Lighting The Path To Artistic Inspiration

on time of day, such as cool during business luncheons to warm during evening dining.

In HCL, the greatest value of dimming and color control may be found in circadian lighting design. Scientific research has shown that specialized photoreceptor cells in the eye are connected to circadian functions, and has identified spectra, quantity of light, duration, and timing capable of producing circadian stimuli. From this understanding came actionable approaches to design, with good circadian design typically focused on: • Spectral distribution, or saturation of specific wavelengths in the visible-light spectrum that we typically associate with the light being warm or cool in appearance. Circadian regulation is most responsive to short-wavelength light (460 nm), which is in the blue range of the visible spectrum). • Spatial distribution, which defines where the light emitted by a luminaire falls in the observer’s field of view (FoV). For circadian response we want a sufficient quantity of light on the upper quadrant of the environment for sufficient periods of time during the day. Equate this to the outdoors, where the sky occupies the top section of our FoV. This requires vertical illumination (uplighting walls and ceilings, or workstation luminaires), in addition to the standard work-surface-targeted lighting devices. • Temporal distribution, which simply means the right light (in terms of CCT and intensity) at the right time of day. A circadian lighting solution ideally exposes users to high-intensity, short-wavelength-heavy light in the morning, which can taper to lower light levels of long-wavelength light in the afternoon.

Daylight is ideal, though it is not always available, and the electric-lighting system can work with daylight for an optimal solution.

Finally, this brings us to standards. Best practices for circadian lighting are still emerging, such as International Standard DIS 026/E:2018, which is being considered by the International Commission on Illumination, Vienna, Austria. This standard would define spectral sensitivity, quantities, and metrics to describe light radiation for its ability to stimulate each of the five types of photoreceptor cells in the eye that produce non-visual effects in humans.

One standard that is oriented toward application and actionable today is WELL, a rating system focused on evaluating how effectively a building supports human health and wellness. Launched in 2013 by the International WELL Building Institute, New York, this rating system awards points for various building features and practices. This includes lighting, notably circadian lighting, visual comfort, glare control, color quality, automatic dimming and shading, and daylighting.

For circadian lighting, WELL establishes four types of environments and requires a minimum level of light capable of producing circadian stimulation. Measured at the eye level, this light is measured as equivalent melanopic lux, an alternative metric to footcandles/lux that is weighted to non-visual photoreceptors.

A key enabler for HCL strategies is lighting controls, a segment of the lighting industry undergoing its own digital revolution. These are the sensors, controllers, apps and programs, and communication technologies that enable manual and automatic control of light and color output.

Because LED lamps and luminaires are already electronically controlled, they are inherently compatible with intelligent systems capable of sophisticated control and data collection from sensors. Using this data, operators can optimize energy cost savings while gaining valuable insights into user lighting preferences and satisfaction.

According to the “SSL-erate” European Union project, exposure to light similar to natural daylight at the right time can help improve the mood of residents in retirement and care homes as well as patients in hospitals, helping prevent depression and reducing anxiety in patients in the early stages of dementia. REALIZING HCL What does this mean for designers? Rather than a fi xed utility used to produce the commodity of light, lighting has become an asset offering far greater value. There is no single lighting solution that is ideal for every client

and application. What leading commercial architects and designers are doing is looking beyond traditional design thinking and changing the conversation they’re having with their clients.

This requires education that, in turn, will fuel a different conversation about lighting—not one limited to light levels and watts, but one that incorporates all of lighting’s current possibilities and best practices. From color tuning and dimming, to more effective ways to light spaces, to data collection, today’s lighting technology, application, and thinking has taken the category far beyond its static traditions, with more value on the table than simple vision. CA

Alberto Pierotti is head of R&D and Smart, USC at LEDVANCE, Beverly, MA, makers of Sylvania general lighting products in the U. S. and Canada. He is leveraging the company’s century of expertise in light to chart the path into the intelligent, distributed-lighting systems of the future. For more than 20 yr., Pierotti has been involved in every step of the product-development process in fields spanning medical devices to capital equipment, and from wearable consumer electronics to architectural lighting.

Want more information from LEDVANCE, Beverly, MA (ledvance.com)? Circle 7 on the Reader Service Card. Sources listed below are linked at commercialarchitecturmagazine.com/1904ledvance .

LightingEurope, lightingeurope.org International Association of Lighting Designers, iald.org A.T. Kearney, atkearney.com International Commission on Illumination, cie.co.at International WELL Building Institute, wellcertifi ed.co

Hubbell Lighting’s interior and exterior brands come together to inspire the next generation of artists.

Largent from Architectural Area Lighting illuminates the building’s iconic front entrance. The luminaire’s geometric design and illumination capabilities ensure safety, project a sense of scale, and align with the design of the façade.

Lighting was an integral part of the plan when the District of Columbia Public Schools embarked on a multi-million dollar renovation of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown. The project to modernize the facility and expand it from 171,000 to 271,000 sq. ft. included the renovation and addition of classrooms, dance and art studios, common areas, a media center, and a 300-seat performance hall. The school occupies a building originally built in 1898 as Western High School.

While traditional academics are offered, the primary focus is the arts. Majors in dance, literary media and communications, museum studies, instrumental or vocal music, theatre, technical design and production, and visual arts are offered.

Architects Cox Graae + Spack, Washington, wanted to retain the historic nature of the unique facility. MCLA Architectural Lighting Design, Washington, was the lead on selecting the lighting used on the project, in collaboration with manufacturer’s representative One Source Associates, Columbia, MD. To support the architects’ vision, the lighting design deviates from the standard educational template to address the needs of the school’s students.

The lighting design called for products that would support the

Above. The 6-in. LightFrame (LC6) downlight from Prescolite illuminates the entire Ellington Gallery. The glare-free optical control of the luminaire supports the preference for a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that doesn’t bring unwanted attention to the light source. The Ellington Gallery serves as the main gathering area for receptions, book signings, and art exhibitions.

Below. In the 300-seat performance hall, the Megalum MC10LED cylinder from Prescolite was selected to strategically space the fi xtures while ensuring proper footcandles were achieved. The Megalum features a 2DM Lutron 2-wire, 1% dimming option, which is suited for this performance area where the goal is for the lighting to dim when needed and contribute to the drama for recitals and readings.

Above. LCAT from Columbia Lighting adds quiet elegance to the 2D and 3D Art Studios with simplicity and modularity in a popular form. The visual comfort of students and faculty was a driving factor in the selection of the luminaire for these studios. The acrylic center lens features linear prisms for performance without LED pixelation, contributing to the visual comfort of the room without sacrifi ce to quality of light.

Below. In the vocal studio, theatre/drama studio, media center, and math classrooms the 65L-P Stance from Litecontrol provides a crisp visual texture where a strategic mix of uplight and downlight is needed. The Design Lights Consortium (DLC), Medford, MA, qualifi ed product contributed to energy- code compliance.

intended experience of the space, meet precise light levels in certain areas, perform as advertised, and contribute to building-code compliance. All the products selected are brands of Hubbell Lighting Inc., Greenville, SC. The collective product suite complements the architects’ desired aesthetic with a selection of luminaires that contribute to the visual comfort of each area and minimize distraction from the design.

The end result is a building that stands as a tribute to the great musician Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, and combines an historic past with a celebration of what is to come. CA

Want more information from Hubbell Lighting (hubbelllighting.com)? Circle 2 on the Reader Service Card.

Sources listed below are linked at commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/

1904hubbell.

Cox, Graae + Spack Architects, cgsarchitects.com MCLA Architectural Lighting Design, mcla-inc.com One Source Associates, onesa.com Design Lights Consortium, designlights.org