New exterior stair tower for the City of Houston Permitting Center

Above is one of two stair towers which were added to the original building. The architect wanted these to additions to glow at night and act as signage, making the building clearly visible to motorists passing on the nearby freeway overpass. In order to minimize the impact of light fixtures on the architectural design, G2LD used recessed step lights, mounted upside-down in the cast concrete wall, in order to uplight the horizontal planes. An energy efficient linear LED washes the walls with a very small fixture profile.

Exterior view of the City of Houston Permitting Center

A view of the second exterior stair tower.

Interior lighting had to be extremely energy efficient as well as budget sensitive, but also had to aid in creating a bright and enjoyable atmosphere for City workers and visitors alike. The majority of fixtures throughout the space utilized High Output T5 fluorescent fixtures  with dual step ballasts, which allow occupants to choose higher or lower light levels without the costly expense of dimming ballasts throughout.

City of Houston Entry Lobby

In addition, a daylight harvesting system was implemented for fixtures near the large windows, allowing the fixtures to dim and save electricity when there is ample sunlight to light the space.

Linear pendant fixtures throughout were chosen not only for their efficiency but also for their vintage look. The architect desired an industrial aesthetic in order to keep with the building’s warehouse heritage.

City of Houston Permitting Center Ground Floor Elevator Lobby

Basic fluorescent strip lights used as sconces provide a simple and economical way to mark elevator lobbies and other circulation paths while keeping with the vintage industrial look.

City of Houston Permitting Center Bar Code Desk

City of Houston Permitting Center Bar Code Desk--View 2

The ceiling above the main permitting desk is designed to create a series of bar codes using reclaimed wood timbers, various light fixtures, and raw steel. When viewed from below the bar codes translate into different words relating to the permitting process such as “sign” and “seal”.

The creative rehabilitation of this abandoned rice warehouse revitalized a building, a neighborhood, and stands as a symbol for a progressive direction for the City of Houston. G2LD is proud to have been a part of this team.

Dickinson First United Methodist Exterior

The team at G2LD chose energy efficient and long life sources such as fluorescent and ceramic metal halide in order to reduce the maintenance and energy costs for the church. Fixtures mounted close to the building allow the light sources to graze the stone areas of the facade, showcasing the texture and color.

Dickinson First United Methodist Church Exterior

Select interior Sanctuary lights were put on an astronomical timeclock so that they would come on in conjunction with the exterior lights. This allows the extensive stained glass windows to glow at night, enhancing the exterior beauty.

Dickinson First United Methodist Church

All fixtures were chosen in a size and color so as to be as unobtrusive on the facade as possible, minimizing architectural intrusion. Custom mounting details allowed small, efficient fixtures to wash the steeple in light without having to mount to or penetrate the roof surface. The result is a church that is a beacon for the surrounding community.

Dickinson FUMC sanctuary

In order to light the majority of the voluminous space we used efficient and long life fluorescents to uplight the center volume as well as the center clerestories. Having calculated the light output on computers prior to construction, we knew we could get enough light out of the coves to both enhance the architecture and give ample ambient light to the congregation below.

Warm white coves give ample soft ambient light to pews below.

The three lamp coves were dual switched to give the congregation possible light levels of 33%, 66%, and 100%, an economical and practical solution that avoided the extensive costs of dimming ballasts throughout the sanctuary.

Theatrical fixtures, tucked behind upper beams and specified in white so that they are barely noticeable, bring a strong visual focus to the altar area and all service participants. Sconces, which were chosen to be reminiscent of candelabras, were added along the side aisles both to light circulation during low light services and also to add visual interest.

White theatrical fixtures, tucked behind upper beams, are barely noticeable but bring visual focus to the altar area. Sconces around the perimeter light the circulation path and add visual interest.

