Electric Lighting

 

Computer rendering of electric lighting
Full-scale mockup of the electric lighting in a classroom
Electric lighting fixture

 

Lighting design is equal parts science, art and responsible energy management. At the IDL we strive to find integrated design solutions that will accommodate the client’s visual needs while providing a stimulating and inspiring visual environment. These goals must be accomplished while responsibly using the least amount of energy. Electric lighting design strategies that integrate with daylight offer the best opportunities to achieve these visual and energy goals.

At the IDL we assist clients in developing lighting criteria, establishing lighting energy goals and benchmarks, as well as verifying and calculating high-performance lighting system strategies. We work with architects to design integrated lighting solutions, including fixtures and controls specification, preliminary layouts, lighting calculations, lighting energy analysis, visual criteria and architectural integration.

Design Tools
Computer Analysis:
The IDL uses state-of-the-art computer software to predict the photometric performance of selected luminaires or daylight penetration in a simulated environment. These computer programs allow us to investigate interior and exterior electric lighting system performance including illuminance, luminance, uniformity, contrast ratios, visual composition, daylighting response for energy savings, and life cycle analysis. These findings can be compared to existing IES standards or to the visual criteria established by the client.
Physical Mock-ups:
Constructing full-scale spaces within the lab’s mock-up space is one of the most effective ways of verifying lighting strategies and of evaluating lighting systems, including energy use, light output, and interactions with architecture and surface finishes.
Lamp, Fixture & Control System Evaluations:
Hardware is at the core of a lighting system's perfomance. The IDL installs, demonstrates and analyzes new lamps, control systems and lighting fixtures in our workspace, which we use as our laboratory. This provides objective and unbiased assessments of new lighting technologies and strategies.