Ev. Markuskirche-Gemeindezentrum, Köln-Porz
The new community centre building at St. Mark’s Evangelical Church in Porz am Rhein is a sculpturally shaped structure that is especially suitable for music performances and choir rehearsals. For their project, architects Maier + Hollenbeck wanted a lighting solution with two separate light chambers that followed the sloping ceilings and homogeneously illuminated the space between the wooden beams. The variable H-LINE luminaire system immediately impressed with its high degree of flexibility and timeless, classic design. The two separate light chambers for direct and indirect light, flexible lengths and different optical controls offer a vast amount of freedom when it comes to designing the illumination setup in the space. The luminaires are DALI dimmable in the light colour 3000 Kelvin. The compact DLE recessed downlighter makes sure the reception area and corridors are bathed in a pleasant level of illumination.
Fry Building School of Mathematics, Bristol
The University of Bristol has remodelled the Grade II listed Fry Building (a complex series of listed buildings) to create a new home for the School of Mathematics. The site lies within a designated conservation area and is adjacent to another. The RIDI Group was proud to provide a sustainable lighting concept which was utilised throughout the project. The new building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, features lecture theatres, smaller classrooms, a variety of common rooms and areas for interaction. Whilst retaining the historic character of the listed building, the additions include an atrium connected to a new 140-seat lecture theatre under a roof garden. Working with Bristol-based CMB Engineering, the RIDI Group was able to draw on its extensive range to create a suitable dimmable lighting solution. Spectral supplied around 700 Stora pendant luminaires, which are used in the classrooms, administration and communal areas. The luminaires were fitted with a special prismatic opal lens to ensure even light distribution and glare-free working. The frame is made of high-quality extruded aluminium with rounded corners. The luminaires fit perfectly into the room and can be suspended at different heights - with their slight indirect component, they create a pleasant working atmosphere. The newly created atrium building, which was an important architectural feature of the development, is illuminated by several Iris pendant luminaires from Spectral. These transparent, circular luminaire were supplied in 400 and 600 mm sizes, depending on the suspension height, and are now an integral part of the new space. In the other break rooms and the main lecture theatres, around 550 m of the VENICE linear luminaire system from RIDI were installed as recessed and pendant versions. The VENICE system can be customised to individual or project-specific requirements and is used here in various lengths and with different optics. In the front part of the classrooms, the KARO track spotlight illuminates the blackboard area.
Kresen Kernow ("Cornwall Centre") houses the world's largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs relating to the history of Cornwall. The state-of-the-art new archive centre was built on the site of the former Redruth Brewery (World Heritage Site). As well as storing Cornwall's archive collections, the centre has exhibition space, learning rooms and a digital media room. Purcell Architects was commissioned to restore and extend this historic site. Spectral Stora-LK pendant luminaires provide the main lighting for the reception building. The ring luminaires now characterise the design and atmosphere of the space. The Stora-LK was selected due to its profile geometry with high stability and high luminous flux. The ring luminaires are available in sizes from 950 - 1900 mm and achieve luminous flux levels of between 5,000 and 20,000 lumens. This makes them ideal for illuminating rooms with normal storey heights through to large, open atriums. The luminaires are designed with a particular focus on sustainability and can be kept up to date for many years. Suitable for a historic building.
Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen
Aberdeen Art Gallery has recently reopened to the public after a four-year refurbishment which cost £34.6m. It has one of the finest art collections in the UK - including works by Joan Eardley, Barbara Hepworth, Samuel Peploe and Tracey Emin. Awarded Planning Permission in 2014, Hoskins Architects had won a national competition for the redevelopment and expansion of the category A listed Aberdeen Art Gallery. Renowned lighting design practice, Speirs and major, were appointed as the lighting consultant. For the War Memorial complex the design team came up with a visually stunning yet entirely cohesive pendant light that combined visual brightness with adjustable ‘beamers’ to highlight specific areas; in addition the pendant was to house two high output high definition projection systems. The 500kg, five and a half metre diameter pendant is raised and lowered on a winching system from ETS. Finite lighting control was achieved using special LED drivers which allows stepless smooth control of the light levels down from 100% to 0%. Speirs and Major specified eight discreet low glare adjustable downlights which are capable of rotating through 360’ and tilt up to 30 degrees for maximum flexibility for future exhibitions. To allow access into the building the pendant was delivered on 8no. bespoke pallets and Spectral supplied centering tools to allow the contractor to accurately align and assemble each section - a pre wired plug and socket connection system was also provided to aid installation time.
