As part of the University’s Energy Conservation Measures program (ECM) the Utilities Department has undertaken a project to relight the Golden Dome and the statue of the Virgin Mother, Mary. The project improves the illumination intensity, quality, and uniformity of the Dome to better display this prominent landmark and icon of the University in the night sky. State-of-the-art LED light sources obtain optimal light efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
Having collaborated previously with Musco Lighting on numerous other well-known venues on campus including: the Word of Life mural, the Purcell Pavilion, the Compton Family Ice Arena and the Notre Dame Stadium, the Utilities Department and Musco have again partnered to light the Dome.
The gold leaf surface of the Dome presents a bit of a lighting challenge as light easily reflects off the surface and into the sky. To improve the lighting of the Dome the new lights have been installed on the roofs of St. Edwards Hall, Washington Hall, Bronson Hall and the steeple of the Basilica. These locations improve the aiming angles and provide for better overall illumination.
This installation reduces the energy consumption by over 35,000 kilowatt hours per year and reduces the campus carbon footprint by approximately 12.2 tons per year.
In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd at approximately 9 PM the University will extinguish the existing lighting and turn on the new. Take a peek and see how much brighter The Blessed Mother looks sitting proudly on top of the Golden Dome.