The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications.
This month, we will explore how a powerful control system is used to control intensity and color while monitoring lighting system status at a professional hockey arena. Design by Fletcher Smith of Ephesus Lighting. Photography by Jim Scherzi. Lighting and controls by Ephesus Lighting.
The venue is home to professional and collegiate hockey teams and hosts concerts, trade shows and family events. Flexibility in the lighting is required to allow for this variety of events.
The wireless control system makes the lighting design possible. Much more is possible (effects, color, etc.) than just white light on/off or dimmed due to this system.
The controls allow for custom lighting effects developed to the owner’s specifications. Dramatic color lighting and effects for sports and more standard scenes for non-sporting events were developed. The controls support the design by allowing for one-touch, push-button control to create these unique effects and alternate modes for work lighting, trade shows, etc.
The controls are flexible and upgradeable. They also allow for health and status monitoring of the lights. The system is built on military-grade protocols for the utmost in security. Response time is 0.1 second to up to 300 lights, up to 300 meters away. A main controller issues commands to wireless receivers in the array? one receiver controls two lights.
The lighting reinforces the building’s architecture, especially its circular shape, by using effects that appear to spiral or burst from the building’s center. The distinctive suspended roof allows for unique reflection of the light, further accenting the building’s architecture.
The lighting fixtures easily integrated into the building through specialized catwalk mounting designed for sports venues. The wireless control system is plug and play and requires no special cabling or hardware.
Though budget and energy were not critical, energy savings of over 60% are estimated, between the control system and highly efficient lights. 135 foot candles on the playing surface were achieved. The control system requires no maintenance but can be upgraded or new effects implemented. The lighting fixtures are also maintenance-free and RoHS compliant.
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Really very interesting.