To support new developments in Long Island City, the Related Companies engaged Totem to help address challenging environmental and safety conditions surrounding the underpass under the Long Island Expressway.

Over the course of 18 months, Totem navigated a complex morass of public and private jurisdictions to install two lighting displays in partnership with local fabricators and artists – a projection installation that maps light to the pedestrian bridge over an active railway and an LED installation on a 140-foot-long fence which runs beneath the LIE.

Not only do workers and community members report a safer and more visually appealing pedestrian environment, but the intervention also led the NYC Department of Transportation to invest in lighting and additional resources for the area. Following the enhancements in the area, Related signed several new retail amenities to their developments.