Architectural SSL - December 2014

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • Chronicling the Advancement of LEDs in the Built Environment

Follow the $$$: A common perception is that SSL is growing by

leaps and bounds. Interest and enthusiasm is unquestionably high, but ROI still rules the roost… unless its proponents bring a different sense of value into focus. [ Page 12 ]

AT THE FRONT The retail market is flourishing, in part, due to very creative shopping environments.

Successful lighting is a key accessory to attracting patrons.

SSL BUZZ DOE roadmap notes LED growth from 2012 to 2013 has more than doubled, with particular growth in MR-16 and exterior lighting sectors.

SSL PROJECTS Penn’s new Singh Center for Nanotechnology features a strong daylighting foundation; LED was precisely used to complement interior spaces.

NUMBER 35 • DECEMBER 2014 www.architecturalssl.com

…VERSUS REALITY

SSL Buzz: Road to Mont Saint Michel subtly illuminated Project Profile: MGM Macao takes gaming to a new level

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 519 BRIARCLIFF ROAD, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440 1412SSLCVR FINAL.indd 1

White Pages: System Lifetime

12/16/14 09:49

Circle 01

1412SSL_FPads.indd 97

12/15/14 01:59

Captivating Appearance. Compelling Performance.

Liteweave™ Linear weaves a fabric of light across the visual plane. The graceful, suspended form is defined by the light itself with no visible frame or border.

• • • • Circle 02

1412SSL_FPads.indd 1

Only 1.6” x 4.6” with integral 0-10V driver 4600 or 3400 nominal lumens per 4’ at up to 101 lm/w 30% indirect/70% direct distribution Continuously lit rows - virtually invisible seams www.litecontrol.com

12/15/14 01:59

D§C.14

38

24

18

BUZZ

PERSPECTIVES

09 In Brief: Light Art: Focus Lighting's Zackry Wiegand alters geodes.

07 DOE Roadmap

05 LED Insights

The annual manufacturing forecast looks bright.

31 Project Profile: MGM Macao uses LED to upgrade gaming venues.

08 Manufacturer Profile We take a brief look at LED innovator Amerlux.

SSL has a lot to contribute to another movement marked by an initialism—NZE—net zero energy.

A great place to start is with task lighting.

By Jim Crockett

10 Mont Saint-Michel Bridge

44 SSL Observed

Dietmar Feichtinger Architects subtly and beautifully illuminates a new pedestrian bridge.

Has SSL "won" the innovation battle? There's a pretty simple metric to employ.

By Kevin Willmorth

02 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLTOC.indd 2

Lighting is in a state of transformation caused by solid-state innovation. The question of whether it is a big one, or struggling small one, is answered by whether it delivers more than it takes away.

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:36

31

FEATURES

DESIGN & PRODUCTS

12 Market Setting Feature: Roller Coasters & Loud Speakers

36 White Pages LED system lifetime. Controls or LED—what's more cost effective?

A look back at the year in review offers insight into where LED is going.

Based on the progress made in 2014, the future promises to be very exciting, even if, like a roller coaster, it makes you scream along the way.

by Kevin Willmorth

18 At the Front: Retail Powers Up SSL continues to have a major impact on store lighting schemes that are delivering dynamic environments, encouraging shoppers to stay longer and buy more.

by Vilma Barr

38 Advances Pendants, direct/indirect linear, area lighting, drivers, accent lighting, flood lighting.

Architectural SSL, Vol. 8, No. 5 (ISSN# 1941-8388) is published five times per year by Construction Business Media.

Publication Office: Construction Business Media, 579 First Bank Drive, Suite 220, Palatine, IL 60067; 847 359 6493; www.architecturalssl.com. (Copyright © 2014 by Construction Business Media) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Architectural SSL Magazine, 519 East Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440.

24 Featured Project: Singh Center for Nanotechnology The University of Pennsylvania campus now features a new architecturally striking research facility. The project offers a peek into how new LED products are beginning to impact lighting design.

by Vilma Barr

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLTOC.indd 3

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 03

12/15/14 01:36

RECOGNIZED

THE NEXT GENERATION

I N L E D ACC E N T L I G H T I N G

A NEW FAMILY OF RECESSED MULTIPLES & TRACK LUMINAIRES The new, feature rich MX family of track and recessed multiple luminaires is perfect for the retail environment or any environment where versatility is paramount. MX track consists of two models, the MX with a vertical driver housing and the MXH with a horizontal driver housing. MX recessed multiples are offered with a new construction frame, featuring a slim 4” wide aperture in 1, 2, 3, 4 head configurations and a 10”x10” square. The MX family offers a new set of custom optics designed for performance and efficiency. At 14W per head, MX delivers more than 1100lm, making it an ideal alternative to 20W ceramic metal halide or high-wattage MR16 sources.

MXH

MX Multiples

Scan the QR Code to view MX Product Video!

Intense Lighting | Anaheim, CA Visit us at www.IntenseLighting.com

Circle 03

1412SSL_FPads.indd 4

12/15/14 01:59

Coµµ§∑T±R∞

NUMBER 35 • DECEMBER 2014 www.architecturalssl.com Gary Redmond

Managing Partner Director Publishing Operations gary@architecturalssl.com

Tim Shea

Managing Partner Director Business Development tim@architecturalssl.com

Want Net Zero? Get On Task developing sources with warmer colors, closer to

Dave Pape

EDITORIAL Jim Crockett 847 359 6493 Kevin Willmorth Megan Mazzocco 847 359 6493

Vice President Director, Art & Production dave@architecturalssl.com Editorial Director jimc@architecturalssl.com Editor kevin@architecturalssl.com Senior Editor megan@architecturalssl.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Vilma Barr Barbara Horwitz-Bennett Ellen Lampert-Greaux Chuck Ross

vilma@architecturalssl.com barbara@architecturalssl.com ellen@architecturalssl.com chuck@architecturalssl.com

Jan Bottiglieri

Copy Editor

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Dave Pape Art Director dave@architecturalssl.com Lauren Lenkowski Alex Mastera

Associate Art Director lauren@architecturalssl.com Graphic Designer alex@architecturalssl.com

ADVERTISING SALES Gary Redmond 847 359 6493 gary@architecturalssl.com

Tim Shea 847 359 6493 tim@architecturalssl.com

Michael Boyle 847 359 6493 michael@architecturalssl.com

Jim Oestmann 847 838 0500 jim@architecturalssl.com

David Haggett 847 934 9123 davidh@architecturalssl.com

Ted Rzempoluch 609 361 1733 ted@architecturalssl.com

Jim Führer 503 679 5409 jimf@architecturalssl.com

Bob Fox 203 356 9694 bob@architecturalssl.com

A Publication of Construction Business Media

users rated their situation at work significantly the lighting. However, 57.4% of those surveyed said they have no influence—or only a limited in-

sister book Net Zero Buildings. SSL’s own Kevin

fluence—on lighting control. This, the research-

Willmorth contributes to that publication as

ers note, is a factor that has a major impact on

well, and in his most recent lighting installment

people’s sense of well-being and, consequently,

he addressed research on scotopic and photopic

satisfaction in the workplace.

(S/P) visual considerations. Specifically, the

The question becomes next steps. Zumtobel,

research found that higher Kelvin temperatures

among other manufacturers, offers tunable

allow people to see better, yet use less energy.

white light luminaires. But it comes back to the

Extrapolating on this, Kevin argued that LED

question of control, control systems and budgets.

task lighting is the best—and easiest—way to

Stan Walerczyk, another regular SSL contribu-

make the findings in the research reality.

tor, has been singing the virtues of the LED task

This declaration reminded me of SSL’s rela-

light for some time. While they’re not cheap, he

tively unexplored novelty and that the technol-

argues they’re a more cost-effective means to

ogy has a very real—yet still mostly unexplored—

introduce personal control. Not only are they

role in this super-energy-focused movement.

dimmable, many, he says, are color tunable.

Granted, task lighting is not so sexy on a

They’re also the perfect means, he argues, to

grand scale, but I believe it is one of the key com-

provide light where and when needed for com-

ponents of the kind of crafty, daylight-centric il-

fort/visual acuity while allowing for generally

lumination that make up most net-zero projects.

less electrically illuminated spaces that can bet-

Case in point, the S/P research Kevin brought

ter maximize the energy-savings opportunities

up revealed the the human eye sees better with

of daylighting strategies.

higher temperature white light. The good news,

But back to the idea that task lighting delivers

according to Kevin, is that LEDs are very good

little sizzle when it comes to selling the client

at producing higher Kelvin white light, and that

beyond energy savings—to that I say take a look

they’re even better at delivering it efficiently.

at the industry’s newest offerings, such as Luxo’s

And because the required amount of light actu-

Split Task fixture or Koncept’s MossoPro. The

ally decreases with an increase in the S/P ratio,

latter not only looks great, it took home best-

even less energy is ultimately required.

in-class honors at this year’s Next Generation Lighting Indoor Awards.

Enough on task lights, there are also plenty

institution Fraunhofer IAO, in a study sponsored

of great SSL opportunities with cove lighting

by Zumtobel, the organization found office users’

and wall washing… accent lighting in the right

preferences with regard to color temperature

spots… a splash of color… Hmmm, looks like I’m

differ greatly, but the range of color tempera-

out of space. We’ll have to continue this conver-

tures perceived as ideal is usually between

sation later.•

3000K and 6000K, with a clearly marked majority preference of scenarios involving 4000K and 5000K. This finding is somewhat surprising given that the SSL community, for the better part of the last five years, has spent considerable effort

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLINS.indd 5

What was also notable about the Fraunhofer study was that the researchers found that office

I’ve been spending a lot of time of late on our

vin color temps. According to German research

SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES There is no charge for subscriptions to qualified requestors in the U.S. All other annual subscriptions will be charged $39 for standard delivery or $55 for air mail delivery. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 630 739 0900 ext. 100.

those produced by incandescent sources.

higher where it was possible for them to adjust

The office is certainly the place for higher Kel-

Mark Wiebusch 503 679 5409 mark@architecturalssl.com

Member:

Crafty illumination is the name of the game in net-zero design. LED offers a lot of out-of-the-box opportunities that have yet to be tapped in full.

Jim Crockett, editorial director

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 05

12/15/14 01:37

PUT DOWNLIGHTS TO WORK Upgrading ends costly maintenance. TERRALUX LED retrofitted downlights geneate energy/cash savings quickly. Installed in minutes, TERRALUX Rertrofits dramatically improve light quality.

24/7operation, 7-year warranty standard.

Ready for the future of retrofit?

Learn more at: TERRALUX.COM

TERRALUX 1412SSL_FPads.indd 6

Circle 04

12/15/14 01:59

Global and U.S. LED Production Growth DOE SNAPSHOT REPORT EXAMINES OUTDOOR LEDS: RISING QUICKLY

Growth of LED Luminaire Unit Sales by Region, 2012 to 2018

Rest of World North America Japan Europe China

The latest SSL Manufacturing Roadmap was released this past fall by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and it documents strong growth in the overall LED lighting market. For example, its principal researcher, Navigant Consulting, found that source energy savings from LED lighting more than doubled in 2013 from 2012. And, while LED A-lamps might have hit a mere 1% penetration rate in the larger A-lamp market, LEDs comprised almost 16% of MR16-type installations in 2013, along with 7% of area and roadway fixtures.

With confidence growing in SSL products, the Roadmap’s authors see a continuing challenge

ABOVE: The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in unit sales from 2013 to 2018 is around 17% and for revenues it is expected to be around 12%. A similar trend is expected for LED lamps.

for manufacturers to ramp up production and continue to drive down costs without sacrifice to product quality or consistency. An emerging challenge is seen in the need to demonstrate the added value LED offers—whether that’s in

OLED/LED Cost Projections & Reductions

reduced energy consumption, extended lifetime or added functionality—and to avoid customer disappointment. In the short term, expanding LED manufacturing capacity will require refining existing techniques; however, in the longer term, more innovative approaches are needed for both

OLED Panel Cost Scenario (L) and LED 800lm A19 Lamp Price Scenario (R)

product design and manufacturing.

