Micael October 19, 2011 - 8:44 am

Absolutely love the site. Isn’t Warren & Church NORTH of the WTC site?

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KevinJWalsh October 19, 2011 - 11:04 am

You got me there….

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Jason October 22, 2011 - 2:23 pm

Where does the light come out of this thing? Can you get a dusk photo after it’s come on?

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KevinJWalsh October 22, 2011 - 11:31 pm

Bulbs are at the bottom of the mastarm.

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John O'Connell October 26, 2011 - 4:56 pm

The new lamppost is weird looking…I would like the city to use a modern verson of the 60’s silverliners or cobra necks would look so much better and peserve the history and look of NYC for younger generations

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John Murtha October 26, 2011 - 8:21 pm

1)So what are the 2 cables for looks like the same set up as the Traffic Lights?

2) Seems like this city has more than it share of different Street Light Designs.

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somebody March 30, 2012 - 10:07 pm

I like that new streetlight; it surely beats the unoriginal cobra poles that are widespread to NYC

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RODNEY May 22, 2012 - 1:09 pm

I PREFER THE REGULAR LIGHT POLES IN NYC.

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John Murtha January 19, 2013 - 12:05 am

The Top of the Pole looks like and expensive Pen.

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