The City Council of Alcalá de Henares has launched one of the most ambitious architectural lighting projects of recent years. Under the name Alcalá Luce, the initiative introduces a new way of engaging with the city’s historical heritage, integrating sustainability criteria, technological innovation and heritage preservation to transform the nighttime experience of the historic centre.

Edison Next Spain will be responsible for delivering this project, conceived not only as an aesthetic upgrade of public lighting, but as a comprehensive urban intervention in which light becomes a key tool to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and enhance the architectural heritage of Alcalá.

One of the main challenges of Alcalá Luce is its intervention within a historic centre of high cultural and architectural value, where many existing installations are outdated or offer limited nighttime visibility. The project will restore the nighttime presence of the city’s most emblematic buildings, improve the perception of volumes and architectural details, and provide citizens with a clearer and more coherent reading of the monumental ensemble.

From a technical perspective, Edison Next’s approach is based on minimizing intervention on heritage assets. To achieve this, fully reversible solutions tailored to each building will be implemented, combining high-efficiency LED technology, precise lighting control and seamless integration into the urban and landscape environment.

Alcalá Luce is structured around two main axes which, together, will create a continuous nighttime route through the historic centre. The first is developed around Plaza de San Lucas, the main access point to the historic centre from the train station. From there, the lighting upgrade extends along Calle Libreros, reinforcing its role as a cultural axis and as a transition towards the city’s monumental core.

The project targets a minimum reduction of 30% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the previous lighting system. This objective will be achieved primarily through the replacement of outdated luminaires with next-generation LED technology, combined with smart control systems that adapt lighting levels to actual use and optimize energy consumption.

The second intervention axis focuses on one of the most representative heritage areas of Alcalá de Henares, along the route connecting Plaza de los Santos Niños with iconic landmarks such as the Archbishop’s Palace, the Monastery of San Bernardo and the façade of the University of Alcalá. In this area, the new lighting design will aim to visually organize the nighttime space, reinforce the cultural interpretation of the architectural ensemble and enhance the experience for residents and visitors.

To further strengthen its sustainability commitment, the project also incorporates a photovoltaic installation designed to reduce non-renewable energy consumption, reinforcing the energy efficiency approach that underpins the entire intervention.

With an awarded investment of €567,672, Alcalá Luce represents a new way of approaching lighting in historic environments, positioning it as an intelligent, efficient infrastructure aligned with current environmental challenges. The project will contribute to consolidating a more sustainable urban model, where technological innovation serves heritage and improves quality of life.

This ambitious initiative will create a new nighttime experience for Alcalá de Henares, where light acts as a cultural guide, a tool for urban cohesion and a driver of energy efficiency.

For Edison Next, initiatives such as Alcalá Luce reflect its distinctive approach to urban lighting as a driver of sustainable innovation, capable of enhancing the citizen experience and supporting public administrations in the transition towards more efficient, responsible and heritage-conscious urban models.