Connecting to the Stadium of Light, with Light

The Keel Crossing is a pedestrian and cycle bridge located in Sunderland, UK, spanning the River Wear. It serves as a critical active-travel link between the city centre and the Sheepfolds area near Sunderland AFC‘s Stadium of Light. Architecturally, the bridge is a contemporary landmark that pays homage to Sunderland’s maritime and shipbuilding heritage. And Officials hope it will create a “Wembley Way” style procession of fans on matchdays.

The bridge is a centerpiece of one of the largest urban-regeneration projects in the UK, aimed at revitalizing the riverfront and enhancing connectivity across the city. Opened in 2025, it significantly improves pedestrian and cycling access. Its elevated steel structure allows uninterrupted river traffic below and stretches approximately 260m in length.

In 2026, the bridge is awarded the Gold Award at Scottish Design Awards for the lighting category.

Lighting Design

The bridge’s architectural lighting is a defining feature, designed to animate the structure at night and create an inviting city landmark. This lighting enhances vibrancy and safety while reinforcing the bridge’s role within the broader regeneration vision. The installation was initiated as part of the city’s urban-renewal efforts to enliven and connect the riverside, supporting Sunderland’s transformation into a dynamic and well-connected urban area.

To meet the demanding requirements of the lighting design, the HIGHLIGHTER® GEN4 COLOR-CHANGING in COVE OD configuration rose to the occasion again for this new state-of-the-art installation. Over 432 linear metres / 1,400 linear feet of HLs were installed beneath the bridge pavement and aimed with precision, creating an even wall-wash across the bridge structure. Built on COLOR-STREAM® and COLOR-AMP® technology, the HLs deliver liquid-smooth dimming, ultra-fast communication, and exceptional lumen performance and efficiency.

We also supplied 18 FL™ GEN2 MONO luminaires to produce a sharp 3000K warm uplight for the piers. The FL barn-door kit was specified to effectively control unwanted spill.

The entire system is powered by a 15 kW INFINITY® Power Supply System. Our signature 380 V DC INFINITY® technology enables lighting circuits up to 600+ m / 2,000+ ft long and supports 100 m / 328 ft leader and jumper cables. It also delivers superior reliability by removing power supplies and electrolytic capacitors from within luminaires. Learn more about INFINITY® technology here: https://gvalighting.com/infinity/

GVA is proud to contribute to this major urban-regeneration project in northern England. And, more importantly, to support a vital link to the Stadium of Light.

In total, GVA shipped:

Client : Sunderland City Council

Main Contractor: VolkerStevin

Architect: Knight Architects

Lighting Designer / Electrical Engineer: ARUP

Installing Contractor (EC): Opus Building Services

Additional Design: Colour

PRODUCTS USED

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