G2LD worked closely with the architects, HBL, to design slots above and behind the choir risers which house adjustable track heads. The track is able to give reading light to the choir members while allowing them to be better lit as viewed from the congregation, all while keeping the ceiling clutter-free. Small uplights behind the coir give them additional ambient light while visually accenting the back wall of the altar.

Track was recessed into custom detailed slots in order to give reading light to the choir members with minimal architectural clutter. Small wall mounted uplights highlight the architecture behind them and provide additional ambient light.

A custom made pendant, which coordinates with sconces throughout the space, was designed in conjunction with a church committee tin order to get the perfect size, scale, height, and look for the large vaulted welcome center. A perimeter cove gives a bright and welcoming feel as people congregate before entering the main worship space.

A perimeter cove and custom pendant, designed to have the perfect size, height, scale, and look, announce the arrival into the welcome center.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed into law on December 19, 2007. The act builds on the progress made by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) in setting out a comprehensive energy strategy for the 21st century. This act is a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil thereby increasing our energy security and making our country cleaner for future generations. Lighting efficiency was only one aspect addressed in this bill. In 2009 the Department of Energy passed further regulations that affect Incandescent, Halogen Reflector Lamps, and General Service Fluorescent Lamps.

There are a lot of criteria that went into which lamps were affected (lumens per watt, max wattage, etc), but to boil it down, the following lamps will not be allowed to be manufactured after the following dates:

100w Incandescent A-lamp (1/1/2012)

75w Incandescent A-lamp (1/1/2013)

60w Incandescent A-lamp (1/1/2014)

40w Incandescent A-lamp (1/1/2014)

Additionally, all R20, R30, R40, PAR20, PAR30, PAR 38, BR30, BR40, ER30, ER40, and BPAR lamps must meet halogen efficiency levels with certain wattage limit exceptions. There are a number of exceptions to the rule, including candelabra base lamps, appliance lamps, rough service, plant lights, 3-way lamps, traffic signal lamps, etc.

The 2009 regulations, which take affect in the summer of 2012, will effectively eliminate the following lamps:

Nearly all 4′ T12 Fluorescent

Some 4′ T8 Fluorescent

Most 8′ T12 Fluorescent

Nearly all standard Halogen PAR38, PAR30, and PAR 20 Halogen lamps.

So where does this leave us when specifying lamps on our projects?

In all honesty this is not an impact for the majority of current jobs. The fluorescents that are being phased out are largely out dated anyway and not being specified on new projects (T12s are sooo 20 years ago). However, buildings that still have T12 fixtures will likely need to address their outdated fixtures as lamp inventory dwindles in the coming years (existing inventory can still be sold past the date–the lamps just can’t be manufactured anymore).

Likewise, the affected incandescent lamps don’t get specified much due to the need to meet energy code. This regulation is much more likely to affect the average homeowner who’s porch light burns out than a lighting specifier.

But for those of us with porch lights at home what are the best replacement options?

Halogen is probably the closest replacement in terms of the look and function of the light. It’s a little whiter light (not as yellow), which many consider a good thing. It comes on instantly, has great color rendering, good output and is easily dimmable.

Compact Fluorescent has been touted for years as the energy friendly alternative. It is about 5x as efficient as comparable incandescent, though I don’t love cfl for most residential applications for a few reasons. They take a few minutes to warm up to full brightness–fine in a commercial setting, but annoying in many residential applications when you’re coming and going from rooms frequently. The color rendering is still a little off from the warm pleasing tome that we enjoy in the home. You need special lamps to be dimmable, and even then they don’t usually dim fully. And last, when they are turned on and off as frequently as they are in most homes the lamp life is NOWHERE NEAR what they advertise it to be. The life they advertise is generally with 12 hour starts. Again, fine for commercial, but it doesn’t equate in the home.

