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. The Lighting Controls Association is proud to be a founding and longstanding sponsor of the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls.
This month, we explore a major refurbishment of a vacant office tower into a 5-star hotel, which was recognized with as Lighting Control Innovation Award of Merit in the 2024 IES Illumination Awards. Lighting and control design by HLB Lighting Design. Photography by Andy Caulfield and George Long.
New Orleans World Trade Center, a National Register historic building designed by Edward Durell Stone, sat unused for years despite its prime riverfront location and modernist history. Adaptive reuse of this vacant office tower into a luxury 775,000-sq.ft. Four Seasons hotel required a comprehensive controls strategy to meet the needs of the diverse program.Lighting solutions are visually balanced and highly integrated, striking posh yet playful tones expected by discerning hotel patrons.
The entire property is tied into a fully networked control system, allowing for total building control and monitoring by facilities. A central computer communicates to multiple hybrid controls systems located in the exterior landscape & gardens, porte cochere, lobbies, restaurants, meeting & ballrooms, spa, fitness, pool deck, circulation, 12 guestroom types,residential amenities, operational back of house, attraction entrance, observation deck, façade, building crown and antenna.
Designed exclusively for the brand, the guestroom controls provide an intuitive luxurious experience to guests of all languages. Upon arrival, a welcome scene sets the mood instantly with lighting, shade and thermostat settings based upon time of day or guest preference. Day, relax and night scenes, as well as localized dimmers at various zones, give complete control to guests. A nightlight button provides safe passage without disruption.
Hierarchy and visual quality were critical to the brand. Every scene was meticulously programmed, reviewed and approved by hotel leadership.
Phasing of construction for the entire building and the complexity of hotel’s diverse program required the team to commission the controls over a two-year time span. As scope areas were completed, the team commissioned each zone, set scenes, and tied new controls into the overall building-wide system.
Designed efficiently on a stringent budget and to 25% below code, this new 5-star hotel reinvigorates a Big Easy landmark for future generations to enjoy.
Transforming this mid-century office tower into a 5-star hotel required a fully networked control system to achieve visual cohesion across its diverse 775,000-sq.ft. program.
The lobby warmly greets visitors via presets adjusting astronomically and responding to daylight. After sunset, dramatic transformation occurs…biophilic shadows on the ceiling are revealed.
Dynamic white LED accent lighting highlights the bar and bottle display, anchored by the champagne-inspired crystal chandelier. Visual hierarchy is achieved through careful scene setting.
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