The renovation of DECA Architecture’s new headquarters transformed the space from an interwar textile factory into an open-plan office. The space is divided in three identical expansive bays, featuring sloped roofs and northern clerestory windows. This architectural layout, combined with the industrial heritage of the building, offered opportunities for integrating modern sustainable design within the building’s historic charm.
The lighting solution for this transformed space needed to serve both a functional source of office illumination and an element that would integrate into the building’s industrial aesthetic. 18 industrial 1940s high-bay bell-shaped pendant luminaires, were chosen for their aesthetic resonance with the building’s original fixtures. An off-the-shelf industrial hanging lamp was meticulously modified to deliver an innovative and efficient lighting solution. The target specification was a luminaire that could deliver an average illumination of 500lx throughout the work plane, house a tunable white LED source, provide comfort and a glare-free working environment and be controlled by a wireless system.
This custom modification began with the introduction of an LED COB light source, paired with a thermal management system that included a heat sink to ensure optimal performance. The thermal test conducted at 51W showed the fixture operating at Tc:65C and Ta:25C, ensuring a safe and long-lasting installation. The drivers and controllers were housed within the now empty gear box on the top of the bell, which was a direct aesthetic reference to the box originally used for the ballasts of metal halide lighting sources in a 1940s factory setting.
To ensure greater flexibility and control, the drivers installed in the luminaires were Casambi-ready, allowing the light intensity and CCT of each luminaire to be remotely controlled via a Bluetooth system. The LED source used in the luminaires boasts a high CRI value of >93, ensuring that the light produced is natural and vibrant, with excellent colour rendering that complements the creative work being done within the space. Additionally, the tunable white functionality, ranging from 2700K to 6500K, provides the flexibility to adjust the colour temperature throughout the day.
For full integration of natural light with the tunable white luminaire feature, a daylight sensor was added onto the building system to harvest the levels of natural light streaming in through the high bay northern windows and ensure that the working surface maintains a minimum illumination of 350 lux, as agreed with the architect and users. This dynamic lighting system ensures that the workspace remains balanced and functional without excessive energy use, further supporting the project’s commitment to sustainability and harmonizing the architects’ circadian rhythm, for optimal working environment and well-being.
The final source output of each luminaire is 3600lm, with both colour temperatures driven simultaneously. Due to the significant setback of the light source from the bell’s final surface, the UGR<19 was achieved, ensuring comfortable and glare-free lighting for the office occupants. The polycarbonate cover was eventually added to provide a more uniform light distribution across the space, further enhancing the general lighting while maintaining a high level of visual comfort.