OLED-based lighting lags traditional LED products. The biggest identified challenges for this newer market lie in developing acceptable, cost-effective manufacturing processes and in identifying lighting applications especially well suited to the technology’s capabilities—and build market demand, in the process.

To identify the major 2014 manufacturing R&D priorities, DOE led manufacturing roundtables for both LED and OLED sectors, and also conducted an annual three-day manufacturing R&D workshop, followed by a post-workshop conference call for OLED participants. Three priorities were identified for each technology:

ABOVE: OLEDs may still be out of range for most buyers, but costs have dropped by 40% between 2013 and 2014.

Replacement-lamp prices also are falling quickly, especially for the A19 segment, thanks to a number of factors.

Z

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLBUZ.indd 7

CONTINUED ON PAGE 08

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 07

12/15/14 01:40

MANUFACTURER FOCUS: AMERLUX CONTINUED FROM PAGE 07

Keeping the Focus on the Customer

Y

LEDs

The Fino luminaire was launched in fall 2012,

Support for the development of:

and started racking up awards soon after. Only

man Frank Diassi recently invested “close to

 Flexible manufacturing of modules,

5/8-in. deep, the wall-mounted fixture can be

$40 million,” according to Campagna, in a new

light engines and luminaires;

installed in drywall without disturbing studs.

200,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art facility in New

 High-speed, high-resolution, non-

It quickly struck a chord with lighting pros

Jersey, and a new 100,000-sq.-ft. Pearland, Texas

destructive test equipment, with stan-

involved in the high-pressure business of Class

plant. It also has built a plant in Guangzhou,

dardized test procedures and metrics;

A office renovation, and with good reason—they

China, to serve the Asian market, and to produce

 Efficient manufacturing and im-

helped design the product.

some parts for fixtures assembled domestically.

proved application of phosphors.

In a pattern common to the development of

Amerlux has gone all-in. Company chair-

With the new facilities come improved R&D

many of its products, Amerlux brought together

capabilities, which the company is quickly

OLEDs

designers from New York City-based HLW and

staffing up. “More colleges and universities are

Support for the development of:

several contractors to help identify the chal-

starting to pay attention to lighting in design

 Manufacturing equipment enabling

lenges faced in meeting a typical 8-week fit-out

and architecture,” Campagna says.

high-speed, low-cost and uniform

schedule.

That high-tech smarts is leading to rapidly

deposition of state-of-the-art OLED

The result boiled down to two basic

evolving fixture capabilities—where halogen

structures and layers;

questions, according to Amerlux

lamps turned only 4% of delivered energy into

 Advanced manufacturing of low-

president and CEO Chuck Cam-

illumination, today’s LEDs are pushing toward

cost, integrated substrates and/or

pagna: “How do we use the existing

20%. And Campagna expects that figure soon will

encapsulation materials; and

sheetrock and how do we get the

grow to 35%—thanks, in large part, to improved

 Manufacturing processes for practical OLED panels.

light levels we need efficiently?”

heat sink technology. “You’re going to see those

The consultation with in-the-field experts,

[heat sinks] get smaller and smaller, and eventu-

along with the trial-and-error effort of develop-

ally go away,” he says. Thanks to new materials,

The Roadmap’s authors noted that

ing the technology that would answer those

“you’ll be dissipating heat through the housing

costs for both LEDs and OLEDs are fall-

questions, exemplifies the manner in which

of the fixture.”

ing significantly, which has long been a

Amerlux has managed to move to the top of the

goal for the DOE. For LEDs, prices have

list of independent lighting manufacturers. Cam-

get more light out of each fixture, and fixture

fallen enough that adoption has begun

pagna estimates some 80% of the company’s cur-

sizes will become more compact, meaning cost

to accelerate rapidly. In LEDs, qualified

rent products were developed to meet the needs

savings.

high-power packages now are running

of specific applications brought forward by their

at approximately $5 per kilolumen

customers. The company’s designers also work

other options. “The industry is moving at 200

(klm) for cool white and $6/klm for

closely with key vendors to solve application-

miles per hour, which means we have to move at

warm white products. And new high-

specific concerns.

300 miles per hour,” Campagna says, explaining

performance, low-cost, mid-power

This customer focus goes back to the com-

As a result, he adds, designers will be able to

Amerlux is also investigating OLED along with

the drive to continually look beyond the current

packages originally developed for flat-

pany’s roots in the retail food business, where

leading edge. “It’s the fast that eat the slow, and

screen displays and televisions offer

they were a leader in illuminating deli areas

that’s the way we run our business.”•

prices as low as $1/klm. Replacement-

of supermarkets. Amerlux was also an early

lamp prices also are falling quickly,

adopter of ceramic metal halide (CMH) technol-

especially for the A19 segment, thanks

ogy, producing the industry’s first track head for

to a number of contributing factors.

CMH lamps. LED, says Campagna, has brought “a

Other system considerations, such as

sea change in the industry.”

improved design for manufacturing and assembly, have combined with less expensive LEDs to drive costs down by 22% from 2013.•

08 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLBUZ.indd 8

RIGHT: In developing its award-winning Fino fixture, Amerlux worked closely with key vendors to answer a need for high-output chips that could achieve light levels of 35 footcandles at a task surface.

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:40

ART OF LIGHT: ZACKRY WIEGAND

Nothing Nebulous About It Zackry Wiegand is a lighting designer at Focus Lighting in New York. When he’s not designing spaces in the built environment, he’s creating illuminated geode sculptures—many on exhibit in the firm’s gallery. Wiegand always found such stones fantastic, and taking that idea a step further, he incorporates neon as the source within the stones to replicate and reference stars, which he says are essentially concentrations of gas and light.

“By encapsulating and manipulating the shape of light, the geodes become celestial bodies capable of emitting and transferring energy.”• ABOVE: Wiegand has had a facination with exotic, seemingly “impossible” stones since he was a child. He now illuminates them to take that level of impossibility to another level.

HEALTHCARE: DELL’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

LED Lighting Helps LEED the Way

Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas became the world’s first certified LEED Platinum for Healthcare facility earlier this year, thanks, in part, to its advanced lighting and controls systems. VT Series LED luminaires from Lithonia Lighting illuminate the hospital’s hallways and common areas, and LED step lights from Winona Lighting provide safety lighting in patient bathrooms—these fixtures are tuned to an amber color to help avoid disturbing sleep cycles.•

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLBUZ.indd 9

Circle 05

12/15/14 01:40

EXTERIOR LIGHTING: MONT SAINT-MICHEL

Uplighting Worthy of Serving a Mythical Site The new footbridge connecting Mont SaintMichel to the mainland in Normandy, France, is about to be achieved. Begun in October of 2011, the project would last almost three years. Dietmar Feichtinger Architects agency, the prime contractor, wanted a fully integrated lighting solution that was discreet and resistant to extreme weather conditions for this insular place. To meet the requirements of this unusual project, LEC tailor-made its high-standard LED lightbars so that they were in total harmony with this near mythical site.

In designing this new footbridge, Feichtinger, above all, desired not to disturb the majesty of Photos : Marie Baillet / LEC

this historic shrine. This major engineering project on stilts extends over a length of 760 meters and is solidly fixed on 134 steel studs. In total harmony with the environment, wooden decks make the footbridge’s floor. Separating elements were installed between the footpathway and the street dedicated to shuttles. Placed on most of the bridge, they are used to secure the footpath ABOVE: Discreet lighting of this major civil project was accomplished with nearly 300 custom lightbars created by LEC. The fixtures are mounted below the benches and light the footpath only.

and also provide a resting point. Visitors can then take time to appreciate this spectacular and organic scenery.

According to Feichtinger, the desired effect with the lighting was to mark the pathway to while keeping the attention on the Mont. The pier slowly and gradually goes toward MontSaint-Michel. Its up-lighting, says Feichtinger, highlights this very delicate approach. “The goal here was to avoid encroaching on the beauty of

PUBLIC ART: WEST HOLLYWOOD

the place with a discreet and elegant lighting.

Hip to Be Square

It also needed to safely mark-light the pathway to the Mont. We wanted a luminous line, that was continous and homogeneous but that could

Simple, primary-hued cube and diamond

blend into the horizon.”

geometric-shaped sculptures have appeared

Feichtinger decided on the LEC lightbar as a

in the median of Santa Monica Blvd. in West

solution, particularly because of its small size.

Hollywood, Calif., appearing to glow from within

“It was ideal for a discreet implementation,” says

during the evening hours. Although fluorescent

Feichtinger. “The visual result is superb and is

tube lamps might have been used to create the

shaped in a continuous and fluid way. LED light-

mysterious effect in the past, sculptor Shana

bars are also energy- and cost-saving known for

Mabari opted for LED versions instead. A total of

the long-lasting diodes.”

48 LED T8 tubes from LEDtronics were used in the installation, producing just the right light at a fraction of the energy fluorescents would have

ABOVE: Artist Shana Mabari’s latest work is installed on Santa Monica Boulevard as part of the city’s Art on the Outside program.

consumed.•

10 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLBUZ.indd 10

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:40

LED RESEARCH: SHUJI NAKAMURA

Blue Light Wins Nobel Gold Three LED researchers, including

gallium nitride (GaN) in creating blue light. The

Shuji Nakamura, have won the

parallel successes continued with the develop-

2014 Nobel Prize for Physics for

ment of a technique for depositing thin films of

their efforts in developing LEDs

GaN onto a substrate. Nakamura took this work

capable of emitting blue light, a

a step further, discovering the usefulness of a

critical ingredient in the larger goal of develop-

phosphor coating in creating white light from

ing white-light-emitting arrays. The combined

the blue LEDs and developing manufacturing

efforts of these physicists created the founda-

processes to enable mass production.

tion for LEDs now used in everything from

“It is very satisfying to see that my dream of LED lighting has become a reality. I hope LED light bulbs will be able to reduce energy use worldwide.”

After a disagreement, Nakamura left Nichia in

smartphone displays to LED-based illumination.

1999 to become a professor at the Univ. of Cali-

In parallel, though separate efforts, Isamu

fornia, Santa Barbara. He and two fellow UCSB

Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, both Japanese

professors, Steven DenBaars and James Speck,

researchers working at Meiho and Nagoya

founded Soraa in 2007, a maker of replacement

universities, respectively, and Nakamura, a U.S.

lamps based in Fremont, Calif. Nakamura even-

citizen then working at Nichia Corp., discovered

tually sued Nichia and won a settlement for his

the usefulness of a compound semiconductor,

discoveries.•

LEFT: In the early ‘90s, Nakamura developed a practical way to manufacture efficient blue and ultraviolet LEDs— the basis for today’s “white” LEDs.

High Impact, Low-Profile for LED Fixtures The BSL310LP Emergency LED Driver offers the convenience of a low-profile design teamed with Class 2 operation and high lumen output.

• Low-profile design (22.5” L x 1.18” H x 1.18” W) • High lumen output (1000 lm @ 25° C based on 100 lm/w efficacy) • Regulated power (initial minimum of 10W output power) • Universal input (120 - 277 VAC) • 15 - 52 VDC unit design • Output Class 2 compliant • 90-minute runtime • UL Component Recognized for factory installation only

Philips Emergency Lighting

800.223.5728

www.philips.com/bodine Circle 06

1412SSLBUZ.indd 11

12/15/14 01:40

Based on PR and product on display at events like Lightfair, the obvious perception is that LED has arrived.

Yet relatively low adoption, still hindered by cost, tempers the buzz, even in the face of exciting developments.

