A laser light show projected onto the ACT Health building in Civic each night since 2004 will be switched off and removed at the end of the month ahead of the demolition of the Canberra House.
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The public artwork LaserWrap, by artists Geoffrey Drake-Brockman and Richie Kuhaupt, uses 21 green lasers in three rooftop projectors – two from the Melbourne Building and nine each from the Canberra House and GPO building.
The artwork cost the ACT government $85,000 when it was commissioned in 2004.
Despite $20,000 worth of upgrades in 2010, assessments each May have found the lasers to be deteriorating in power over the past five years, a spokeswoman for Arts Minister Joy Burch said.
"In May 2014 the projector on the Melbourne Building had one failed laser and the other operating at significantly reduced power, while the projector and all nine lasers on the GPO Building had failed completely," the spokeswoman said.
"The third projector on Canberra House was also operating at significantly reduced power, consistent with the age of the artwork."
Although the artwork was expected to have a 15-year lifespan, the decision was made to decommission the work as demolition of a portion of Canberra House will begin within weeks to make way for a 16-storey residential tower approved in June.
"When it was installed in 2004, LaserWrap was one of the first visual arts projects in Canberra incorporating light and imagery on a building," Ms Burch said.
"LaserWrap has played an important part in the development of public art in Canberra.
"We recognise the success of LaserWrap and thank the artists, Geoffrey Drake-Brockman and Richie Kuhaupt, for creating the work for the Canberra community 10 years ago."
The decommissioning comes just three weeks after another public artwork in Civic, On the Staircase, a bronze and copper sculpture by artist Keld Moseholm, was repaired and relocated from Petrie Plaza after ongoing vandalism.
A new location for the work is yet to be decided.
LaserWrap will cease to operate on November 28.
The "laser sculpture" illuminates the ACT Health building for three hours each night, the website of artist Drake-Brockman says.
The lasers were designed to operate every night for 15 years, according to the South Australian company Laserex Technologies, which supplied the lights.
"The rugged, reliable nature of the green lasers make them ideal for use in an outdoor application where they will be exposed to the elements and still perform exceptionally well," the company's website said.
