Alamo gets lighting makeover from Westlake biz

Following a $50,000 donation by a West Austin resident, Alamo visitors now view the structure in a new light.

On a visit to San Antonio last year, Texas Outdoor Lighting owner Joel Mayor said he was surprised to see how faintly lit the Alamo was at night. When he returned to Austin, he contacted Kaye Tucker, Texas General Land Office liaison to the Alamo, regarding the poor lighting and worked with the office on a new design.

"[Texas officials] were excited to see the difference in the look of the lighting program," Mayor said. "It was something more fitting of our state's shrine."

Tucker said that before the renovation, the Alamo was lit by a pole of 10 floodlights mounted on its south side, illuminating only one side of the building's facade.

Mayor installed 21 new light-emitting diode, or LED fixtures—saving thousands of dollars in energy costs, he said.

"I knew we were breaking sacred ground," he said. "It was surreal working on this hallowed [site]."

Tucker said that with the new lighting embedded in the ground and shining upward, the Alamo's minor details—such as bullet holes and cannon ball dents—became more visible.

"We [made] sure we appreciated the reverence for the building—men fought and died here," she said.

3267 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 107, Austin, 512-504-3030, www.texasoutdoorlighting.com