The challenge of this lobby space was to illuminate
onyx-clad walls, revealing the natural color and beauty of the stone, while
providing an energy efficient and maintenance-friendly solution. The onyx was relatively opaque, requiring an
intense source and high lumen level to backlight it brightly and evenly. A second hurdle was creating a similar light
level at both the double height walls and the shorter header piece around the
escalators.
The lighting design solution utilized line-voltage self
ballasted 25w ceramic metal halide lamps, which are color stabilized to allow
the stone’s natural color to show through. Mockups were performed to determine
the lamp spacing within the linear luminare and to confirm the consistency, output,
and visual comfort of the light.
Within an 8” cavity behind the stone, one row of fixtures was
placed at the top of the wall with the lamps facing down, and one row at the bottom
with the lamps facing up. A single row
of fixtures was placed at the bottom of the short header panel. Readily available fixtures kept this extruded
socket strip solution within budget. With the energy efficient lamp we achieved
high light levels while keeping the stone cool to pedestrians touch.
Ambient lighting was supplemented by metal halide downlights
and a fluorescent cove. These elements
provided a clean palate of circulation lighting and contrasted the onyx
wall. The result is a magnificent
glowing entry space that is easily maintained and energy efficient. The lobby
is memorable and uplifting from common corporate spaces.
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