Beyond illumination: exploring the benefits of dynamic lighting systems

by arslan_ahmed | October 11, 2022 7:00 am

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By Howard Yaphe

Fitness centres present architects and designers with unique challenges: large, open areas with few walls, tall ceilings, and often exposed ductwork—none of which is conducive to sound absorption. Like esthetics, lighting, and air quality, sound is an integral component of the club experience. If managed well, it complements and enhances the environment. However, if noise is ignored and left to its own devices, it can produce unpleasant moments, stopping members from entering the space.

According to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), people have a bandwidth capacity to process only 1.6 human voices at any given time, anymore becomes added noise. Hypertension, impaired cognition, and general lack of concentration are all results of a poor acoustic environment. In addition, public spaces require a certain level of speech privacy for both productivity and legal reasons. Speech privacy refers to the degree to which a conversation cannot be overheard in an adjacent space. In public spaces, where confidentiality is not necessarily needed, sound absorption materials—versus physical barriers or sound blocking options—may be the perfect solution to help with speech privacy, while being a vital part of the design.

Legally required national acoustic codes are different between Canada and the U.S. at the level of model codes, with each country having its own specifications for how those requirements are implemented. Additionally, each province, territory, or state mandates how building code soundproofing requirements are applied in their jurisdiction.¹ In the U.S. codes are set by the International Building Code (IBC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Each has established standards and limits for noise exposure.

The National Building Code of Canada 2015 (NBC) is like the IBC in that it is a national model code. Canada’s constitution gives the 10 provinces and three territories jurisdiction over the establishment and enforcement of construction codes. Some cities also have autonomy over their own building codes as directed by their provincial authority. NBC 2015 includes an extensive section on acoustics. In drafting this most recent version, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) worked closely with industry partners to test and evaluate various building elements and their connections to adjacent building elements.²

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Lighting and sound attenuation

Since lighting is also critical to design, forward-thinking luminaire manufacturers recognize that lighting can go beyond the purpose of illumination whereby addressing challenges, including acoustics, while also contributing to healthier, more uniquely designed spaces.

Lighting is generally out of the direct visual field in fitness centres. However, it is perfectly positioned to help control acoustics. By looking to combine lighting with acoustic panels, architects and designers now have unparalleled design flexibility. Easily installed, acoustic lighting absorbs vibrations and sound, greatly reduces ambient noise, and creates a more pleasant experience for everyone, particularly in fitness centres with high ceilings and hard materials from which sounds reverberate.

Lighting as wayfinding

Although the use of lighting as a wayfinding tool is not new, it remains extremely effective. For high-traffic areas, particularly where visitors are coming in and out of the space, lighting can be used to provide direction and symbolize stopping points, such as at a reception area. Light fixtures can catch the eye and draw visitors. For example, hanging geometric lighting above a reception area informs visitors that this is a place to which they should be attracted.

Setting the tone

The way light is arranged and used in a space can have a big influence on the overall nature of a built environment. Lighting does more than just affect the way a space looks––it can also change how it feels. Light has biological and psychological effects[3] that can impact people’s health and well-being, issues at the forefront of fitness centres.

These facilities rely heavily on lighting to create the ambience associated with their brand while positively affecting the physical and mental state of their members.

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Case study: Dynamic lighting systems in action

Founded in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2015 by Jon Cheung, Evolve Strength is a family of strength and health fitness facilities. The company brings together a gym and health facility that includes a wide variety of health and wellness professionals under one roof. Members can work out, get a massage, see a chiropractor, and visit their physio therapist all at the same location.

Edmonton-based Synergy Builds began renovation in October 2021 on Evolve Strength Seton in Calgary and it was previously leased by Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). The facility opened in February 2022 and encompasses 2787 m² (30,000 sf).

Canadian-based Bold Interior Design Inc. (Bold Design) was retained by the business to design the new Seton location. Troy Dashney, principal at Bold Design, had many renovation challenges with this large, big-box interior, such as the 2.8 m (30 ft) ceilings, massive timber features hanging on either side of the space flanking the central entrance, and acoustical issues with combining a gym and wellness offices.

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Design challenges

When Dashney reviewed the original layout, he found nothing to anchor the enormous space.  This prompted him to search for a key architectural element to incorporate into the design. Since approximately 30 per cent of the interior is dedicated to wellness professional offices, the reception area functions as a welcome zone for greeting patients and fitness members, and shares space with the facility’s central lounge, creating additional design challenges.

The solution

Using Evolve Strength’s basic idea of how the space should function, the design team knew they needed to anchor the eye when guests enter the facility by lowering the height of the ceiling to create a more intimate space without closing it in.

Working closely with a lighting sales representative, the design team specified a hexagon shape for the modular lighting system which incorporates colours used in the fitness centre’s branding. By installing the 3.8- x 4.3-m (41- x 46-ft) system over the reception and welcome area, and the café and lounge space, the acoustic lighting system serves as wayfinding—directing guests into the facility. The hexagon shape was specifically chosen for its unique organic structure and as an abstract representation of DNA strands, which complements the wellness and health centre themes.

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The lighting system includes integrated 0.2 m (2 ft) light-emitting diode (LED) segments, providing a different type of lighting. Additionally, when MEC closed the location, they left behind heavy, engineered-wood architectural details that were upcycled and incorporated into the design.

A 3500K was selected for a whiter light, making the area sparkle and providing a change in colour temperature from other areas of the facility, setting the welcome zone and lounge apart. The “K” stands for Kelvin, which is the scientific measurement used in lighting to measure the colour temperature of a particular light bulb. Generally, “warm” light is anything 3000K or lower, while “cool” light is 4000K or higher. In this case, 3500K is a middle ground often called “neutral.” This light can look either cool or warm depending on furnishings and other lighting nearby.

The lighting system was also engineered for easy installation as it includes integrated drivers, so the entire unit only required one power drop.

The results

While the facility only recently opened, Evolve Strength staff and guests have all commented on the unique lighting and acoustic system in the welcome zone and lounge area. Additionally, another Evolve Strength location is about to start construction and will be incorporating similar acoustic lighting elements.

Notes

¹ Refer to www.rockwool.com/north-america/advice-and-inspiration/blog/acoustics-requirements-in-building-codes.

² See note 1.

Author

[7]Howard Yaphe, CEO of Canadian-based Axis Lighting, has more than 35 years experience in the lighting industry. Prior to joining Axis, he worked at Philips Lighting North America and Genlyte. Yaphe has more than 120 patents and patents pending in a wide variety of lighting and lighting controls technologies. He can be reached at howardy@axisllighting.com.

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/beyond-illumination-the-benefits-of-dynamic-lighting-systems/

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