Claremont Fan Court School, London
The Claremont School, located south-west of London, offers 13 new classrooms for science and nutrition, as well as workshop areas and a design and technology studio. The building was designed by Fletcher Crane Architects and the lighting concept was developed by Michael Jones Associates. The lighting is based on various products from the RIDI Group, mainly from the Spectral portfolio. The atrium was fitted with ring luminaires from the H140 profile series in various diameters in combination with Iris pendant luminaires at the rear. The corridor areas on the upper floor were fitted with vertical baffles which, in addition to directing the natural light through the skylights, also provide artificial light and the necessary acoustics for this area of the room. On the ground floor, Norea wall luminaires were installed in the corridor areas, while H80 profile systems with microprismatics and integrated sensors in the blind areas were used in the classrooms. Rectangular H80 profile systems were created in the laboratory areas, which were filled with sound-absorbing material. In the wood workshops, noise pollution was greatly reduced by a large number of large-format vertical baffles with corresponding light baffles. In combination, this ensures an optimal working atmosphere.
The Ludwig Erhard Zentrum in Fürth is intended to serve as a museum of the memory of the Federal Chancellor Ludwig Erhard, who was born in Fürth. It shows testimonies of his life and work as a politician. The building was designed by Reinhard Bauer architects from Munich. The clean design of the new building next to the Fürth City Hall is continued in the linear lighting systems from the newly developed S36 profile series. The 8.40 m long profiles are connected via hidden internal linear connectors and, despite their extremely compact dimensions of only 36x72 mm, are extremely stable. Despite the very compact design the integration of signal amplifiers allows the entire system to be easily controlled via DALI. The suspension is carried out via special trapezoidal cable system, which spread out to the tapered prefabricated ceiling elements made of exposed concrete. The indirect component runs continuously along the entire length in the same way as the direct light component. An opal diffuser with internal linear prismatic structure creates a seamless even light distribution.
Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Köpenick
The ‘An der Alten Försterei’ stadium is located in the neighbourhood of Köpenick to the south-east of Berlin, and has been home to 1. FC Union Berlin since its inauguration in 1920. With a current capacity of 22,012 spectators (as of 2019), it is the largest purpose-built football stadium in the capital. 1. FC Union Berlin made it to the first tier of the Bundesliga for the first time in its history in the 2018/2019 season. After the entire grandstand was fitted with conventional RIDI luminaires, the stadium built on its good cooperative relationship with the company in 2019 and decided to equip the ‘Schlosserei’ event area with modern LED lighting. The premises offer space for up to 1,000 guests across an area of 1,300 m² and provide direct access to the VIP stand. An efficient lighting concept that allowed for the premises to be set to different lighting moods was requested. The sleek RIDI LINIA-FLAT continuous lighting system in combination with spotlights from the TANGO series was the solution supplied to this end. The spotlights are integrated in the lighting track modules of the continuous lighting system and set eye-catching accents. The system is dimmable and features RGB colour control alongside white channels, which facilitates an impressive lighting set-up. The buffet areas are illuminated using the LUPO LED spotlight. Square recessed luminaires from the EBRE series, whose opal acrylic panels were decorated with the club’s logo on request, are used in the press area.
Royal Veterinary College, London
Spectral has recently supplied Stora-LK pendant luminaires to the Royal Veterinary College in London. The project was designed by architects Rivington Street Studio, with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) undertaken by Scotch Partners. The project was realised using H-Line Pendant luminaires with direct and indirect lighting from RIDI, a brand of the RIDI Group. The project was also equipped with a DALI control system from the RIDI Group, which makes it possible to adjust the illuminance levels in the various work areas and to use preset lighting scenarios in the classrooms for working with the presentation systems.