LED is the new guy to the residential market and is showing a lot of promise, but frankly still has a way to go. While they are generally slightly less efficient than CFL, they are still a lot more efficient than incandescent. Still they struggle with output (though the lamps tend to have very low wattage, they also don’t generally put out much light) and color rendition. All that said, major manufacturers have put a lot into R&D of consumer grade LEDs in recent years, so hopefully options will continue to improve as this legislation takes effect.

New Hybrids? Lamp manufacturers are WELL aware of this shift coming down the road and have been scrambling to come up with viable options for the consumer. As such they have tried to get creative. My favorite example is a new lamp coming out from GE which embeds a small halogen lamp inside a curly CFL lamp, which is then all encased in an A-lamp envelope to look like an incandescent. When you flip the light in the halogen and CFL both come on, but the halogen only stays on long enough for the CFL to warm up to full brightness. Once that happens a minute or so later, the halogen automatically shuts off. Instant-on brightness, good energy savings–I like that. Still not perfect, as discussed above, but I appreciate that it’s addressed at least one of my gripes!

If you have additional questions about the legislation, how it affects your office building, projects, or your very own porch light, please feel free to contact us with questions. We’re always happy to hand out expert opinions!

“No it SCARES me–it’s so DARK! Have you seen it?” she said. “Even the entrance looks like a tunnel leading you off to prison!”

She was right. It is dark. And sketchy looking–not qualities that you look for in a medical establishment. But I also know most people I know have been happy with the care they’ve received there and would choose it again over area hospitals, so the outward appearance isn’t necessarily indicative of the service you receive.

It was an interesting mini-case study for me as I spoke to Jane Q. Public (who, for the record, had no idea what I do for a living). The lesson, which frankly I already knew…Lighting, for better or worse, can drastically affect the way people view your business…which of course affects if you get their business at all.

Seen in section, diffuse hidden lighting will give a warm glow to the timber frame structure, while directional spot lights will highlight the cars and signage.

The building will also incorporate spaces for offices, dining and entertaining. With expansive timber frame construction and a large central cupola that goes several stories high, the lighting of the architecture is as important and challenging as the lighting of the collections. G2LD is working with the design team to ensure that the fixtures remain hidden as much as possible–giving the wood structure a warm glow without distracting, tacked on fixtures.

Theatrical Fixtures highlight the classic car collection and signage

]]> http://www.g2ld.com/wordpress/?feed=rss2&p=87 0 http://www.g2ld.com/wordpress/?p=73 http://www.g2ld.com/wordpress/?p=73#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 02:43:49 +0000 admin http://www.g2ld.com/wordpress/?p=73 When Hurricane Ike flooded this century-old home in Galveston’s East End Historic District with 4′ of muddy storm surge, the homeowners were devastated. But, like many of their neighbors, they ultimately saw it as an opportunity to come back better than ever. Since they already had to gut the downstairs and redo the majority of the electrical for the house they decided to hire G2LD to consult on their new lighting and control system.

Since the home was historic we wanted the interventions to be minimally intrusive while still accenting key artwork and architectural features. Zero sight-line accent lights are flush with the ceiling plane, leaving only a 1-1/4″ hole visible, and historically appropriate custom wall mounted picture lights highlight artwork where the ceiling was not accessible to new recessed fixtures. A Lutron Radio RA (radio frequency) dimming system allowed maximum control for the remodeled rooms without requiring additional wire runs to inaccessible areas.

So…don’t call it a comeback..the house was fabulous for many, many decades before we ever saw it. But we do think the new lighting brought new life to the old home.

A semi-completed construction site may not appeal to many groups for a Gala setting, but for architects, well, they feel right at home. Kudos to the Manhattan construction team for pulling together the space in time for the event! Just what every GC wants to hear–that 700+ design professionals will be having a throw-down on your construction site. The site made some amazing transformations in the days leading up to the party…

City of Houston Central Permitting Center main entrance 5 days before Gala

City of Houston Central Permitting Center main entrance during the Gala

Piles of sand for the terrazzo floors dot the Gala site just days before the big event--luckily the lighting was in!

