The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications.
This month, we will explore an innovative installation of lighting controls at MC Dean’s new corporate headquarters, fitted out with an in-house design. Lighting controls by Enlighted Inc., Legrand’s Wattstopper (DLM), and Lumenpulse (DMX controls).
M.C. Dean relocated its corporate headquarters in 2017 to Tysons, Virginia and occupies five newly renovated floors of an existing 14-story, 1970s-era commercial tower. The design team faced coordination challenges from the onset due to the facility’s existing infrastructure but remained committed to the client’s requests to achieve LEED Gold.
The lighting design concept centered around energy efficiencies to meet LEED Gold and full compliance with the Vitruvian principles which guided the overall architectural design (i.e., function, durability, and beauty.) Every aspect of the design had to be purposeful, and each fixture placement was considered within the context of all surrounding structures and systems.
Lighting controls were essential to the energy-efficient design, which implemented stringent control requirements, including:
-Integrated lighting control sensors in majority of installed luminaires
-Light level tuning in luminaires
-All non-security luminaires dark after-hours
-Data collecting lighting controls
Using all LED luminaries and smart controls solution strike a fresh balance of classic design and complex integration appropriate for the architectural environment. Straight lines and purposeful placements lend beauty to an open ceiling design that eliminated exposed conduit. With 360 degrees of windows on each floor, daylight harvesting sensors automatically adjust fixture lighting levels when natural light is meeting occupants’ requirements.
The design focused on LEED Gold requirements, and the actual occupied facility performance demonstrates these energy efficiencies. The lighting design has reduced power consumption from 41% of the project’s documented baseline requirement and up to an additional 40% per luminaire through light level tuning. The design covers 92% of the office with daylight responsive controls, and nearly 95% of that space includes occupancy controls. The design accommodates the end user, balancing natural and fixture light in open areas and offering individual lighting controls in all enclosed spaces, where users can set lighting levels for their unique requirements.
Linear pendants guide guests to the front desk surrounded by decorative pendants while a bright testing space bathes the binary inscription of a famous quotation:
Color shifting, DMX controlled LEDs gently pulsate in the elevator lobbies while linear pendants integrated with emergency controls ushers occupants to the conference rooms nearby.
The coffee/copy station luminares connect meeting rooms with parallel lines. The ultra shallow 2″ corridor downlights overcame requirements for ceiling heights with existing mechanical ductwork.
The Boardroom’s luminaires adjust to an abundance of daylight and, similar to 95% of the projects’ luminaires, communicate to battery operated wall control switches wirelessly.
Custom integration with the client’s conveyance system allowed the removal of electrical conduit from the open ceiling design. These luminaires provide individual light level customization.
Multiple drivers and integrated sensors populate luminaires over 4ft in length allowing discrete control for maximum daylight harvesting in multiple areas such as open offices.
Results from clients’ employee survey selected the transparent private office pendant luminaire with integral sensor control. After-hours corridor lighting turns off unless motion is detected.
To identify precious tenant space utilization, the lighting control system highlights empty or occupied areas of the building over a selected period of time.
Conference room luminaires are set to reduced maximum light output as the default setting. Occupants may select the lighting levels through preset scene wall control.
All luminaires with integrated control sensors read occupancy, daylight, temperature, and meter energy usage. The lighting control system monitors and reports luminaire power failures.
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