McEwan Hall University, Edinburgh
McEwan Hall is the graduation hall of the University of Edinburgh in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. It was donated to the university in 1897 by the famous brewmaster and politician William McEwan. It was extensively renovated in 2015. The aim was to restore the historic landmark as a functional university building that could fulfil modern needs. The restoration work, which was carried out by BuroHappold Engineering in collaboration with LDN Architects, was completed at the end of 2017. One of the challenges was to establish sustainable principles for the listed building in order to achieve BREEAM certification. "We wanted to develop a lighting strategy for the whole building that was both practical to use and dramatically emphasised the beauty of McEwan Hall." BuroHappold Engineering For heritage reasons, many ceilings could not be used for anchoring or cabling lighting fixtures. The fittings were to be installed as unobtrusively as possible. The only option was to mount the round H80 profile Pendant luminaires in the centre. The weights were carefully checked and a self-stabilising wire suspension system was integrated into the 1.2 metre circular H80 profile. Each fitting was delivered to site pre-wired in a wooden crate with wiring loom, suspension wires and lighting elements to reduce installation time for the contractor. The architect opted for a RAL 7024 textured finish, which is resistant to fingerprints and harmonises with the architecture of the building. Four wide beam warm white indirect light modules (Indirect Unit Dot*) with 3000 Kelvin and 1700 lumens, controlled separately via DALI, were modelled by Happold Lighting based on the photometric data provided by Spectral. Six aluminium cylinder** LED downlight modules with 2000 lumens and precise glare-free optics were used, also in a separate circuit with Dali control.
LRC, Salford City College, Eccles Campus
LINIA LED system was used throughout the new Library Resource Centre at Salford College. The designers were after a clean efficient look coupled with latest technology and within certain cost constraints. The feature of the LINIA-FLAT FS luminaires is the microprism optic which gives an intriguing look while providing very good glare control for the VDT screens. The LINIA-FLAT FS LED modules are also incredibly energy efficient due to the premium grade LED’s used and the efficient optical design of the product. The modules snap fix into the LINIA pre-wired trunking system enabling a very fast and easy installation. The system can be easily adapted and reconfigured in the future due to the plug and play nature of it.
Bedford Modern School, Bedford
A new science block at Bedford Modern school to replace the existing building that had been largely unchanged since it was built in 1974. The building consists of a central atrium area for flexible teaching and 17 labs and associated prep rooms. We supplied EBRME DPS fittings, rated IP54 wth twin R-Tube to light the laboratory areas and ELDR and EDLQ downlights to the surrounding circulation areas. Square LF-LEDs and Venice were used surface, recessed and wall mounted in stairwells and in the atrium area.
The Big Data Institute (BDI) is a 7,500 m2 medical research building, dedicated to analytical research of the causes, consequences, prevention and treatment of disease. The building, designed by Make Architects for the University of Oxford, has space for over 550 people. The researchers process enormous amounts of data and aim to provide insights into a wide variety of illnesses and treatments worldwide. The large server room currently provides enough computing power for 600 trillion operations a second. Despite the heat generated by all this activity, the building uses an assisted natural ventilation strategy including a concrete ‘labyrinth’ beneath the building through which exterior air is drawn in, cooling or heating it using the thermal mass of the ground. Make architects designed the building to sit above the 600m underground concrete labyrinth. The air running through it is drawn from outside and will either be cooled or warmed by the concrete – which is a relatively constant 12oC – to regulate temperatures in both winter and summer. It is the first time this strategy has been used for a research building in the UK. Additionally, the thermal mass of the building itself is used as a sink to provide cooling throughout the day. Spectral’s Blade, combined acoustic and lighting system, was chosen as it is specifically designed with thermal mass systems in mind. “The idea to use Spectral lights and baffles came out of the early design decision to have exposed unpainted concrete soffits to benefit from the thermal mass. This meant we needed to explore