These new—sometimes hidden—developments, however, may be the pulse point that really defines value vs. ROI.

12 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLMSF.indd 12

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 09:45

…VERSUS REALITY

By Kevin Willmorth, editor

The year 2014 cannot be summed up

Indeed, perception cannot be taken

is a perception that seems somewhat out

simply. As the new year approaches, major

at face value—anyone visiting Lightfair

of sync given that these are decidedly

recent announcements certainly will

would have come away impressed that

aggressive projections compared to actual

color the landscape: Philips spinning off

LED technology is already a mainstream

2013 positioning, which is just 3% of the

its lighting components group to focus on

business, especially relating to retrofit

market. Keep in mind these optimistic

health care and high-end lighting systems;

lamps, LED downlights and commercial

projections are also based primarily on

news of cities remaining committed to HPS

fluorescent products remade with LEDs.

energy savings in a market not expected,

technology; Toshiba scaling back its effort

This perception is certainly backed by

by the same DOE report, to see a great

in LED lamps in the U.S., and Samsung

announcements in vaunted publications

increase in energy costs over the same

abandoning its lamp product offering—

like the Wall Street Journal that would

period of time.

these all contrast with enthusiastic reports

seem to indicate that LED technology was

and a perception that solid-state lighting

on the brink of taking over street lighting

technology is very high, and demand from

is finally blossoming as a mainstream light

across the nation, if not around the world.

customers on fixture manufacturers is

source. In fact, with every report that LEDs

DOE, in fact, projects that LED lighting will

expanding. The question, therefore, is

are indeed coming of age, there are trou-

grow to 84% (in lumen hours sold) of the

how much of the noise and interest in the

bling reports of under-performing growth

market by 2030, which includes an interim

market is the crowd being directed by

and slower than desired adoption.

projection of 48% by 2020. But this again

marketers, and how much of it is grass-

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLMSF.indd 13

Yet, undeniably, enthusiasm for the

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 13

12/16/14 09:46

roots, substantive growth that one can make bank on? To get to the bottom of this perception vs. reality argument requires that one consider a broad range of voices on the subject.

A definitive, if not ubiquitous, voice in understanding where the technology is today belongs to Dr. Jianzhong Jiao, more affectionately known in conference and committee circles as “Dr. J,” director, regulations & emerging technologies at Osram Opto Semiconductors. He says he is satisfied with where things are at. “I don’t see any limits in terms of technology,” says Jiao.

“The real improvement is the execution of the technology.”

Still, Jiao is quick to add that adoptability is still a challenge due to cost. This fact of life tempers excitement for the technology, and creates uncertainty over whether products available are worthy of consideration.

Another voice in the SSL world belongs to Christien Methot, principal lighting designer

VALUE ADDED

Operators of the Suntec Convention Center in Singapore saw the value of SSL’s capabilities, turning to Martin Professional to install a video wall on the ceiling. “To us, there was only one relevant question: ‘How can we design a space flexible enough to host an exhibition today, a wedding tomorrow, and a conference the next day?” says Suntec CEO Arun Madhok.

at Design One Lighting Design. In fact, one of Methot’s early LED projects was one of the first covered by this magazine. From his perspective, LED is its own worst enemy because it’s a

out next year with Bluetooth wireless capability

moving target, which he says sometimes makes

with our digital drivers. This feature, along with

it hard to stand behind a certain product or com-

color changing, [controlled by] a smartphone,

pany. “There is not much history to look back on

will bring a whole new age of personal control-

to help make an educated decision in choosing

lability to the market at a cost that generally

the best lights for the project,” says the designer.

lighting can get involved in.”

Terry Clark, chairman and CTO of Finelite,

This new value-focused approach is in stark

understands this dilemma, and notes this is the

contrast to the rapid commoditization of the

challenge product manufacturers must address

bulb retrofit business; in fact, it is the driver be-

in seeking broader, more aggressive LED intru-

hind the news of Philips, Samsung and Toshiba

sion and eventual dominance of the market. “The

changing strategies. As has been stated here

rate of change in LED technology is in line with

many times, while there will always be a demand

the roadmaps that have been presented over

for low-cost replacement products, the real prof-

the last couple of years. There are no surprises

it and excitement in SSL technology is founded

there,” says Clark.

on its capacity to deliver new approaches to

What is news is that a quest for a better value connection in the market is creating movement

lighting.

That said, Clark notes you just can’t hit end-

toward inclusion on new features to elevate

users with more technology. For example, on the

solid-state technology to a level beyond what

whole smart luminaire side, a key question that

was possible with conventional sources. In

remains open relates to the amount of intelli-

anticipation of this, Dwayne Hillman, president

gence that will be—or should be—built into each

and founder of ACLEDs, a division of AC Electron-

luminaire. “If smart sensors connect wirelessly

ics, Arlington, Texas, offers a preview of things

to big data systems, how much local intelligence

to come. “On the business side, we are coming

is really needed?” asks Clark. “Lighting may not

14 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLMSF.indd 14

GAME CHANGER

One of the manufacturers breaking the commoditization mold is Cooper Lighting.

Via its Wavestream technology, Cooper is offering very new, almost artistic forms; the company is also offering new value, such as the Neo-Ray Index direct/indirect pendant which was displayed at Lightfair.

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 09:46

ing flicker while dimming, and some premature failures,” says Sanders. “Then there’s the explosion of networked lighting controls companies, both for indoor and outdoor applications, but the effort and coordination involved to get them working properly is often underestimated.”

Ultimately, Sanders believes the progress of the technology is quite amazing, and remains excited to see what the next few years will offer.

But beyond pure technical innovations, he feels there’s a major gulf between space designers, operators and manufacturers that has to be addressed—frankly, the balance and potential synergies between realizing both energy efficiency and visual quality. “Balance seems to infer that lighting efficiency is an opposing force to lighting effect and quality. While this may be the more common belief, there are many synergies

THINKING DIFFERENTLY

Innovations, like LED’s ability to color tune, are changing the way people traditionally operate. For example, in the art community, daylight conditions can be replicated at night or off hours. Luminaires such as Philips Ledalite’s Boldplay are also significantly more intelligent, able to sense the ambient light in a space and adjust various features accordingly.

between lighting efficiency and lighting quality,” says Sanders.

For example, designing for perceived brightness by illuminating interesting surfaces, establishing focus and appropriate contrast, creates great spaces that Sanders says people enjoy

In contrast to the commoditization of the bulb retrofit business, the valuefocused approach is driving many companies to change strategies to focus more on value creation for higher level markets.

be a sufficiently large part of the ‘Big Data’ ap-

and also save energy. “Bringing well-controlled

proach that it can drive the decisions.”

daylight and views into spaces improves people’s

Still, Hillman is jazzed by recent develop-

moods and health while also further reducing

ments. “I see [SSL] as a great revolution to the

energy with lighting controls. The perception

lighting industry that I am excited to be a part

that visual quality and efficiency are opposing

of,” says Hillman. “The initial impact was based

forces is what must change. Yet, there is a limit

on energy savings, but now there is an entire

where more energy efficiency can have a nega-

design segment of this business that has yet to

tive effect on lighting quality.”

be tapped into.”

At the same time, Hillman agreed caution is warranted. For example, in purchasing some

feature lighting difficult to design and still meet

LED products from some Chinese suppliers, he’s

required lighting power density. In fact, he says

been disappointed in the life and quality of said

with each improvement in lighting technology,

products. “I find this discouraging because it

energy policies get more stringent to weed out

creates a bad image of the overall LED product

less efficient technology. That’s why he notes

offering from all suppliers,” says Hillman.

it’s encouraging to see lighting quality being

To decision makers, the conflict between good and bad observed performances, and the prom-

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLMSF.indd 15

Case in point, he says lighting energy codes have made continuous cove lighting and some

included in LEED v4.

Sanders notes this can be a win-win scenario,

ise of the new technology, is both exciting and

for as LED efficacy and color quality continue

frustrating according to Dane Sanders, principal

to improve there are more opportunities to

lighting designer at Clanton & Assocs. “In many

enhance lighting quality while reducing energy—

ways LEDs are starting to live up to the hype we

again added value. At the same time, blocking

have been promised—efficacy keeps climbing

and tackling basics—improving compatibility

and costs are falling, but we are still experienc-

with dimming and controls, and improving

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 15

12/16/14 09:46

power quality for LED retrofit lamps—must be

new value in lighting systems. “People are begin-

ironed out.

ning to open doors. We are beginning to see a

While the simplicity of metrics and energy efficiency dominate the headlines, underlying issues of quality, human visual performance, and

balance point, where energy efficiency is encouraging more ethical design practice.”

Stan Walerczyk, principal of Lighting Wizards

human health remain strong points of concern

and chairman of Human Centric Lighting, offers

and discussion among experts in the field, and

a similar view on forwarding the technology to

once again, bring a new set of values to the table.

add new value. Things like dual switching, dim-

Evelyn Sahaja, lighting specialist and designer–

ming, daylighting and controls allow for more

LEDs and human health, is an outspoken propo-

watts to be saved, but they can also assist in

nent of moving toward more human-centered

driving Circadian human performance. “I firmly

approaches to the adoption of modern technolo-

believe people have an innate sense of the best

gies. “I find many product offerings very limited.

light levels and spectral distribution that’s best

Manufacturers must be extremely aware of what

for them at different times of the day for dif-

drives customer consumption. It is the applica-

ferent tasks,” says Walerczyk. “The good news

tion of form follows function.” In fact, she argues

is now we have the products to allow them to

products must have design flexibility, be modu-

control light optimally.”

lar or be configurable. “Manufacturers have so

sources to enable use of lower illuminance

regarding basic features and elements in order

values—supported by both DOE research and IES

to assist them in being more competitive.”

TM24-13—are also enabled by advancing solid-

16 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLMSF.indd 16

In the offices of Cannon Design in Chicago, a balanced environment—featuring energy efficient lighting combined with lots of daylight—was a major goal of this retrofit to a more sustainable office. At the same time, Raisa Shigol, Cannon’s senior lighting designer, noted a second goal just as important as minimizing energy use was to enhance visual acuity and create a lower ambient light level that would be augmented with task lighting.

Further, his views on use of higher CCT light

much to benefit from design to bring awareness

Sahaja points to customers’ interest in including

ACCOUNT FOR PEOPLE

state technologies going forward. His article

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 09:46

ENLIGHTENED ILLUMINATION

For some reason there’s a misperception that lighting quality must be sacrificed for lighting efficiency. As in the case of the Pannonhalma Monastery in Hungary by Speirs + Major, both can exist in harmony. Here, the desire was to restore a sense of volumetric and architectural integrity with more modern sources that didn’t detract from the monastery’s 13th Century origins. LED and modern controls allow the ambiance to be tuned to suit different liturgies from quiet prayer to high mass.

light sources to LEDs, I believe that the writers

“LED is my first choice when specifying any project now. However, I do need to make sure that it is the best choice lumens to watts.”

