Lighting Strategies For Occupant Health
Circadian rhythms, dimming, and color were all essential features in the lighting design at this new office space.
Windward Engineers and Consultants’ new office workspace caters to different work styles with huddle rooms, phone booths, flexible furniture and outdoor space. Above all, however, the facility focuses on employee health and wellbeing.
Windward worked with NELSON Worldwide to include a lighting strategy that addresses mental health. Circadian rhythms, dimming and color were all essential features in the lighting design. For example, when in the wellness room, users have full control of the lighting and can switch between cool and warm lighting to meet their desired light intensity.
Spotlighting wellness
WELL Building standards with biological circadian rhythms and fully automated daylight dimming are part of the base design in the open office for employee wellness. The lighting control system tracks energy use and occupancy through an online graphical interface that can be monitored and controlled remotely. Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography
A nod to nature
The library featured bookshelves bathed in light and an internally illuminated island to overlay design plans for coordination and quick tracing of concepts. The fixture over the island is a nod to the Susquehanna River, which is a nearby natural landmark. The Wellness Lab features lighting that adapts to the intensity and color of the daylight outside or inside based on user-selectable sensors. Should the user wish to relax in a unique color of light, they can simply use the touchscreen controls to select the desired color.Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography
Private dining
Low-lighting levels provided by fixtures with acoustic felt soften the seating area for privacy. The decorative oscillating pendant design over the island and the brightly washed tile backsplash became the room’s focal point. Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography
Setting the mood for meetings
A line of light around the back wall of the booth helps frame the concrete pendant as a piece of art to accentuate the space’s industrial feel. A wireless app controls the color of the light in the booth and sets the mood for any meeting.Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography
Balancing daylighting
Light grazes the textured wall to provide visual interest and vertical brightness opposite the windows. The lighting and color in the space can be dimmed and tuned through a wireless keypad on the desk by a simple button press. Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography
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