Light has been shed on the ultra modern fibre-optics which will bathe Manchester in multicoloured splendour at tonight’s Christmas launch.
The council plan to tailor the colour of the lighting depending on the time of year. So expect crimson and gold hues for Chinese New Year, bold fuchsia for Valentine’s Day and even red or blue if City or United lift a trophy.
The already striking neo-gothic town hall, completed in 1877, will meet the cutting edge technology of 2013 in a wash of vibrant and energy-efficient luminosity.
Piccadilly Garden’s fountain will also be lit-up as well as King Street in a preview of plans to roll out fibre optics across the city as part of the council’s ‘City Lightways’ system.
Over the next year the lights will be strung across Manchester’s busy commercial streets sending bright pulses of light shooting over the heads of shoppers.
Councillor Pat Kearny scoffed at the idea that the technology was a world first preferring to term the pioneering system ‘a galaxy first’.
Setting his sights on the stars, the councillor said: “We are confident in the future Manchester’s city ‘lightways’ will be seen by the International Space Station – they will be a true lighting spectacular.”
Eventually the tint could be controlled via similarly futuristic touch screens installed around the city centre this year.
The lights, designed specifically for the city and costing £900,000 will in fact save on the city’s lighting bill according to council bosses.
Previously the town hall was illuminated using conventional 1000 watt flood lights. This year the cost of lighting the entire 280ft tall building will be the same as illuminating just one side of the clock face using the older technology.
The council hope the installation will complement existing festive attractions like the Christmas Markets and Spinningfields ice-rink.
Last year was a record-breaking Christmas season in Manchester with more than 8.3million people visiting the city centre.
The six-week celebration will kick off at 7pm tonight with the Manchester Show Choir before a number of big name stars attempt to outshine the new lighting.
X-Factor winner James Arthur, pop-rock heartthrobs The Vamps, street dancers The Rejectz and Britain’s got talent winning dog-trick double act Ashleigh and Pudsey are all scheduled to hit the stage.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