—Christian Methot

On the supply side, Clark reflects the impact

will find that we placed too much emphasis on

of such impressions when he states adoption of

metrics such as lumens per watt, and too little

LED-based luminaires in Finelite’s served market

toward helping regulating organizations make

is “roaring ahead.” Those markets include indoor

the transition.”

lighting for commercial offices, educational

The potential to attain aggressive energy

facilities, healthcare, and institutional buildings.

goals and forward the work of lighting designed

“We believe that the market will remain robust

for human performance at once, coupled with

through at least 2015 and 2016.”

accumulated positive experience, is creating a growing positive impression of solid-state

Interesting Times to Come

technology—suggesting it can indeed attain the

While unquestionably, economic conditions are a

on this topic in the June 2012 issue of SSL are

seemingly unrealistic market share projected by

damping force in the rate of change, the underly-

worth re-reading.

the DOE.

ing dynamics that define the depth of where

Perhaps one area in need of change is that of

Methot sums this up simply. “It is my first

SSL will be embraced has grown stronger. Given

lagging standards development and regulatory

choice when specifying any project now. [How-

the progress over the last year, it appears that

reform. Finelite’s Clark says the organizations

ever] I do need to make sure that it is the best

the next several years promise to be some of

that regulate the construction of LED lumi-

choice lumens to watts.”

the most exciting yet for lighting professionals,

naires are lagging behind the rate of technol-

Methot is joined by many designers that have

energy concerns, and product providers alike—

ogy change. “It still takes too long, and costs

been reluctant to include solid-state light sourc-

proving why up/down experiences, like roller

too much, to move from one LED power supply

es due to a lack of information or trust. Perhaps

coasters, remain a featured attraction, even if

or package to another,” says Clark. “When they

this is the single most important transformation

they make people scream at times.•

write the history of the change from legacy

realized over the last two years.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLMSF.indd 17

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 17

12/16/14 09:46

RETAIL POWERS UP

By Vilma Barr, contributing writer

Just a couple of years ago, the

parallel tracks to adapt the best

competition between e-commerce

of both formats. John McAteer,

and the format of the traditional

head of retail at Google, sees both

marketplace resembled the retail

sides of the retail coin. “All of this is

version of the Hatfields and the

done online today through search

McCoys. E-commerce grabbed

engines and cookie technology,” he

headlines and market share while

believes. “The pace of change has

pundits predicted that the ranks

never been faster. The big question

of stores and their owners would

is turning physical stores into a

shrink dramatically.

showplace, distribution center and

But by the close of 2014, the real-life script has opened to a new

place for consumers to have fun.”

Lighting designer Joerg Kre-

scene that has both players ap-

winkel, head of Lichtkompetenz,

pealing to the same buying public.

Zurich, who has an international

Successful e-commerce operations,

practice in retail lighting design,

including Amazon’s midtown New

created the lighting for the Bey-

York pop-up outpost, show that

men store in Istanbul profiled

customers still favor the centuries-

here. “We are moving away from

old in-person association with the

diffuse lighting, and generally

merchant of choice.

look for a more scenic design in

Department and specialty stores,

lighting,”Krewinkel said in re-

meanwhile, have exhibited an

sponse to a query posed about

admirable nimbleness in adapting

trends in store lighting. “With the

information and lighting technolo-

many LED options, light becomes

gies to attract customers and help

more integrated and moves closer

them seamlessly find what they

to the product. Today and in the

want from anywhere in the store,

future, it is more about contrasting

including from the once-confining

areas in the store.”

fitting rooms. Omnichannel retail-

He foresees interactive lighting

ing is the new buzz: here, smart

as an important emerging topic.

fitting rooms have tablets that

“There will be active, dynamic solu-

allow customers to communicate

tions in shop windows, since apps

with sales associates and request

make handling easier,” Krewinkel

alternate merchandise, and adjust

predicts.

mirror-mounted touch-screen

In looking at retail activity,

lighting to see themselves in

it’s safe to say six trends/design

daylight, office lighting or candle-

concepts have emerged that stores

glow. On the East Coast, designer

find themselves reflecting: Glam-

Rebecca Minkoff has installed a

ourous; Upscale; Graphics and Fun;

similar system in her new boutique

Sleek; Artistic; and Urban Aesthetics.

in Manhattan.

Following are projects that repre-

Both e-commerce and brickand-mortar have put their differ-

sent each of these current creative visual styles.

ences behind them and are running

18 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLTAF.indd 18

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 09:18

 Glamorous Retail Beymen, Instanbul, Turkey Located in the city’s high-end mixed-use Zorlu Center, the new 104,000-sq.-ft. flagship fuses fashion, art and architecture into a luxury destination. On its two levels are leading fashion and accessory brands for women, men, kids and home collections.

Michelgroup, headed by Wolfgang Michel, provided architecture and interior design services for the exterior façade and the store interior. Joerg Krewinkel of Lichtkompetev nz was responsible for the lighting design.

Distinctive geometric patterned ceiling elements follow the building’s structural grid and provide orientation for the consumer. Gold leaf ceiling elements appear in the cosmetics, women’s apparel and shoes, and home areas, while silver is used in the men’s areas. Lighting is integrated into the sculptural shapes overhead. “The ceiling and flooring changes give the visitor the impression that they are discovering something new and interesting, from one room or area to the next, just like exploring the city,” said Krewinkel.

Walls washed with light frame spaces on the selling floor. Unique wall treatments complemented by the lighting strategy add to the visual interest and richness of the design. In the bookshop and seating area are handcrafted glass lamps suspended from the ceiling.

NOT LIGHT ON STYLE Variations in surface textures, background colors, and the volume of space creates environments that project their own individuality and fashion statement. Lighting is integrated into the sculptural gold- and silver-surfaced shapes overhead.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLTAF.indd 19

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 19

12/15/14 09:19

 Upscale Retail SPAR, Budapest, Hungary Amsterdam-based SPAR International is the world’s largest food chain, with 12,500 owned or franchised stores in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

When SPAR decided to open a new supermarket at the MOM Park shopping mall in the heart of a wealthy district in Budapest, the result was unlike any in its organization, or just about anywhere else.

Its interior spaces more closely resemble a futuristic museum or exclusive hotel lobby rather than a food market.

A visiting journalist reported the following: “It demonstrates how well-considered design can have an impact far beyond that thought possible. The humble SPAR has metamorphosed beyond recognition, its appearance belies preconceived notions of how a supermarket should look.”

LAB5 Architects designed the interior and lighting. The Dutch word, “spar,” meaning pinewood or fir tree, was interpreted for the fin construction that defines the wine section and integrates the product display. The illuminated ceiling, visible throughout the store, visually guides shoppers from the entrance to the back zone.

At the wine section, the curving wood ribs of the ceiling continue to the floor, forming a cellar-like space. Between the ribs and attached on the ceiling are a mix of pendant lamps, spotlights and tube lights from Solinfo and Zumtobel.

HIGH-DESIGN WAYFINDING The SPAR supermarket in Budapest turns food shopping into a visual experience with a work of sculpture within an architectural frame. Fixtures hung from the ceiling and integrated into the curved wood fins in the wine section help to guide customers through the store.

20 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLTAF.indd 20

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 09:19

 Graphics and Fun Retail Puma, Osaka, Japan With keen retail competition for casual fashion footwear in downtown Osaka, the design brief for a new 6,500-sq.-ft. Puma store requested the creation of a new landmark.

Store designers Plajer & Franz Studio collaborated with Puma’s inhouse design staff and Studio 38 for graphics and visual communication for images and product displays that almost jump off the walls.

A meshed metal façade allows daylight to enter the store. At night, the lighting beams out, illuminating the streetscape and previewing the dramatic interior selling space. The team’s flexible retail concept that integrates local references offers an engaging shopping experience within the framework of a joyful and witty spirit of the company’s sport and lifestyle brand.

More than a shopping place, Puma Osaka is a social and cultural meeting venue. The lower two floors of the building are for the display and sale of Puma products, while the upper level is an open roof top for performances and other events, surrounded by a light façade frame.

In the center, a sculptural coneshaped staircase with a giant white Puma logo against a red backdrop makes a dominating brand statement. A footwear catwalk stretches across the entire ground floor.

Materials such as black steel, plywood panels combined with re-used gym flooring produce a mixture of high-contrast matte and high gloss surfaces.

FOCUSED ON THE ACTON Puma in Osaka utilizes a vivid color palette of red, white and black to communicate its brand and logo. The store’s lower two floors are for the display and sale of Puma products, while the upper level is an open event venue shielded by an extension of the red metal openwork front curtain.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLTAF.indd 21

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 21

12/15/14 09:19

 Sleek Retail Brioni, Milan, Italy The 7,500-sq.-ft. flagship is Brioni’s largest, set over three floors for the international chain of 25 highend men’s apparel stores with custom services. Park Associati was responsible for modernizing the exterior and interior of the former palazzo into the elegantly appointed store and corporate offices. Lighting design was by Methis Lighting.

Constructed around an internal courtyard, sunlight illuminates interior areas of the ground floor space, including views into the store’s luxury tailors’ workshop.

Footwear, leisurewear and formalwear are located on the first floor. Park Associati designed the eight-sided glass ceiling fixture that serves as visual identification between display areas. The second floor is devoted to tailor-made products featuring a private VIP suite with custom-designed furnishing and fittings in the lounge.

Overhead are light fixtures made of ribbed glass. Methis specified lamps for the ceiling angular up-anddown lighting fixtures from Flos and Archilux. Additional lighting was provided by Light Contract and Archilux.

The store will be the first to offer a new technology and service the company is calling “Brioni Miror,” from the Latin ‘‘I marvel at’’ or ‘‘I admire”—an in-store app to allow customers of its Su Misura bespoke program to visualize their custom suiting, from fabric choices to button options, on a reactive screen.

TAILORED ILLUMINATION In its elegantly appointed new store and corporate offices in Milan, Brioni displays the stylish craftsmanship in its presentation of men’s apparel and accessories. Accent and ambient lighting are integrated into the full-height displays and angular ceiling fixtures.

22 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLTAF.indd 22

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 09:20

 Artistic Retail Simons, Edmonton, Alberta Simons is a 10-store Canadian

movement to produce subtle rip-

fashion specialty retailer founded

pling and swelling effects.

in 1840. Current CEO Peter Simons

Measuring 68 ft. long by 28 ft.

is carrying on the family tradition

wide, Beesley’s hanging sculpture

of supporting Canadian fashion,

is suspended by 40 electronically

art and architecture. For its newest

active columns of varying length.

114,000-sq.-ft. branch in the West

Attached are thousands of leaf-like

Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Simons

sprays composed of laser-cut stain-

asked Toronto-based architect and

less steel, Kylar, acrylic and glass.

sculptor Phillip Beesley to create a

Motion-sensitive LEDs control the

work that could be integrated into

installation‘s interplay of movement.

a 30-ft. glass cube that forms a corner of the titanium-clad building, illuminated to glow 24/7.

Beesley was inspired by the aurora borealis, the natural light phenomenon viewed on the horizon in the northern hemisphere during certain times of the year. He designed Simons Aurora, an illuminated canopy of crystalline columns that uses sensory mechanisms that respond to human

INTEGRATED ART-FORM A giant spray of fanciful leaf-like elements cut by lasers reacts to signals from motion sensitive LEDs in the new Simons branch in the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Canada. Sculptor Phillip Beasley was influenced by a natural lighting phenomenon, the aurora borealis, to create the artwork.

 Urban Aesthetic Retail Brookfield Place, Perth, Australia Brookfield Place is a skyscraper

elements that add to the dynamic

development in downtown Perth,

and original quality of the space.

Western Australia. An open space

tivity and add vibrancy to the site.

into a lively public dining and

Lighting by Meinhardt Engineering

entertainment destination that

accents seating, bridge overpasses

has changed the way Perth uses

and a recessed planted area.

its prime business district from the

Lighting and landscaping combine to create an urban design that has produced a public space that has enlivened Perth, Australia’s downtown scene. Bridges and courtyards connect the two skyscrapers.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLTAF.indd 23

In its citation to the Brookfield

start of each working day to well

Place design team for the 2014 Ex-

into the night.

cellence Award for Design in Land-

In designing a public realm that

A LIGHT TOUCH

Open plaza spaces encourage ac-

between the buildings was turned

scape Architecture, the Australian

has become an inviting part of

Institute of Landscape Architects

the city fabric, HASSELL created

(WA) commented: “The tower

an urban design that bridges the

meets the ground in a manner that

gap between two buildings with a

creates a rich new layer of urban

series of public spaces. Courtyards

spaces which have been a major

connect all the lower levels of the

contributing factor in the success

buildings into a series of alfresco

of the precinct’s commercial, retail,

spaces, sheltered from the wind

food and beverage tenancies.”•

and sun. The podium level and ground floors are connected by a series of lightweight linking bridge

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 23

12/15/14 09:20

F§ATUR§D PRoj§Ct

Light on the Matter

Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Architect: Weiss/Manfredi, New York Lighting: Brandston Partnership, New York Text: Vilma Barr Photos: Ron Blunt Photography The Challenge: Provide lighting for the new 78,000-sq.-ft. Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology, a research facility on the Penn campus. Located on Walnut Street, a busy east/west thoroughfare, the administration wanted the building to be a definitive visible transparent symbol of the advanced science being undertaken by the university.

