Lighting projects in Mexico

The lighting of Oaxaca Cathedral and the National Museum of Art, part of our legacy in Mexico

During the years in which the Iberdrola Group conducted business activities in Mexico, until 2026, it also carried out significant work to protect and enhance works of art and historic buildings through its Foundation in the country.

Illumination of the interior of Mexico's National Museum of Art (MUNAL) in Mexico City (video in Spanish)

How the pictures look with the new lighting compared with the previous lighting.

Installing the interior lighting in Mexico's National Museum of Art (MUNAL).

As a demonstration of Iberdrola's commitment to preserving the artistic and cultural heritage of the countries in which it operates, during our period of activity in Mexico we developed major energy-efficient lighting initiatives to bring out the full value and splendour of works of art and historic buildings of enormous significance. On the one hand, this was achieved through a donation of resources to the National Museum of Art (MUNAL) and, on the other, through the Oaxaca Brilla and Saltillo Brilla projects.

We’re lighting up MUNAL

Thanks to our intervention in México Foundation, the National Museum of Art (MUNAL External link, opens in new window.) has today a low-consumption lighting system, allowing visitors to better appreciate the colour, detail and texture of the works on display as well as helping to preserve them by controlling the lighting levels. It came about due to a donation from Iberdrola Mexico, through its foundation.

This innovative system, which entailed an investment of over one million pesos by the company and was implemented in July 2018, consists of rails and LED lights External link, opens in new window., installed in the nearly 1,000 m² of the galleries housing temporary exhibitions. This change saved over 85 % on annual energy consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions.

With more than 15 angles available, the new system allows visitors to perceive 95 % of the colours in a work, very close to the 100 % that can only be obtained under natural light light and much greater than the 80% available until then.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Oaxaca, beneficiary of the Oaxaca Brilla project (video in Spanish).

Oaxaca Brilla

During this period, we collaborated to provide ten historic buildings in the state of Oaxaca with new artistic, cutting-edge and sustainable lighting. Through its Oaxaca Brilla (Oaxaca Shines, in English) initiative, we attracted tourism by highlighting the beauty and appeal of emblematic buildings, including the Oaxaca Cathedral, the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the State Government Palace.

The aim of this programme was to support culture through an efficient use of energy. The lighting systems use energy efficient technology, cutting the building’s current electricity consumption by 50%, reducing the carbon footprint of the Oaxacan capital and contributing to its sustainability.

Saltillo shines

The iconic Cathedral of Santiago, an architectural and spiritual gem of Saltillo, entered a new chapter with the installation of an artistic and sustainable lighting system. This initiative, part of the México Brilla programme, was promoted in collaboration with the State Government, the Municipality of Saltillo, the Diocese of Saltillo and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Thanks to state-of-the-art LED technology, the new lighting allows the baroque and neoclassical architectural details to be appreciated more clearly, while significantly reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint.

Built between 1745 and 1897, the Cathedral of Santiago stands out for its imposing quarry stone façade with Solomonic columns, richly decorated interior altarpieces, a pulpit with vegetal motifs and a ceiling steeped in centuries of history. Its 81-metre-high neoclassical tower is topped with an iron cross that — according to legend — was placed by a single man in exchange for his freedom.