Gels provided by BriteStar Productions dimmed the new office lights to a pleasing party-friendly amber hue. Floors are in. Bar is set up--ready for the crowds!

Mayor Anise Parker spoke at the Gala highlighting the City’s commitment to green building and public art, both of which will be highlighted extensively in the “new” building (for those just now tuning in, it’s actually a renovated 1926 rice warehouse slated to achieve LEED Gold). Great speach and pat on the back for all involved and, may I say, I think the black and white video projection looked great in the industrial space…

Mayor Anise Parker addresses the 700+ crowd at the AIA Gala

Thanks to Mary Margaret Hansen, the lead artist for the COH project, for sharing her photos with us. The whole project will be peppered with very cool public art projects and you can follow Mary Margaret’s blog about the process and the artists here.

Artist Mary Margaret Hansen, Lance and Sarah Gandy visiting at the AIA Gala

A great time was had by all. Looking forward to next year AND seeing the finished building!

We were asked recently to consult on a large commercial space which was in Design Development and over budget (pretty typical, right?). The architects had relied on a rep firm to do their specifications for them, but the lighting package came in over budget and without any viable alternatives (also pretty typical!).

G2LD was hired to oversee the existing design and specifications and to write an appropriate three name spec which would create a competitive bid AND keep design intent.

Why not simply ask a distributor or a competing rep firm to submit a less expensive package? Because I’ve literally NEVER seen such a package that keeps design intent and relative quality on all fixtures. I HAVE seen incandescent submitted in place of fluorescent, non-dimming ballasts on dimming fixtures, indoor rated fixtures submitted in place of wet location facade fixtures, 8″ apertures in place of 6″, builder-grade downlights in place of specification-grade fixtures, and manhole sized flood lights submitted to replace subtle landscape lighting, to name a few. Incorrect lamping, sizing, finishes, UL listings, wiring issues–these are all par for the course on submittals.

Which is not to say that the folks who put together these submittals are ignorant, they simply aren’t involved in, or particularly concerned with, the design process. So when a xeroxed cut sheet comes across their desk they can only guess where, why and how the fixture is to be used. Will these significant mistakes be caught by the project manager before the fixtures are signed-off-on and ordered? Maybe. But maybe not…and that’s when you start getting phone calls.

So what happened with the over-budget project? By overseeing a competitive three-name spec we were able to save the client over $70,000.00 without sacrificing any quality or design intent. Our fee for this project was a small fraction of the savings, making our contract an excellent investment by any standard.

Obviously projects vary greatly in size and budget, but whether your project has $10,000 or $1,000,000 allotted for lighting, we can almost always help save the client money AND give them a high-quality design.

Shortly after the storm, the church asked Gandy2 Lighting Design to assist in helping them come back better than before. As with just about every church we’ve worked on the consensus among the congregation was that “there wasn’t enough light.” So our first challenge was to improve the light levels while working within the existing shell and without adding any downlights or pendants to the space which is known for it’s clean, sparse look. Our second challenge was to add accent lighting and a visual focus to the altar area. And of course the third challenge was to do it all within a minimal budget–did I mention that the church didn’t have flood insurance?

To address the ambient lighting we used budget-friendly T5HO cove lights in their existing coves, replacing the outdated T12 fluorescent strip lights. This effectively doubled the potential ambient light, while dual switching the lamps gave them a cost effective way to get multiple light levels. Additionally, detailing the existing cove so that the electricians lined the lamps up with the top of the cove allowed for maximum light spread and output so that we weren’t losing any light to shadowing.

To add focus to the altar area we added adjustable sidelights and track lights, both hidden behind a beam to avoid visual clutter. Ingrade lights along the walls flanking the altar give an uplifting feel and provide accent without introducing unwanted decorative elements.

Congratulations to the parishioners at Broadway Church of Christ–G2LD is proud to have been a part of your road home!