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m a k e i t b e t t e r - t h e f i r s t s t e p
The challenge was the budget, but not in the usual sense. In this case it was that the existing fixtures in the gyp-board ceilings were literally falling out, and there was considerable concern that if we tried to remove and replace the fixtures, then the entire ceiling could come down. So while we had money for new fixtures, we didn't have money for a new ceiling. We addressed this concern by working closely with a company that specialized in retrofits. The 2x4 fixtures were re-secured to the ceiling and "patched" into the ceiling before being gutted and outfitted with new electronic ballasts, high color rendering T8 lamps, new reflectors and new diffusers. The 2x2 fixtures had their reflector pans cleaned in place and new electronic ballasts with T8 lamps installed while the louvers were removed, thoroughly cleaned and reinstalled.
a d d s o m e s p a r k l e
In addition to the overall goal, there were specific areas that needed special treatments. The main three being reception, back office hallway to the conference room and the computer arts areas.
Reception was dressed up with new “outer-basket” T8 fluorescent fixtures that helped lift the ceiling and a free-form curved low voltage track lighting to give the space a more “playful” feeling, provide sparkle and add some varying light levels. The incandescent sources also helped to warm up the space. The same track system was used in the back office hallway to visually tie the spaces together. An additional benefit to the back office area was providing high light areas that drew your attention away from the less attractive elements, like the A/C vents and storage closets.
r e d u c e t h e g l a r e
The computer arts area was a major concern because the existing fixtures, being 10 years old, were not designed for a computer environment. The employees had taken all but one of the lamps out of 4 of the 6 fixtures. They also complained of headaches and mismatched color.
Fortunately we were able to remove the existing fixture from the gyp-board ceiling in this area, but the resulting holes required special mounting brackets to cover up the gaps and provide proper alignment with the black steel that allowed less than 1” clearance. The new center-basket 2x4 fixtures – matching the reception fixture style - used two 90+ CRI lamps, providing a lower light level and soft even lighting for viewing the printed artwork.
b a n i s h t h e s h a d o w s
In addition to the computer area, is the art production area, where they print, trim and glue up mockup books. The existing lighting consisted of (3) MR16 fixtures, which did nothing but create heat and shadows. The dilemma was how to light the area without mounting anything to the ceiling. A side mounted track held the answer. Again using High CRI CFL fixtures, we were able to provide an even, shadow-free task light, with proper color balance.
Another out of the way area that needed an infusion was the shipping department. Two 2x2 fixtures that were shoved against the walls in this room made it hard to pull books and prepare the proper shipping labels. Moving the fixtures to the middle of the rooms and adding a surface mounted strip allowed for proper lighting of the storage shelves and shipping tables.
l o v e t h e f e e l i n g
Midway through the project the boss walked through and said, l love the feeling the new fixtures create, lets do the conference room over too! So we changed out the existing 2x4 fixtures with a “dressed-up” outer-basket fixture to help create the illusion of height in the low ceiling space. The walls were outfitted with a surface mounted wall wash fixture to make the books “pop”.
t h e h a p p y
Returning the site to check on the system six months later, the employees all thanked me for the huge improvements. They all noted that they feel better, as well as being able to see better. (and none of the fixtures had lamps pulled out).
We've heard that the company is expanding and we're going to be working on the new space.
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