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Powel Elementary School and Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS) Drexel University Campus, West Philadelphia Architect: Rogers Partners Lighting Design: The Lighting Practice Photos: Albert Vecerka/Esto (unless noted) Text: Jana Madsen
Lighting Designer Insight: Michael Barber joined The Lighting Practice in 1995 and became a principal of the firm in 2004. He has designed lighting for education, healthcare, corporate and retail environments. Barber acts as the firm’s sustainable design coordinator, working with the staff to maximize their design vision while minimizing the impact to the environment. He is an Associate Member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and participates on the Energy and Sustainability committee. He served for over a decade as an assistant adjunct professor in the Architecture Department at Drexel University and has lectured in the Master of Science in Sustainable Design program at Philadelphia University. Lighting design priorities remain
Philadelphia, explains: “You don’t
achieving the vision of their clients.
the same despite how schools and
need to specify tunable light
The recent Powel SLAMS K-8 school
learning have changed.
sources, color changing fixtures,
project is just one example.
or technologically cumbersome
Opened in 2021, the Powel
Academic lighting design remains
products. I try to keep it simple.
SLAMS school co-located Powel
rooted in practicality. That’s not to
It’s the union of light and architec-
Elementary School and Science
say that the spaces are stagnant
ture, with a focus on the program.
Leadership Academy Middle School
or that the challenges of lighting
At the end of the day, it’s got to be
(SLAMS) on the Drexel University
them aren’t real. It’s simply a mat-
functional.”
campus. The 87,000 sq. ft., two-
ter of balancing form and function,
Michael A. Barber, IALD, LEED AP BD+C
10 • 05.22 • ARCHITECTURAL SSL
2205SSLFEA03.indd 10
The Lighting Practice has
story building in West Philadelphia
along with practicality and tech-
built a portfolio of extraordinary
nology, all while making program-
projects based on the fundamen-
is now open to 720 students.
ming the priority. Michael Barber,
tal principles of careful listening,
the lighting design at Powel
Principal, The Lighting Practice,
collaboration, and dedication to
SLAMS to the function of school
Barber’s team carefully tailored
www.architecturalssl.com
5/3/22 4:38 PM
