6 minute read
The Wright Lighting
How Superior Lighting Design Elevates History at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
By Randy Reid
Photography: StudioSZ / Justin Szeremeta
Copyright: ERCO GmbH
The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, NY, recently completed a comprehensive lighting renovation through a collaborative effort between ERCO and Reed Burkett Lighting Design. This extensive project modernized the museum’s outdated lighting system and significantly improved energy efficiency by employing advanced lighting technologies and thoughtful design strategies.
Project Overview
The Cradle of Aviation Museum spans over 150,000 square feet and showcases 75 air and space craft, including a real Apollo Lunar Module. Its eight exhibit galleries chronologically trace the history of aviation, with a particular focus on Long Island’s pivotal role in aerospace. The museum also features interactive exhibits, multiple cockpits to explore, and numerous short films that engage visitors in the rich history of aviation.
Previously, the museum’s lighting system consisted mainly of 300W and 575W Source Four theatrical fixtures, which were energy-intensive and created visibility issues, frequent outages, and excessive glare.
ERCO's proactive approach to securing museum projects— including attending industry conferences and networking with cultural institutions—was crucial in obtaining the relighting project. When the museum initially reached out to ERCO, the thought was a straightforward replacement, but Rich Fisher, ERCO’s National Manager of the Culture Cluster, saw a broader opportunity.
“We quickly realized that a simple one-for-one replacement wouldn’t be enough given the scale and unique needs of the space,” Fisher explained. “With my background in lighting design, I advised them that they should consider a complete redesign rather than just focusing on energy efficiency. This approach would address the overall lighting quality and visitor experience, but it would also come with additional costs.”
ERCO hired Reed Burkett Lighting Design to collaborate on the comprehensive lighting overhaul. Randy Burkett explained, “ERCO had the job, and they wanted to do more than simply replace fixtures; they hired our team to completely redesign the lighting.”
This project exemplifies a growing trend in the industry where lighting manufacturers and designers work closely with cultural institutions to provide integrated solutions. Burkett emphasized this collaborative approach, stating, “ERCO actively engages with the museum community. This project is just one example of how lighting industry partnerships can significantly improve energy efficiency and enhance the visitor experience.”
He recalled his first time seeing the collection, saying, “I was so distracted and fascinated with the pieces that we were lighting that it was hard to concentrate. It was a treasure trove of aviation history.” Burkett’s father had performed maintenance on B-17 heavy bombers for the U.S. Air Force during World War II, creating a personal connection to the museum's aviation exhibits.
Energy Efficiency and Technological Innovation
Burkett’s design replaced the Source Four fixtures with approximately 880 new luminaires, including ERCO’s Parscan and Eclipse models equipped with Casambi wireless control technology, achieving an impressive 88% reduction in energy use. The Parscan and Eclipse luminaires allow for a wide range of interchangeable distributions, with symmetrical beam angles from 280 to 540, along with linear distributions and a framing attachment, offering flexibility during commissioning.
Each fixture was individually fine-tuned using Casambi controls, which, according to Burkett, “dramatically increased design flexibility and reduced the number of SKUs down to less than 10, as we could simply dial up or down the light level individually.”
Design Challenges and Creative Solutions
Lighting the museum’s large aircraft presented a unique challenge, as many of these planes are suspended from the ceiling rather than displayed on the ground. Burkett explained, “In a typical museum, objects are on the ground or, with art, on the wall—both typically lit from the ceiling. But with the museum’s collection, which includes everything from hot air balloons to advanced spacecraft, we had to place much of the lighting on the ground to illuminate the underbellies of the aircraft.”
He added, “We hid many of the fixtures in kiosks and aimed them upward to achieve the desired effect.” This approach made the exhibits more visually engaging and accessible to visitors.
To light the information panels and wall graphics, Randy used linear spread distributions from ERCO, ranging from 10x60 to 50x80. These fixtures were strategically mounted at angles that ensured there would be few shadows created by visitors viewing the displays. He emphasized the importance of this approach, noting that proper lighting can dramatically enhance how exhibits are perceived and processed by museum-goers.
A standout example of this meticulous approach is the lighting of the museum’s lunar module, one of only three built that never made it to the moon. Burkett worked diligently to replicate the lighting conditions of the lunar surface. “There is only one sun, whether you are on the earth or the moon. Therefore, it was important that shadows only come from one direction,” he explained. This attention to detail ensured that the exhibit was not only well-lit but also true to its historical context.
Burkett praised Rich Fisher and the ERCO team for their significant contributions to the project, saying, “Rich and his team provided invaluable assistance, especially during commissioning. Additionally, Rich went above and beyond by working closely with the museum to secure energy credits and other stipends to help offset the costs.”
Broader Implications and Industry Trends
The success of the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s lighting project reflects a broader industry trend of lighting manufacturers and designers collaborating closely with cultural institutions.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum’s lighting transformation is not just a technical upgrade; it represents a shift in how museums can leverage modern lighting technologies to tell their stories more effectively while achieving dramatic energy savings. Through strategic partnerships and a commitment to quality, projects like this set a new standard for museum lighting, combining technological innovation with a deep understanding of the unique needs of cultural spaces.
By integrating ERCO’s cutting-edge lighting solutions with Reed Burkett Lighting Design’s expertise, the project achieved remarkable energy savings while creating a more engaging and immersive environment for visitors. As museums continue to evolve, the Cradle of Aviation Museum sets a compelling example of how lighting can play a pivotal role in enhancing both the educational and aesthetic aspects of cultural exhibits.