The Solution: Weiss/Manfredi Architects designed a three-level sculptural steel and glass building with a dramatic overhang parallel to the street. Wai Mun Chui and his lighting design team at the Brandston Partnership began their participation in the project at the early schematic stage in 2009.

Visible fixtures in the galleria’s ceiling were not an option for aesthetic and maintenance considerations. A custom LED uplight was designed that is affixed to the round columns supporting the glass exterior wall. With samples and calculations to prove their selection, the university agreed to the fixture that has succeeded in providing the dramatic interior illumination that is an important factor in communicating the university’s objective for the Singh Center.

24 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLFEA.indd 24

Research facilities that hope to

CERN, the European particle

to go so far back in time that it is

shed light on matter—what it was,

physics laboratory, is an inter-

planned to ultimately replicate the

is now, and may possibly be in the

national collaborative of scien-

Big Bang theory and its perceived

future—are carrying out experi-

tific investigators testing theories

fallout that created the colonies of

ments in laboratories worldwide.

about from where the earth and

universes in space.

Most are either totally out of sight,

its inhabitants sprang. Since 2008,

Conversely, in an elegantly lit

such as CERN in Switzerland, or

the experiments have taken place

dramatic architectural statement

in the case of the Singh Center for

in a massive 16.5-mile tunnel

sited on busy Walnut Street on the

Nanotechnology, in full view on a

far underground near Geneva,

University of Pennsylvania campus

busy urban thoroughfare that wel-

Switzerland, utilizing the Large

in West Philadelphia, another

comes the public for a visit.

Hadron Collider. It is programmed

group of scientists is engaged in

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:43

probing nano matter and where

Weiss/Manfredi were architects

it can take us. Their base is in a

for the $92.5 million structure.

sculptural steel and glass enclosed

Lighting was designed by the

three-story 78,000-sq.-ft. structure.

Brandston Partnership Inc., with

During the day, the building with

Wai Mun Chui as partner in charge.

its strong geometric profile and

Both design firms are based in

dramatic cantilever is a head-swiv-

New York City.

eling attention-getter. After dark,

Funding for the project, which

its visual identity is sustained by a

opened in the fall of 2013 was

glowing interior, like the center-

initiated with a gift of $20 million

piece of a contemporary canvas.

by Krishna P. Singh, who arrived

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLFEA.indd 25

TRANSPARENCY EMBRACED The dramatic profile of the University of Pennsylvania’s Singh Center for Nanotechnology is in full view on a busy Philadelphia thoroughfare that invites the public to visit the public spaces inside.

Its design was created to fulfill the administration’s objective to make the Singh Center a transparent example of an innovationdriven and collaborative research environment.

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 25

12/15/14 01:43

from India as a fellowship student at Penn and went on to found the energy technology company Holtec International in Marlton, N.J. The state and the university, along with various private donors, contributed the balance.

At the outset of the project, Eduardo Glandt, dean of Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, advised the design team that the Singh Center would be a transparent example of an innovation-driven and collaborative research environment. “The usual lab maze of dim hallways lined with closed doors isn’t the visual message Penn wants to convey,” he had stated. “We want to make science visible,” he stressed.

Out of public view behind a signature orange glass wall on the ground level lobby, known as the galleria, are the labs occupying a 10,000- sq.-ft. double height grouping that houses 450 scientists and technicians. Here, they are monitoring such investigations as the growth of carbon nanotubes, analyzing graphene deposits, and etching microelectronic systems, carried out at sizes millions of times smaller than what humans can see unaided. The ultimate application potentials range from targeting the accuracy of drug delivery systems to new approaches to create and

“We were brought in at the early

for expressing the architecture,

store electricity that could virtually

schematic stage in 2009,” says Chui.

Chui and his team obtained a model

eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

The architectural concept con-

from the architects and studied it

veyed an in/out theme of energy to

from multiple vantage points. Vis-

the 1.7-acre site between two exist-

Weiss/Manfredi made the most of

Chui. “The glass curtainwall allows

ible fixtures in the galleria’s ceiling

ing buildings. The Singh Center’s

daylighting to energize the public

were to be avoided for aesthetic

footprint wraps two sides of a glass

spaces during the day. At night,

and maintenance considerations.

and metal skin around an open

the illuminated interior beams

The solution put forth by Chui and

landscaped courtyard.

energy out to the surrounding

the architects was

streetscape,” says Chui.

high-power LED

Vertical translucent pinstripes, fused into the glass, serve to screen

“It’s a complicated structure,

uplights attached

the interior. Articulated sections of

with numerous layers in a long

the main staircase cross over and

linear three-story-high L-shape

supporting the curtainwall, with

under each other, forming small

public space called the ‘gallery,’”

an aluminum housing in a color

lounge terraces.

Chui states. To study the options

matched to that of the columns.

26 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLFEA.indd 26

to the columns

CUSTOM SOLUTION Behind a signature orange glass wall on the ground level lobby, known as the galleria, are the labs occupying a 10,000-sq.-ft. double height grouping that houses 450 scientists and technicians.  Custom, wedge-shaped uplights, designed by Brandston Lighting and fabricated by the Ametrix division of Cooper Lighting, are bracketmounted by a curved steel plate color-matched to the columns.

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:43

The uplights have custom

FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE Vertical translucent pinstripes, fused into the exterior glass, serve to screen inside spaces.

Interior illumination follows the ceiling profiles and the spiral circulation that starts from the ground floor and ends at the third floor Forum. The latter occupies the building’s overhang, revealing the topography of the interior space.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLFEA.indd 27

and the architects, while holding to

mountings that are affixed to the

their convictions that LEDs were

curvature of the columns and are

the fixtures for the job. “Remember,

hidden from view from the outside.

this was in 2009,” Chui explains.

“They follow the ceiling profiles

“The people in charge of the

and the upward spiral circulation

university’s facility planning and

that starts from the ground floor

maintenance management didn’t

and ends at the third floor Forum,

believe that LED technology had

to reveal the topography of the

advanced to a point where they

interior space,” Chui indicates.

would be comfortable with install-

Convincing the conservative

ing such a fixture as we proposed,”

Penn facilities decision makers

he recounts. “It was a long process

that LEDs would perform as the

to convince them. We explained

designers envisioned was an ex-

that neither metal halide nor fluo-

tended exercise in patience by Chui

rescent could give the same results

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 27

12/15/14 01:43

HANDSOME PROFILE Located on a 1.7-acre site on the Penn campus, the three-story, 78,000-sq.-ft., $92.5 million Singh Center’s sculptural steel and glass façade creates a strong architectural presence on the West Philadelphia cityscape.

DETAIL ORIENTED Articulated sections of the main staircase cross over and under each other, forming small lounge terraces. To enhance the slated ceiling profile and identify the open study carrels on the stair landings are stem-mounted dimmable cylindrical pendants, created with sandblast acrylic tubing that contain two 21-W T5 lamps and one LED MR16 lamp.

as we believed would be possible

operation. “It was a long process,”

in diameter with a 44-inch overall

tioned over the stair study carrels

with LEDs,” Chui says.

Chui confirms. “We showed them

height, are two 21-W T5 lamps and

give visual emphasis to the Forum.

how the dimming would be inte-

one LED MR16 lamp.

LED applications for the exterior

A custom uplight was developed

by Ametrix of Cooper Lighting. The

grated and the quality of the LED

wedge-shape uplight, measuring

light. When Penn finally agreed, we

lever that is poised 68 ft. over the

justable LED uplights for lighting

13 in. by 13.5 in. and tapering to 1.5

worked with Ametrix to finalize the

courtyard contains the 4,000-sq.-ft.

trees. Small profile channels are

inches, is bracket-mounted to the

details, including fitting an optical

Forum, a multi-purpose glass-

concealed underneath benches on

column by a curved steel plate. The

lens over each diode to achieve the

enclosed event space. Up to 150

the roof terrace.

60W uplight has output of 5,000 lu-

different beam spreads required.”

people can occupy the room, which

mens from arrays of 80+CRI, 3000K

Stem-mounted dimmable cylindrical

can be curtained off from its sur-

Innovative Design In Engineering

warm white LEDs.

pendants from Delray enhance the

roundings as needed. Illumination

and Architecture with Structural

slated ceiling profile and identify

is by MR16 slot fixtures in the ceiling.

Steel award, given by the American

Philadelphia with mock-ups of the

the open study carrels on the stair

“They can be retrofitted with LEDs

Institute of Steel Construction.•

uplight to demonstrate the benefits

landings. Inside the sandblast

in the future,” Chui points out. The

of the proposed LED product and its

acrylic tubing, measuring six inches

same cylindrical fixtures posi-

It took a series of trips to

28 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLFEA.indd 28

The building’s dramatic canti-

include shielded steplights and ad-

The Singh Center won the 2014

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:43

SKY HIGH Singh Center’s dramatic cantilever is poised 68 ft. over the courtyard. Inside is the 4,000-sq.-ft. Forum, a multi-purpose glass-enclosed event space. Up to 150 people can occupy the room, which can be curtained off from its surroundings.

Laboratories for the scientists and technicians are located behind the long orange glass wall on the ground level.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLFEA.indd 29

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 29

12/15/14 01:43

What’s Your Style?

Create inviting, vibrant spaces with LED lighting from Nora and Nspec. With our extensive line of LED lighting products and accessories, the only limit is your imagination.

Nora Lighting offers one of the largest selections of LED lighting products in the industry including high lumen Sapphire Series Architectural LED Downlights, Diamond Series LED Retrofit, LED Track, LED Rail, LED MLS Multiple Lights, LED Panels, 24V LED Tape, LED Accent, LED Under Cabinet. Available in a variety of outputs for jobs large and small, Nora and Nspec provide a single source for all your energy efficient lighting needs.

Circle 07

1412SSL_FPads.indd 30

8 0 0 .6 8 6 .6 6 7 2

w w w.n oralig h t in g .c o m

12/15/14 01:59

COVE LIGHTING THE RIGHT PLAY IN GAMING RESORT RENOVATION MGM Macau Macau, China

A beacon of style off the coast of the South China Sea, the MGM Macau is a five-star, 600-room resort that impacts the city skyline. Inspired by the arts, the luxury resort is punctuated by a 154-meter tower, and every element of the hotel is infused with a sense of creativity and style.

Matt Levesque, lighting designer and founder of First Circle Design, Newport, Calif., was presented with the challenge of highlighting this artistry in a variety of major guest and public spaces located throughout the facility.

At the heart of the complex is the casino, which at its center is the Grande Praça, a 1,088-sq.-m. court covered by a glass dome. The courtyard, inspired by Lisbon’s Central train station, represents Macau’s Portuguese roots. The court serves as a nexus for many of the casino’s varying adjacent gambling areas—many of which are smaller, more intimate spaces aimed for higher-end gaming.

First Circle’s challenge was to improve the practicality and aesthetics of the overall lighting system on a restricted budget and a compressed installation schedule. “The ownership posed the challenge of a design using only the power already available, with enough remainder for an added theatrical lighting system to use during special events,” notes Levesque.

