Intentional Lighting Design

At ESD, our approach to Lighting Design is unique. We acknowledge that lighting design is an art form that should primarily support the Architect’s and Interior’s vision; we call this approach “Complementary Design”.  Lighting should augment architecture, provide illumination without sacrificing aesthetics, fit within a project budget, and be easy to install. We always ask for a lighting-specific meeting early in the project, ensure all interested parties are present, and enter into the DD phase with a comprehensive and agreed-upon design. ESD integrates emergency lighting and lighting control from the beginning so there are no surprises during construction.

In fact, ESD believes lighting design is as much about the technology as it is design. There is a tendency for industry lighting designers to specify fixtures only, leaving the control and dimming functionality to the engineers. This often leads to misinformation and avoidable mistakes that do not get noticed until construction is near completion. Our philosophy is that fixture selection means nothing if it is not backed up by performance. A unified approach is especially important in cases where specialty façade or event lighting is required. We at ESD understand these projects are exceptions to our “Complementary Design Approach” and are fully capable of delivering these dynamic designs when required.  As a full-service house, we take care of every aspect of our designs, from power-up through the finished look. 

Gilbert Hearne Plaza & Parking Garage

Lighting control is a science unto itself. ESD learned long ago that a system is useless if it is too complicated for users to understand. We have mastered the art of ensuring flexibility and room to expand without over-complicating the user interface. Paying special attention to controls also allows for savings in integration by coordinating with other systems to reduce devices on walls, backbone devices, and control wiring. Power over Ethernet and wireless lighting control are also design topologies we have utilized to save construction time and owners’ money.

Lighting systems can often contribute to buildings in ways other than mere illumination and attractiveness. The grid spacing workplace lighting requires is often the perfect place to park asset tracking, gunshot detection, guest traffic analysis, and securely deliver content. Industry magazines are full of stories where companies save thousands of dollars cross-utilizing the lighting this way. Hospitals use lighting to track crash carts, box stores to optimize product-placement, landlords to track vehicle types, secure facilities to deliver internet connectivity, and schools to increase security offerings. ESD has been involved in many of these projects and can advise owners when this integration makes sense and when it is overkill.

Our experience has led us to know that the entire lighting package should be selected as a unit. Too many projects have one designer picking lobby fixtures, another choosing specialty fixtures, and a third selecting the back of house and site lighting. This dated approach causes procurement headaches and leads to construction inefficiencies. It also creates multiple locations that the electrical contractor must pull information from. It is much easier for all involved to view the entire building as one cohesive package.

Lighting design can play a huge part of a Healthy Building Design as well. UV-C lighting is often chosen for sanitization purposes; this technology has many nuances we have come to understand deeply. Lighting control used to mean touching many wall devices, but we have found ways around that. Integrated control systems used to be a project adder but are now a great way to save money that offsets healthy building design costs.   

We would love to discuss our Complementary Design approach further.  Please email dempey@esdengineers to get in touch! 

Illuminated clock tower

LED exterior skin and wayfinding signage