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 the University of Texas at Dallas, Engineering & Computer Science West, in Richardson, TX. Lighting control design by SmithGroup, Inc. Lighting controls: nLight system by Acuity Controls.
In the fast- growing and advancing area of lighting controls, systems are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. For the UT Dallas Engineering & Computer Science West building, the university client desired as intuitive and simple of a control scheme as possible. The challenge for the design team was to deliver a high- performing system that delivered user- comfort, energy savings, and flexibility within the constraints of basic control components.
This exterior of the four- story, 206,000 SF academic and research building is largely comprised of glass. A combination of passive design strategies, calibrated shading elements, and electrochromic glazing were utilized to reduce solar heat gain and maximize indirect daylighting. In conjunction, photocells read light levels and auto dim lights to reduce energy usage during daytime hours.
Simple lighting relay panels control site lighting at the ground level and relay panels are further integrated with the distributed controls to synchronize upper- level accent lighting and in interior public spaces. The interior lighting approach focused on multilevel lighting with dimming schemes and local override control for comfort and energy savings. Lighting and AV system integration provides flexibility and preset schemes in classrooms. The system has the dimming capability to fine tune both interior and exterior lighting to create a balanced and seamless transition from space to space while maintaining adequate light level for security. This system is managed by a single user interface and is scalable for future expansion and the distributed control offers optimal flexibility. Lighting controls support the lighting intent which in turn highlights the color- coded MEP systems allowing the architecture to be used as a teaching tool for engineering. The project was designed to achieve the client’s goal of LEED Gold with 0.76 watts/SF interior LPD and exterior LPD 62% below ASHRAE.
The building achieved exterior LPD 62% below ASHRAE utilizing state of the art control strategies, daylighting controls, dynamic glass, and shading elements.
The control system allows for fine-tune adjustment of exterior lighting to balance luminance ratios between interior and exterior composition.
Multilayer control schemes utilizing natural daylighting, photocell controls, and occupancy sensors to provide energy savings and visual comfort.
Multilevel lighting and dimming schemes allowed for functionality, visual comfort, and improved student performance.
Lighting and AV system integration provides flexibility in the 300-seat classroom. Preset zones allow for intuitive use of the space.
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