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 explore a dynamic lighting and controls installation at Arup’s offices in Los Angeles. Lighting and control design by Arup. Photography by Bruce Damonte. Lighting and controls by Acuity (nLight digital networked wired controls, Fresco DMX controls for RGBW/RGBA luminaires, and tunable-white luminaires with eldoLED dual drivers) and Lutron Electronics (Ketra full-spectrum wireless Bluetooth beacon-enabled track lighting).
This 66,000-sq.ft. office is an immersive living laboratory that speaks to the dynamic nature of how we live and work. The firm’s core values, promoting people-centered design and inclusivity in the workplace, were key drivers for the project.
The lighting controls were instrumental in providing the highest level of user interaction and achieving the desired inclusivity goals for the project. Creating colorful and dynamic visual effects, as well as enabling the reduction of energy consumption and operation costs over time, were just a few of the benefits realized by the client. The architectural lighting for the project is built on an extensive network of lighting control protocols–digitally addressable, 0-10V, DMX and Bluetooth–enabling maximum flexibility.
All the open workstation area luminaires are individually addressable through a CAT-5 Ethernet connection and include multiple dual-channel LED drivers, providing separate control for both color temperature and intensity of light throughout the day. This lighting controls solution enabled lighting designers to qualitatively balance and modulate the spectral distribution and intensity of the electric lighting sources with daylight, working to align more closely with employee wellbeing.
In key communal areas, such as the lobby and lounge, DMX control is utilized to control various color-changing luminaires that are integrated into the architectural design, adding a feel of wonder and enjoyment in key spaces. Various decorative luminaires in these areas are provided with full spectrum Bluetooth beacon enabled A-lamps and their control is integrated into the DMX User Interface through a carefully strategized network of contact closure relays–allowing the end user to control everything from a single software application.
High-end trim, full-range dimming, and local user control contribute to extensive energy efficiency measures realized for the project, as part of the targeted LEED V4 achievement.

The 3-level fitout in downtown Los Angeles interacts with the urban landscape below through
dynamic DMX-controlled color changing luminaires.

Lighting in common areas mirrors the varying spectral quality of Southern California sunsets through the use of DMX controlled color changing LEDs.

RGBW spotlights controlled by DMX and integrated into each custom designed reinforced concrete stair tread add visual depth from both interior and exterior views.

Tunable white luminaires are equipped with dual channel LED drivers, providing separate control of both color temperature and intensity. Shown here at 5500K during daytime.

Each luminaire is individually addressable through CAT-5, allowing for flexibility over time. Shown here at 3000K during nighttime.

The lobby features a custom designed backlit glass wall with individually addressable LED nodes. A matrix show controller displays dynamic low-res images and video footage.

Phone rooms are equipped with full-spectrum Bluetooth-enabled A-lamps, giving users full local control of color and intensity.

Flexibility and dynamism of lighting control were key to meeting the project’s progressive inclusivity goals.

Full-spectrum Bluetooth A-lamps are integrated into the DMX UI through a network of contact closures–allowing both to be accessed through a single app.
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