Furthermore, he says, all luminaire locations had to be within reach of the facility’s boom lift and the quantity of lighting positions was limited. LED, in a number of different forms, but primarily cove and tape sources, proved the solution.

ABOVE: Updating the resort’s platinum gaming areas was part of a strategic goal to add more gaming space

and attract a higher-end clientele. Flexible cove lighting was selected to accent the ceiling of the main gaming room and the lobby entrance. Tivoli’s Covelum DS was the product of choice due to its ability to allow the lighting designers, First Circle, to adjust individual modules for precise aiming.

In the Praça, color-changing luminaires were attached to the skylight to deliver a variety of effects on the surrounding building façades as well as the plaza’s manicured landscape—all without disturbing the skylight view. Levesque needed powerful, yet energy-efficient sources to

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLPRO.indd 31

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 31

12/15/14 01:45

SSLProfile:

MGM Macau, Macau, China

THE CHALLENGE: Add new, exciting visual life to the casino complex, yet do it without adding to the power load. The installation had to be relatively easy and accomplishable in a short period.

THE SOLUTION: Lighting designer First Circle chose a variety of LED lighting solutions, mostly cove lighting in particular, to deal with the variety of cove depths, heights and finish reflectivity in the gaming area ceilings. LED also helped the designers create dramatic results, such as the halo effect in warm white on the back wall of the resort’s signature restaurant (pictured to the right) by backlighting the diagonal extrusions.

PROJECT CREDITS:

Owner: MGM Lighting Design: First Circle PRODUCTS:

Tivoli Covelum Designer Series Tivoli Platinum Cove Tivoli TivoTape Outdoor

MULTI-FACETED A backlighting effect was desired in the resort’s signature Square 8 restaurant to help convey an extra dimension reflective of Macau’s multi-faceted heritage. Lighting designers First Circle once again hit the mark with their use of cove lighting.

complement the architectural details to deliver

ble dual-wire system bends 90° to fit concave and

discreet with a small profile, fits in the stair

a cohesive design with distinct visual identities.

convex curves without any special hardware.

casings, and emits a sharp, pure 2800K color

First Circle integrated a variety of illuminated

The modules in the luminaires can be produced

in an IP68 rated molded jacket that allows for

features within the façades and used multiple

to create specific white illumination effects for

a wide range of installation possibilities. This

angles from front and sides for general illumina-

critical white color applications within +/-50°K

solution provided an easy-to-install step lighting

tion to give the architecture added depth and

at only 3.6 watts per/ft.

solution that only draws 3.0 watts per ft.

clarity. Specifically, the designers needed a solu-

The Covelum product also proved especially

tion that would not only fit into the mounting

benefical in the general gaming areas. Because

The Restaurant Experience

and space restrictions of the façades, but do so

of the variety of cove depths, heights and finish

Another challenge of the project was to capture

with power and efficiency. Levesque found what

reflectivity, Levesque was particularly pleased

Macau’s multi-faceted heritage in the atmo-

he was looking for in the form of Tivoli’s line of

with the solution because the product provided

sphere of one of the resort’s most popular

linear systems. He was particularly attracted

the ability to tilt the individual modules for pre-

restaurants, Square 8. To cater to the interna-

by the product’s color consistency and the tight

cise aiming. “This provided us with an extremely

tional tastes and influences of the restaurant,

binning process behind the luminaires. “Their

useful tool to ensure that each ceiling would look

Levesque chose to use Tivoli’s Platinum Cove

products are not only versatile and easy to work

as spectacular as it could,” says Levesque.

linear LEDs to create a backlighting effect.

with, but they provide excellent constant color

A final Tivoli product, TivoTape Outdoor, was

This low-profile product was installed behind

rendition, which is especially critical in long

utilized by First Circle to deliver an architectural

diagonal extrusions in an infinity clear mounting

runs,” says Levesque.

look to multiple façade trims and steps. Compact,

channel to create a halo effect in warm white.

The lighting designer also found Tivoli’s

flexible and field-cuttable, the tape light was

A work of art on its own, the simple but effec-

Covelum Designer Series to be the right solution

used to illuminate the narrow channels of the

tive lighting enhancements make the resort a

to illuminate the architectural trim and the win-

court’s steps. This versatile light strip, according

destination for world-class entertainment.•

dow boxes of the Praça. The flexible, field-cutta-

to the manufacturer, delivers illumination that is

32 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLPRO.indd 32

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:45

GETTING TO

J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA Photo Credit: Stephen Whalen Photography

zero NATIONAL FORUM

What we are experiencing on the ground level is rapid acceleration in the number of owners and builders going towards a Zero Net Energy platform...Zero Net Energy buildings are now the new holy grail within the green building construction marketplace.

— Harold Turner, PE, President & CEO of The H L Turner Group Inc.

February 1–3, 2015

Fairmont Hotel • Washington D.C. Are you ready for the future of buildings? New Buildings Institute and the National Association of State Energy Officials are bringing together 350 policymakers, luminaries in the architecture, engineering and construction fields, vendors and students, all ready to create the change needed to make ZNE buildings mainstream. We’ll dig into critical design and technology applications, share perspectives on value, examine policy drivers, and learn how operations and occupants impact ZNE performance.

Learn. Share. Collaborate.

Register today: www.gettingtozeroforum.org

1412SSL_FPads.indd 33

12/15/14 01:59

LEDHighbays

By Stan Walerczyk, Lighting Wizards

HI-BA¬ R§S§ARCH

If You Choose LED High Bays, Be Sure to Get Good Ones For more than 10 years, I've presented on high-

while reducing wattage. The other benefit is

out wasting wattage. This is especially important

bay technology at various lighting seminars. Up

Human Centric Lighting, where >5000K can

for 30 ft. and lower mounting heights.

through mid-2013, seminar attendees noted they

improve circadian rhythms, short- and long-term

typically worked with high-performance fluores-

alertness, mood, sleep and performance. Some

non-conditioned buildings in most parts of

cent T8 high bays. However, during the second

manufacturers offer 5000K but LPW and/or CRI

North America can get 130°F or hotter at high

half of 2013 that number became about 50/50;

is worse than 4000K.

bay height, unless there is an excellent venting

now the discussion almost always involve LEDs.

As far as temperature rating, keep in mind

LED high bays should have at least 100,000

system. That 130°F temperature can often be

hour rating, because some ceramic metal halide

reached when the ambient temperature close

others regarding performance, rated life, price

lamps are rated up to 50,000 hours and some

the ground is only about 90°F. In these applica-

and warranty. So what should one look for? First,

fluorescent T8s are rated up to 67,000 hours.

tions, LED high bays with at least a 140°F tem-

That said, some LED high bays are better than

it helps to identify criteria which indicates which

On the subject of distribution, numerous LED

perature rating should be used.

fixtures one should avoid:

high bays only have a cosine distribution, so the

Many LED high bay manufacturers only have a

 Lumens per watt (LPW) less than 120

same type of excessive blobs of light directly un-

maximum 5-year warranty. Some have a 10-year

 Color rendering index (CRI) lower than 70+

derneath the fixture is the same as most HID and

standard warranty, and some will extend their

 Negative R9 (red content)

fluorescent high bays. LEDs with good batwing

5-year warranty to 10 years with certain condi-

 Color temperatures of only up to 4000K

distribution, however, can save considerable

tions. A larger question to consider, however, is

 A life-time rating of only 50,000 hours

wattage, because they provide sufficient light be-

the worth of a warranty if the manufacturer is

 Cosine distribution in low height applications

tween fixtures and in appropriate corners with-

only a few years old. Even warranties of well-

 A temperature rating of 125°F or less  A maximum 5-year warranty  A warranty that is not worth much

PRODUCTS

 No DesignLight Consortium (DLC) or Lighting Design Lab (LDL) approval  Too high of a price If a product has even just one of these poor attributes I often won't recommend it. Since LED high bays cost significantly more than fluorescent high bays, they should have at least 120 LPW so the wattage savings offset their extra cost. I have seen at least one 100W LED high bay with 130 LPW and batwing distribution, which can often replace 400W HPS and standard metal halide (MH) high bays.

LED high bays with a CRI only in the 70s usually also have a negative R9. Granted, quartz MH only has CRI in the 70s and negative R9, but high

SENSOR EQUIPPED

performance fluorescent high bays have 80+ CRI and positive R9. If LED is really that good, it should at least match fluorescent.

As far as color temperature, there are two benefits of 5000 and higher Kelvin. One is spectrally enhanced lighting, where higher Kelvin

Integral occupancy and daylighting sensors plus a lumen maintenance tray address the main concerns for industrial high-bay lighting.

Engineered to address common issues in industrial environments, the Big Ass High Bay LED from Big Ass Lighting features an easy-access panel that allows users to swap out drivers and other components. It is constructed from a solid piece of heavy-duty, extruded aluminum to stand up

light is perceived as brighter in the way people

to rough environments. Each fixture is equipped with oc-

really perceive light. This means visual acuity

cupancy sensors, and photo sensors dim the lights to take

can be improved without increasing wattage,

advantage of daylighting.

or, conversely, visual acuity can be maintained

 Visit www.bigasslight.com or Circle 287.

34 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLSPR.indd 34

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 09:34

LEDHighbays

established manufacturers may not be that good

temperature rating is okay in an air-conditioned

 Batwing distribution in 80W and 100W versions

down the road. Certain companies may think

or a cold storage project. Low CRI and nega-

 140°F temperature rating

that LED technology will go in one direction and

tive R9 may be okay in warehouses where color

 100,000+ hour rating

invest that way, while LED development really

rendering is not important. A lower LPW may be

 Competitive pricing

goes in a different direction.

okay in LED high bays that have indirect light-

 5 year standard warranty, which may be

ing, where low glare is important. A warm Kelvin

negotiated up to 10

may be okay in some retail and other applications.

 Warranty backed by 3rd-party insurance policy

On the pricing front, even though in general it has been coming down, I still see some very high price tags on not-that-good of products. On

Right now I have a favorite LED high bay

 Compact size and relatively low weight

decent-sized projects, LED high bays to replace

series, which I use as a reference to compare all

400W MH or HPS should not cost more than

other LED high bays. You can do the same. Fol-

$350, and to replace 1000W MH or HPS, the price

lowing are the specs:

Email me at stan@lightingwizards.com if you

should not be more than $1300.

 80, 100, 130 and 160W versions

need more clues as to the fixture's identity.•

Finally, like most other commercial LED

 DLC and LDL approved.

 Four 80W or 100W pre-assembled into one

fixtures, high bays have to be approved by DLC

fixture array to replace 1000W MH and HPS

Editor's Note: Next issue Stan will delve more

in most of North America or LDL in the Pacific

 130 LPW

into the differences between LED and more

Northwest.

 Color temperatures up to 5000K or higher

traditional high bay sources.

Of course there will be exceptions to these

 80+ CRI

guidelines. For example, even a 104°F max

 An R9 value of 13–23

ELIMINATES THE CAVE EFFECT

ENHANCED OPTICS

DLC-QUALIFIED

The Metalux SkyBar from Eaton's Cooper Lighting

Selected as one of the new products chosen for the

Included in the DesignLights Consortium’s qualified

Division is the first high bay luminaire to offer uplight

Illuminating Engineering Society's 2014 annual Progress

products list, the BayMax high bay pendant from Maxlite

and adjustable optical blades. The luminaire incorporates

Report, as well as being one of SSL's 2014 PIA winners, the

is available in 130-, 160- and 200-watt models to replace

WaveStream LED optical technology to improve light

Phuzion LED High Bay from Holophane, an Acuity Brand,

up to 400-watt metal halide high bays. Fully dimmable, a

quality and distribution. The SkyBar also provides uplight

combines the latest in LED technology with prismatic

discreet optic reflector delivers a high lumen output with

as a standard feature (up to 11%) allowing it to be used in

glass, offering improved performance and reliability for

uniform horizontal and vertical distribution and reduced

more ambiance-sensitive environments, while eliminating

high-bay lighting. With its IP65-rated optics, the durable

glare. The luminaire is housed in a stylized die cast alumi-

the “cave effect” found in traditional high bay solutions.

product is well suited for industrial settings.

num body and comes in charcoal gray or clean white.

