Elegant Fluorescent Designs for LEED Certified Properties
The challenge of lighting design is to complete the illumination of the space while meeting code compliance, budget constraints, and maintaining the fixture's architectural style while limiting operational costs with bulb replacement. The movement in the hospitality industry from incandescent to fluorescent lighting due to LEED certification, the Federal energy bill, and energy codes, such as California Title 24, has made the challenge of lighting design for the interior designer more difficult. Specifying fixtures that maintain their original design concept while meeting lumens, wattage, and budget constraints is not always a simple objective. For example, emergency fluorescent fixtures on the market are not luxury boutique style, but have an institutional style. At townsend*, we have engineered a fluorescent fixture structure that can be adapted for different styles and assist in meeting LEED certification. The key design element to note is the canopy size and even glow. Normally, the ballast is in the canopy causing the size and depth to increase to an unattractive 2” height or the ballast is in the ceiling and the fixture needs to be removed to replace parts (creating difficulties for the hotel engineer). As for even glow, this used to be a major problem in fluorescent lighting because the type of lamp bulbs created significant hot spots. We developed a system to secure a circular T5 which decreases the hot spots and creates a more even glow.
NEW FLUORESCENT FIXTURE STYLES
Crystal Fluorescent Chandeliers:
Crystal chandeliers which are typically incandescent can not be replicated in fluorescent fixtures. The twinkle of the filament and dimming properties are critical to ambience. As a result, our engineers have developed fixtures that balance the elegance of the crystal chandelier and fluorescent specifications. The crystal chateau is an example of such a fixture that can be customized to meet lumens, dimming, even glow, and wattage requirements with a standard 1” canopy.
Emergency Fluorescent Fixtures:
We design and manufacture emergency lighting fixtures for corridors. This allows the specified emergency fixtures to coordinate with the design of the entire lighting package and have all fixtures meet code requirements.
Fluorescent Ceiling Drums:
Typical fluorescent ceiling drums such as a 6” frosted white acrylic drum have an institutional and corporate style. townsend* designs and manufactures ceiling fixtures that meet OVH specifications while maintaining an elegant design style. For example, by substituting the outside acrylic drum to a gathered black silk pleat and restructuring the internal fixture, lumen and wattage requirements can be met for a boutique style fixture. Dimming is an option as well.
ADA Sconces with a Ballast:
ADA requirements of a 4” extension and building requirements dictating an internal ballast make sconce selection challenging for the interior designer. townsend* collaborates with clients to design and manufacture custom made sconces that fulfill these specifications.