design solutions which suspended luminaries and acoustic baffles to work with the concrete soffit – preferably vertically, rather than horizontally, to keep the aesthetic. The acoustic consultant suggested that we look at the Spectral light and baffle solution. Working together with Long and Partners and RES, our preference was to have both lights fittings and baffles as continuous elements that align with the datum of the suspended ceiling to the circulation areas. The setting out was thus based upon a grid of 750mm to allow future flexibility in layouts, should the client wish to subtract or add perimeter cellular offices. When Spectral was appointed, we worked together as a team to develop a solution of connecting the fittings together, including issues of alignment, cable management and integration of PIR. The final installation is a testament to the collaboration of the team and our shared desire to achieve a neat, integrated design solution.” Pete Matcham – Make Architects Thermal mass systems only work with large surfaces of exposed concrete which can absorb excess heat during the day and then release it at night. Conventional ceiling systems and luminaires cover the concrete surfaces and reduce the thermal efficiency. Blade’s vertical baffle arrangement allows warm air to rise between the units and make contact with the concrete surfaces. The acoustic baffles reduce reverberation times within the space, which otherwise would be overwhelming for staff with so many exposed hard surfaces. While thermal management of the building was one priority, the efficiency of every system was considered. Blades highly efficient LED light engines mean lower electrical load and heat. For this project, the Blade light baffles were specified with DALI dimming and were integrated into a sophisticated control system. At Spectral, we worked closely with the electrical engineers, Long and Partners over a number of years in preparation for the project. We made a number of modifications to the standard Blade product to fulfill the design brief and especially to make the installation trouble free. In order to make installation simpler and to ensure that wiring faults did not slow down progress the Blade lighting baffles were supplied with plug and socket modular wiring connectors from the factory. In addition the movement and daylight sensors for the lighting control system were also integrated into the luminaire – ensuring the ideal placement of the sensors and ruling out any problems due to incorrect wiring on site. Finally the emergency lighting was part of the Blade system, with EM-Pro addressable emergency unit being used, allowing centralised testing and reporting. Blade is suspended on easily adjustable wires – the clutches are hidden in the cable tray at the rear of the luminaire -and now uses a magnetic coupling feature for joins and end caps. Big Data Institute, Oxford University, Atrium While very much a functional building, the interior architecture is still striking. The project is one of the first to use Blade II which allows for a visually continuous ribbon of light. While, when the lights are off, the light baffles replicate the pattern of the acoustic baffles. Read more about the project on the Make website Project Details Client: University of Oxford Architect: Make Architects M&E: Long & Partners Acoustics engineers: Hoare Lea Main Contractor: Mace Luminaires: ~1,400 x DALI, LED, Blade II Completion: January 2017
Stadtteilbibliothek, Stuttgart-Vaihingen
Thanks to its central location, the Stuttgart-Vaihingen City Library is a meeting place for people of all ages. It works together with other city libraries and the Stuttgart Central Library to provide all its visitors with access to education, culture and a wide range of leisure activities. Spread across three floors, visitors can find a large selection of literature, music and films, as well as computer workstations with Internet access. Even illumination and ambient lighting is provided by a special version of the EBRE9, with a concealing frame designed to cover the existing cut-outs in the ceiling. The lights are fitted with the RIDI-TUBE, an LED lamp designed by RIDI with an innovative fitting/bracket system that can be changed as easily as a conventional fluorescent lamp. All EBRE9 units are dimmable so that their lights can be adjusted to the individual’s needs. For targeted lighting of its countless shelves, the library uses KARO-S LED spotlights. In the children’s library on the ground floor, additional recessed downlighters (EDLR) with plate glass mounts provide suitable lighting. The individual lights and the high-tech LED technology have combined to create a highly effective lighting solution that is tailored perfectly to the requirements of this project.