 Visit www.cooperindustries.com or Circle 288.

 Visit www.holophane.com or Circle 289.

 Visit www.maxlite.com or Circle 290.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLSPR.indd 35

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 35

12/16/14 09:35

By Stan Walerczyk, Lighting Wizards

Controls or LEDs: What’s the Best Bang for the Buck?

LEDs seem a no-brainer to pair with controls—and they definitely offer benefits—but sometimes LEDs alone can deliver good results

Controls have always been invoked as a key component of “dream”



lighting systems, but typically have been left out of the equation be-

 22 year payback without rebate

cause of cost and complexity. Now solid-state lighting has come along, and it too can be perceived as expensive. So what if you had to choose

$3.60 annual savings

Note the payback is more realistically “infinite” because the sensor likely will not last 22 years.

between the two? I’d say LED wins the day. There are two reasons for

Even if an advanced control system could double the savings, which

this: first is that high-performance LED products are so efficient and

would be $7.60 per year, the cost of the system would be about $160, so

use such little wattage—even at full output—that there is not very

the payback would still be 22 years, again infinite, because the system

much energy for any automatic controls to save; the other is that more

itself would not last that long.

efficient lighting is usually twice more cost effective than controls when it come to saving energy. Breaking down a typical 10’ x 12’

This is not to say that a case can’t be made for combining LEDs and

private office helps put this in perspective:

advanced controls. For example, occupancy sensors, which also control air flow in rooms, may deliver significant cost-effective energy savings.

Specs of a typical private office:

Consider these benefits:

 Contains two 2×4 18-cell parabolic troffers

Each is fitted with three basic-grade fluorescent 32W F32T8s and generic standard ballast factor (BF) ballasts.

 Building time system set at an annual hour of operation at 3500

Benefits of combining advanced controls with LED products:  Signal exact wattage usage  Provide cumulative hours of operation for LED products

Office worker does a fairly good job of manually turning off lights

 Notify that certain lighting fixtures are not working properly

when leaving, so the actual operation is 3000 hours per year.

 Turn on the next hibay for fork lift drivers that motion sensors will

 kWh rate is $0.15

not trigger in time

 Annual lighting consumption is therefore $81

 Improve security

 Assume there is LED task lighting, which will be kept

 Properly bills various tenants in master-metered buildings

 Good size south facing window

 Can serve as an interior GPS

However, with the sun’s intensity and glare, assume the blinds are closed a majority of the time.

 Can optimally dose light intensity and spectrum at different times of the day for various tasks to improve circadian rhythms, alertness, mood, performance, sleep, etc.

LED Alternative Although the products noted may qualify for rebates, which would

Demand response was not included in this analysis because address-

improve financial return, rebates are not included in this example.

able HVAC units are so much better for that than LED lighting prod-

 Each troffer in the above example can be retrofitted with a fixed

ucts. For example, one addressable 5-ton HVAC unit at 1kW/ton can

20W 5000K troffer kit.

shed the equivalent energy consumption of 100,000 sq. ft. of lighting

Energy consumption: 20W

Cost: $130 parts, labor and disposal

 Room specs

(about 1250 troffers). A 1-ton HVAC unit handles about 400 sq. ft.

Contrary to the case spelled out above, California’s new Title 24 revi-

Energy consumption: 40W

sion changes the equation for work in that state. It mandates dimming

Annual electrical consumption: $18

and daylight harvesting where applicable; it also requires demand re-

Annual electrical savings: $63

sponse and bi-level lighting in many applications at maximum allowed

Total cost: $260 (parts, labor and disposal)

watts per sq. ft., at specific lower lighting power densities. The good

Payback: 4.1 years (without rebate)

news is that those requirements can usually be avoided by employing fixed output LEDs, as many cans achieve those low power densities.

Let’s look at adding an inexpensive wall-mounted occupancy sensor.  $80 installed cost

While you might not work in California, take note, because other en-

 20% estimated additional energy savings

ergy codes and states may copy California’s model.•

36 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLWPS.indd 36

www.architecturalssl.com

12/15/14 01:47

By Kevin Willmorth, editor

LED System Lifetime—Part One Accurate system lifetime is a difficult thing to gauge and requires considerations beyond a formulaic approach to lumen depreciation

Editor’s Note: This is installment one of a three-part series exploring

for a population of 10 samples, and 7× for populations of 20 samples.

the factors that should better define the useful service life of solid-state

This means that the maximum LXX projection for 10 samples tested

lighting product.

for 6,000 hours is stated as “<36,000 hours LXX,” even if the projected lumen depreciation indicates the product remains above the selected

While the common service life for LEDs is typically stated as 50,000

L70 or L50 value.

(L50) hours or 70,000 hours (L70)—these universal values are founded

To produce a value of 50,000 hours, a sample population of 10 pcs

on early practices and assumptions that have been displaced by updat-

will have had to complete 8,333 actual test hours. For 70,000-hour pro-

ed procedures. L70, for the record, references the point where a fixture

jections, that same sample population will need to complete no fewer

only delivers 70% of its intitial lumen output; L50 represents the point

than 11,666 hours of testing (1.24 years continuous).

when a fixture reaches 50% of that intitial lumen output.

That said, experience with LEDs has also provided insight into

Understanding the Numbers

system reliability factors, including the failure mode of power supplies

Accurate lumen depreciation values using proper procedures, founded

and/or driver electronics employed to operate them, that allows for a

on legitimate LM-80 test procedures, with product in-situ test infor-

better understanding of these numbers. Regardless, insight into the

mation applied, using TM-21 calculations will not result in a uniform

service life expectancy of solid-state products begins with fully under-

“50,000 hours L70,” as it is unlikely the test sample population was

standing the most widely used—and frequently misunderstood— rating

tested for a duration of either 8,333 or 11,666 hours with the resulting

system employed today: lumen depreciation.

lumen depreciation values calculations aligned to that specific number.

Using the current procedure, the expected lumen depreciation value

Part One: Lumen Depreciated Service Life

will be something less tidy, either representing a value of “<36,000

The current procedure for defining service life based on LED lumen

hours L70,” or “<42,000 hours L70,” indicating the sample size and test

depreciation is founded on three objective components. The first is LM-

duration was insufficient to indicate a greater value—or a number such

80 lumen depreciation test data completed on the LED package utilized

as “68,500 hours L70 @ 25°C,” indicating the lumen depreciation of the

in the luminaire. Without LM-80 data, any issuance of service life is

product at the ambient temperature assumed and included in the in-

nothing more than a guess, and should be discarded as such.

situ calculation.

The second component is in-situ temperature testing of the LED

The issue, however, is that mature LEDs, with LM-80 test data gath-

within the luminaire itself, preferably as part of its LM-79 testing, at

ered over many years, may reveal rated lumen depreciation values

the anticipated environmental operating temperature.

that may be as high as 100,000 hours or more, as there is no maximum

Finally, the third component for determining service life is the ap-

total projection time limit.

plication of the IES TM-21-11 calculation procedure, which provides a reasonable estimate of projected lumen depreciated service life

An Incomplete Picture

beyond the raw test data set.

While lumen depreciation of the LED within the luminaire’s in-situ operating temperature is a useful value, it unfortunately provides an

How it Works

incomplete picture of expected product life. What is not represented is

The LM-80 lumen depreciation profile over the time of the source test

the reliability of the electronic component, such as drivers and power

is entered at each of the temperatures involved; this includes the stan-

supplies, the degradation of the optical components, and the impact of

dard 55°C, 85°C, and one additional temperature selected by the LED

operation at higher or lower temperatures.

producer, often 105°C. Next, temperature data from the LEDs operated

Strategies for addressing these issues will be covered in the second

within the luminaire is used to align the in-situ operation of the LEDs

part of the series, where we’ll examine other factors that impact useful

to the LM-80 data. Finally, the TM-21 calculations produce estimated

product life in actual application.

projected lumen loss, within limits.

Recognizing that the projection of an LED’s lumen loss beyond test

We’ll conclude the series by pulling these variables together with a review of other luminaire depreciation factors used in design strategies

results involves uncertainty as the projection period is extended,

to ensure proper illumination is maintained over the life of the lighting

TM-21 limits all results to no more than 6× the actual test results

system as a whole.•

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLWPS.indd 37

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 37

12/15/14 01:47

Product Introductions

Suspended Illumination The Edge Lighting Cirrus Channel Suspension R1 fixture features a fully-adjustable mounting system, with a 1-in. lens that enables a 100-degree beam spread. The streamlined design creates a minimalist architectural feature (with six finish options) that’s also a high performer—its color rendering index is an impressive 95.  Visit www.edgelighting.com or Circle 291.

“The rate of change in LED technology is in line with the roadmaps that have been presented over the last couple of years. There are no surprises there.”

1 Bounce-Back The optical system of HessAmerica’s Faro creates indirect exterior area lighting with a G-0 rating under the Backlight, Uplight and Glare classification system. Additionally, its Type V square distribution pattern enables greater pole spacing—meaning fewer required fixtures—than some other designs.  Visit www.hessamerica.com or Circle 292.

2 Intelligent by Design The Winona Lighting Poldi pendant luminaire is part of the new Forms line. All feature the patentpending Form Analogous Optical System, each designed for specific shapes and light sources to distribute illumination where it’s most beneficial.  Visit www.winonalighting.com or Circle 293.

3 Which Way to the Bar? A collection of CSL LED waymarkers was initially intended as a one-off for Lightfair, but popular appeal has turned this signage system into a production item. The laser-cut aluminum front plate and acrylic diffusers can be ordered in a range of colors and textures.  Visit www.csllighting.com or Circle 294.

38 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLADV.indd 38

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 10:01

Product Introductions

Not Your Grandmother’s Floor Lamp Suggesting, perhaps, a game of pick-up sticks suspended in mid-air, the Foscarini Tuareg floor lamp (in either black or orange) is a construction of aluminum tubes—three of which feature embedded LED light sources. The lamp ends can be operated independently with a touch dimmer and rotated up to 350 degrees.  Visit www.foscarini.com or Circle 295.

DOE projects that LED lighting will grow to 84% (in lumen hours sold) of the market by 2030, which includes an interim projection of 48% by 2020.

4 Pack Some Back-Up Power IOTA Engineering’s ILB-SL-CP Series provides emergency battery back-up power for LED applications. Battery packs deliver constant wattage to the LED array over the required runtime, and their self-sensing output adjusts forward voltage.  Visit www.iotaengineering.com or Circle 296.

5 Fall Into the Matrix The Matrix Platform of LUXEON XF (flexible) and XR (rigid) turnkey LED solutions from Philips Lumileds brings together components, optics and LEDs on a wide selection of board types. The product line is intended to enable fixture makers to produce modular designs for a faster time-to-market.  Visit www.philips.com or Circle 297.

6 An Up-and-Down Situation Atria pendant luminaires from LaMar Lighting combine maximum uplight with controlled downlight to offer balanced illumination in single units or continuous rows. The fixtures are available in 4- and 8-ft. lengths, with several baffle trim options as well as a flush, frosted acrylic lens.  Visit www.lamarlighting.com or Circle 298.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLADV.indd 39

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 39

12/16/14 10:02

Product Introductions

Strip Lighting for All Elements A clear polycarbonate cover provides added protection to the sealed enclosure of Hi-Flux LED Slim Strip Lights from LEDtronics. The hardy fixtures are available in lengths ranging from 6- to 48-in., and three color temperatures for use in applications ranging from passenger interiors to retail refrigerated displays.  Visit www.ledtronics.com or Circle 299.

