In 2020, John Hopkins University acquired “the Newseum” located on Pennsylvania Avenue with the goal to establish a prominent Washington D.C. identity, create a world class academic building, and establish a convening destination for trusted academic experts and global policy leaders. Adjacent to the elegant, renovated façade, “Bar 1” houses amenities, lounges, and classrooms. The central open atrium consists of large suspended, stacked treehouse-like glass classrooms and lounges with a feature wrapping staircase.
The design team was challenged to provide a unique yet respectful lighting character; the concept, “Revealing Impression,” alludes to the opportunities created when new ways of thinking and purpose enter existing context. The 3D complexity of the atrium geometry challenged the design team to develop a maintainable yet unique lighting scheme that illuminates the forms while being cognizant of surface visibility from all sides. Concealed ambient fixtures and surface brightnesses provide illumination, while low-glare downlights provide supplemental light. The atrium is flanked by two existing skylights that allow daylight to penetrate through all floors. Artificial cove illumination at each floorplate edge carries this lighting effect down to the lower levels and distributes volumetric light throughout the atrium. By limiting the use of downlights, the team reduced glare, distraction, and visual clutter within the expansive space.
Along the staircase, integrated handrail lighting provides transitional illumination and easy maintenance and accessibility. Custom decorative light fixtures connect the lighting design with the architectural materiality. Recessed black louvered downlights provide supplemental illumination. High-CRI artwork lighting provides focal interest while balancing brightnesses with general architectural lighting.
Warm wood surface illumination, integrated shelf lights, detailed column accents, discrete downlights, and decorative light fixtures draw attention from the street into Bar 1 spaces. Adjacent to glass huddle rooms outfitted with direct and indirect pendants, a field of decorative light fixtures and custom mullion-mounted wall sconces offer intimate quite zones.
In the wood-clad theater, a layered lighting approach consisting of accent lighting on the feature ceiling, continuous perimeter wall washers, and ceiling integrated track lighting facilitates a unique theatrical design. All house lighting is dimmable to 0.1% and connected to the DMX theatrical control system to provide maximum flexibility.
In classrooms, a louvered linear pendant provides functional task lighting while illuminated solid surfaces accentuate the room’s volume. Discrete low-voltage linear LEDs illuminate the luxurious curtains. Underneath the atrium, concealed tiered cove lighting, discrete downlights, and task-based wall washers visually elevate a one-of-a-kind classroom.
A combination of occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, timeclock control, scene controls, and user-friendly interfaces provide a flexible and intuitive lighting control system. The lighting system achieves a $12/SF material cost while the interior LPD is 10% below ASHRAE 90.1-2010.
The realized lighting invites people to experience JHU’s hospitality and showcases the architecture as a world-class premier educational building, “Where Discovery meets Democracy.”