Cumnor House School, Haywards Heath
Cumnor house school is an independant school near Haywards Heath near the South Downs National Park in England. The project involved two new buildings. The nursery/pre-school block was a single storey building made into one large open plan space. Here they used a suspended ceiling grid where we used ARKTIK-LED PS luminaires to provide an efficient yet broad spread of light. EDLR's were also provided for circulation spaces. The room was controlled via a DALI scene setting plate to enable 4 different moods which ranged from rest mode to high energy mode. Light sensors also ensured energy was not wasted. The second building was a modern 2 storey building for the main prep school which featured interesting ceiling details. This was the new science block. Here the main teaching spaces were lit with suspended louvred F-LINE LED luminaires with additional indirect light. In some bulkhead areas, EBRME-R luminaires with matching louvres were used. EDLR's were also used over circulation and core areas as well as WL-R luminaires which were suspended. All luminaires were supplied as DALI and controlled by scene set controllers in each classroom to enable special teaching modes such as projector mode. The light planning was done by PJR Design of Brighton and the architects were George Baxter Associates of Haywards Heath.
Kindertagesstätte Schatzkiste, Illingen
The single storey, angular kindergarten in a timber frame constructed building offers over 700 square metres for two kindergartens and two infant groups, and is partially equipped with flexible room dividers to permit as many different uses as possible. The colour scheme of the facade in gold/brown tones conjures up associations with a treasure trove, and the colour concept continues in the interior in the shade luminaires. The Maxi shade luminaires (li:fy brand) in various shapes and colours, as both pendant and ceiling-mounted solutions, lend the group rooms, corridors and cloakrooms a cosy character. Despite the differences, they create a very uniform effect due to the similar upholstery fabric. Functional and plain, the semi-circular RK-LED damp-proof luminaire is used in the gym and sports room and in the corridor. In the kitchen area, LFN-T16-R LED damp-proof luminaire is used. Both luminaire types are fitted with opal diffusors for a homogeneous light free of glare and shadows. The sanitary areas have been equipped with recessed downlights.
Residing on one of the floors of the iconic London Shard building, Warwick Business School (part of Warwick University) needed a presence in London to attract senior students within the business community. One of the key aims of the design was to make the learning spaces attractive and different. The IT Learning Suite was a case in point where they were looking for a less conventional solution to light the space. The use of the Spectral Stora-LK rings was an innovative and fun idea to make the space look more interesting. Above all they also delivered a good level of working light. The result is quite spectacular. Photos: Newbery Smith Photography
The Drysdale Building at City University has a network of subterranean basement lecture theatres that have no natural light. The breakout zones were formed into imaginative double height spaces but with no natural light needed something special to bring out the volume of space. The Aoca from Spectral was a perfect product to add drama and good all round illumination for such a deep space. Photos: Newbery Smith Photography
RIDI has a long relationship with Bristol University and has supplied lighting for many areas of its estate. Of particular note are the many classical Victorian buildings in central Bristol. These buildings require special attention and special solutions and Spectral lighting has supplied many custom made solutions to work with the varying architecture. The results are a spectacular combination of modern and classical design. Photos: Newbery Smith Photography
The „LebensPhasenHaus“ constructed in Tübingen‘s Rosenau district is a building designed to serve the purposes of research and demonstration: It allows the use of both technical assistance systems and associated services to be tested, validated and demonstrated as well as experienced hands-on. The aim of the project is to examine how technical and social innovations can enable the elderly and those in need of care to live for longer in their own homes. Given responsibility for providing energy-efficient LED lighting the house, RIDI mounted light fittings with lighting control systems (with facility for regulation from cold to warm white) in the living room, bathroom and kitchen. These can be controlled for optimum adjustment to the living patterns of the occupants with colour temperatures of between 3000 and 6500 Kelvin.
When the library building dating back to 1906 was due for renovation and rewiring, a decision was made to also modernize the lighting system in the reading room. With a view to improving illumination, cutting down on energy consumption and increasing maintenance intervals, the challenge here was to provide contemporary lighting technology which would blend in with the traditional interior architecture and not compromise the listed status of this period building. The minimized design of the H-Profile-based LED solution used emphasizes the high arched ceiling and maximizes the incidence of natural light. This project is a highly successful combination of efficient modern lighting technology with period architecture. Photos: Newbery Smith Photography