A key technology question that remains relates to the amount of intelligence that will be built into each LED luminaire and how much intelligence is actually required.

1 Winning at Slots The Stream slot-illumination system from Prudential Lighting recedes into a ceiling space in a half-moon design that requires no lens. Instead, flange-mounted LEDs illuminate a flexible reflector to create a seamless stream of indirect light.  Visit www.prulite.com or Circle 300.

“A Fine LED Module ” The new and improved Acrich2 10-watt AC LED module from Seoul Semiconductor boasts a best in class efficacy of 140lm/W at 5000K CCT. Power factor is over 0.95 and THD is lower than 15%.

The Acrich2 10W (available in 120V and 220V) simplifies your design, reduces cost and accelerates time to market.

It is driven directly of AC mains (120V) and is a UL certified module.

The Acrich2 10W is the perfect solution for retrofit lamps, downlights, flush mounts, and other indoor area lighting applications. Available in 70, 80 and 90 minimum CRI options, with color temperatures ranging from 5000K to 2700K CCT.

2 A Marquis Attraction The 2.5W Wet-Listed Marquee LED lamp by MaxLite is a direct replacement for incandescent and cold-cathode fluorescents.The lamps also switch on instantly to full brightness and provide omnidirectional illumination.  Visit www.maxlite.com or Circle 301.

3 Mid-Power Alternative The Cree XLamp MH-B LED can operate at higher temperatures than mid-power alternatives, with no reduction in rated lifespans—this can mean a 60% reduction in heat-sink size and cost. Producing up to 830 lumens each, the LEDs can be combined in arrays for higher-lumen high-bay, area and downlight applications.  Visit www.cree.com or Circle 302.

www.seoulsemicon.com 40 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLADV.indd 40

Circle 10

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 10:02

Product Introductions

An OLED for the Rest of Us The surprisingly affordable Aerelight task fixture from Aerelight features OLED-based illumination in a streamlined design that emphasizes the flat nature of its advanced light source. With a list price below $300, the fixture also is significantly easier on the wallet than other current OLED offerings.

Capacitive touch controls allow for easy dimming, and a wireless charging pad can help recharge compatible small electronic devices.  Visit www.aerelight.com or Circle 303.

Color changing controlled by a smartphone will bring a whole new age of personal controllability to the market at reasonable cost.

1 Designed for the Great Outdoors The FLL and FXL high-lumen-output exterior floodlights from Hubbell Outdoor Lighting feature vented housings to isolate modules from their drivers to maximize life and performance. Output for the FLL reaches 8054 lumens, while the FXL tops out at over 16,000 lumens.  Visit www.hubbelloutdoor.com or Circle 304.

2 New Tape Options New Nora Lighting tape light adds versatility to this low-profile lighting option. White Band tape is designed for installation on white and light-toned surfaces; Side-Lit Tape projects illumination toward the side—when it’s mounted horizontally under a cabinet, it directs light toward a backsplash.  Visit www.noralighting.com or Circle 305.

3 Low-Energy, High-Design The 2nd Ave. Lighting Jayne 6-Tier pendant makes a statement in high-ceilinged spaces. Its caramel onyx acrylic drums are paired with new mica acrylic bottom diffusers and dark-roast-finished hardware for a unique look.  Visit www.2ndave.com or Circle 306.

www.architecturalssl.com

1412SSLADV.indd 41

ARCHITECTURAL SSL • 12.14 • 41

12/16/14 10:02

ADV§RTIS§R

∆§BSIT§

CIRCL§ ∑UµB§R

PAg§ ∑UµB§R

AMERLUX

www.amerlux.com

Circle 09

IBC

BODINE / PHILIPS

www.bodine.com

Circle 06

11

INTENSE LIGHTING

www.intenselighting.com

Circle 03

04

KIM LIGHTING / HUBBELL

www.kimlighting.com

Circle 10

BC

LITECONTROL

www.litecontrol.com

Circle 02

01

NEW BUILDINGS INSTITUTE

www.gettingtozeroforum.org

—

33

NORA LIGHTING

www.noralighting.com

Circle 07

30

SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR

www.seoulsemicon.com

Circle 08

40

STERNBERG VINTAGE LIGHTING

www.sternberglighting.com

Circle 05

09

TERRALUX

www.terralux.com

Circle 04

06

THE CONTINUING ARCHITECT

www.thecontinuingarchitect.com

—

43

VISIONAIRE LIGHTING

www.visionairelighting.com

Circle 01

IFC

NOTE FROM KEVIN WILLMORTH: In our May Market Setting article “The Dark Side of Blue Light,” we explored the various concerns raised over blue light content in LED lighting. The intent was to present an objective review of the various opinions floating about the industry. This has been misinterpreted by some as a statement of alarm. Apparently, I failed to communicate my intent. My bad.

To be specific, there are four issues involved in this discussion; First, the physiological risk of exposure— which has been proven to be minimal to non-existent.

Second, the potential impact of blue light from LEDs on melatonin/circadian activity, which may exist under certain conditions. Some are of the opinion that this is a positive effect—including a display at Frankfurt Light+Build demonstrating this use specifically by Philips Lighting.

I am not personally convinced that doping a lighting system with blue light to keep occupants awake is any more ethical than putting amphetamines in our drinking water, but that’s just my opinion. Further, there is

42 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLIDX.indd 42

the discussion of S/P ratios and the effect of higher CCT sources on visual acuity, which is very interesting, but as it is not actually a blue light issue at all, it was not addressed.

Lastly, the question of whether blue light content from LEDs is any different than that of sunlight. If we evolved under the sun, then why would blue light now be an issue? Simple answer—it isn’t. However, before I go to bed at night, the last thing I expect to be exposed to is a dose of bright direct sunlight. Thus, for those concerned with blue light and its impact on melatonin levels, there may be a case for choosing lighting with lower blue light content, such as high CRI, low CCT sources at low light levels—which could apply to residential street lights (per IDSA recommendation) or bedroom table lamps. As you can see, this is not a discussion that will end any time soon. So, if we sparked your interest, Ian Ashdown has posted an article on the topic under AGI’s ‘All Things Lighting’ blog. I’ve presented a summation of personal exploration of the topic at www.lumeniqussl.com, and the DOE has issued a new fact sheet on the topic on the EERE web site. Keep reading and discussing, and don’t be shy about letting us know what you think!•

NEXT ISSUE: The presentation of the 5th annual SSL Product Innovation Award winners, as well as our annual state of SSL manufacturing outook.

CORRECTIONS: In the Topics at the Front story which ran in the Oct. issue on p. 22, in the Agua Luces project item, the luminaire and supplier, Illuminarc by Chauvet Professional was misidentified. In the Advances section on p. 42, the incorrect text ran with the REV recessed downlight

by Meteor Lighting. Both items will run next issue.

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 09:40

THE MOST INTERESTING AIA APPROVED COURSES ON THE WEB. THECONTINUINGARCHITECT.

Better Content Better Learning

TheContinuingArchitect.com 9777 TCA Ad_Zurn.indd 1

1412SSL_FPads.indd 43

12/13/13 5:31 PM

12/15/14 01:59

Big-Hit Innovations Must Deliver It’s simple to evaluate whether SSL has “won” the innovation war: is it delivering more joy than grief?

A solid, if somewhat nostalgic, assessment follows.

saw this coming, and knew my skills as a devel-

deliver lower lighting quality, they struggle for

oper of beautiful hand-hewn presentations that

adoption. We know that when the price of an

dazzled, but took days to create… were short.

innovation makes little economic sense, it fails.

While I miss the art involved, the quality and

When adopting a technology stresses the market

cost of design today is superior. We’ve gained a

in ways it resists adapting to, the technology will

great deal, and lost little in the process.

find acceptance sluggish. The qualities many find

Since moving from graphics into lighting in

attractive with incandescent lighting has not yet

1981, my universe in the design industry has ex-

been duplicated by LED technology, leaving its

For everything innovation brings us, something

perienced dozens of transformations. Forget the

only positive delivery saving of energy.

is taken in payment. Successful changes bring

discussion of energy efficiency for a moment—

Many early LED products claiming to be in-

more than they take, making them desirable.

the underlying business of design has changed.

novative barely delivered equivalent quality to

Photography brought real images to the masses,

Dual-screen displays, lighting simulations, 3D

sources few would consider good examples of

replacing time consuming inked and painted

software, communication between customers

quality to start with. Again, not a big hit. Con-

art. While it took value away from the illustra-

via e-mail, as well as drop boxes in the cloud,

versely, over the last few years, we are seeing

tive arts, it delivered more in terms of accuracy

have replaced paper communications. Further,

many solid-state products deliver superior

and ease of use. The electric lamp took away the

the work of making things has changed. Making

quality, ease of use, unique forms, excellent optical

romance of fire and light, but delivered unprec-

models prior to 1990 involved a lot of hand-work.

performance and, yes, unprecedented energy

edented brightness and less risk of fatal fires.

Architectural models were concoctions of wood,

savings. The end result is an exciting period of

The best innovations deliver new value unprec-

foam core and glue. Today, full-featured models

expansion, where solid-state lighting is begin-

edented, at a cost that is accepted by a broader

are printed on 3D printers in plastic, paper,

ning to finally deliver more than it asks in return.

audience than its precursor technology.

wood, and now metal. I have two 3D printers. I

This is starting to look like a true innovation

My first experience facing innovation

cannot imagine not having one on hand. Being

cycle. Regardless of my trepidation over retrofit

changed my career path. In 1978, as the head of

able to go from an idea to a usable, full-scale

bulbs and short-cut solutions, experience with

a graphics shop, we purchased a Compugraphic

part-in-hand, inside a few hours, is a powerful

the latest solid-state products are giving me the

EditWriter 7500, a computerized type-setting

advancement—and highly addictive. Now, we

same feeling I had when we bought that Com-

machine. It enabled creation of paragraphs of

use printed parts as functional components—

pugraphic EditWriter 7500 back in 1978. This is

text, pre-aligned and justified, ready to be placed

digital production realized—no tooling—made

a very good thing, as are all big-hit innovations,

as a block—three years before the IBM or Apple

on demand. I’m not sure what I lost here, so this

like that machine back then. Big-hit innovations

PC. Before that, creating a presentation for over-

innovation is a big win to me.

are good now, and lead to even better ones down

head projection or publication required manual

Lighting is in a state of transformation caused

the road.•

typesetting with heavy use of surgical knives (an

by solid-state innovation. The question of

artist-chic preference over the X-Acto) and time.

whether it is a big one, or struggling small one,

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The introduction of MS PowerPoint in 1990 made

is answered by whether it is delivering more

Kevin Willmorth, a lighting expert and fixture designer,

it possible for anyone to create a presentation in

than it takes away. We already know from past

has been instrumental in helping create a vision and

hours that used to take me days to accomplish. I

experience that when energy-saving innovations

mission statement for Architectural SSL.

44 • 12.14 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL

1412SSLOBS.indd 44

www.architecturalssl.com

12/16/14 10:14

The Moon doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t own the night.

We do.

At Amerlux, we push the boundaries of exterior lighting solutions and innovation, from architectural and landscape lighting to sophisticated, integrated luminaire, security, and data collecting systems.

Find out how we light up the night at amerlux.com/exterior.

Passion. Power. Performance.

Circle 09

3103_Exterior_ArchitectSSL_Oct_FINAL.indd 1 1412SSL_FPads.indd 98

9/11/14 PM 12/15/144:47 01:59

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina This is The Next Revolution in LED Outdoor Lighting.

This is Kim Lighting.

www.kimlighting.com/products/altitude Circle 10

kim_Altitude_SSL_1013.indd 1412SSL_FPads.indd 99 1

9/24/14 12/15/142:12 01:59 PM