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Kuzco Alora Mood pendant lighting. Motive area light. Exterior lighting at The Hudson, Victoria, B.C. The Leaf, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, MB ACT Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Edmonton, AB 50 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Lighting P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y RO B I N S O N L I G H T I N G & BAT H ; N EM E T Z (S . A .) & A SS O C I AT E S; M U LV E Y & BA N A N I L I G H T I N G; W I L L I A M S EN G I N EER I N G Blending architecture and artistry in state-of-the-art lighting by LAURIE JONES I n the world of lighting, unique design and products are blended to create unique set- tings, both indoors and out. For the team at Nemetz (S.A.) & Associates, not only is the lighting design inside impor- tant, but a prevalent request on many of their projects is the addition and incorporation of lighting to highlight and enhance the architecture of the building. "With the varying project parametres and desired effects on each building, there are several key aspects of the design process we have to consider," says Jennifer Lifton, lighting designer. Lifton adds that detailed discussions are required with the entire design team to ensure an understanding of the intended overall concepts and desired effects. "Renderings and concept images are provided to illustrate the design intent. We also review the architectural details, which are then co- ordinated and created to ensure mounting, wiring, and other components are incorporated into the design, and not seen as an afterthought." The process moves into carefully selecting lumi- naries appropriate for the intended effect, while also being conscious of the environment, light pollution, and so on. "We also have to co-ordinate controls to provide flexibility to the design, such as colour changing and dimming," she says. "There is a lot of hands-on collaboration during the design and con- struction, including mockups, review of materials and onsite aiming and commissioning to ensure initial concepts are met at the end of the project." Williams Engineering has worked on a variety of high-end projects that require state-of-the-art lighting systems to facilitate a variety of user needs, such as the ACT Aquatic and Recreation Centre rehabilitation located in Edmonton, Alberta. The community facility features a 25-metre gradual depth swimming pool, whirlpool, and multiple waterslides. The building also houses a gymnasium, outdoor tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, volleyball courts, and playgrounds. "The City of Edmonton identified the need for extensive rehabilitation to address components of the building that had reached their end of ser- vice life. Alongside the Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc. [MBAC], Williams Engineering provided mechanical and electrical engineering consulting services for the Centre," says Ben Rajewski, engineering manager, electrical. "The scope of this rehabilitation project included replacements of vari- ous mechanical and electrical components of the facility, and the lighting was one of the main focal points for replacement. For the pool specifically, the lighting was replaced with LED uplighting that was directed at the unique architectural ceiling." Rajewski explains that the ceiling was cre- ated with white acoustical panels that allowed for soft reflection onto the pool surface without glare. Skylights were also integrated into the ceiling to provide natural light into the space. "The design was able to achieve an average of 600 lux on the pool surface, while minimizing reflection on the water. This allows for maximum visibility for lifeguards protecting the pool from the deck and comfortable vision for swimmers," he says. Within other areas of the facility, the lighting was also replaced with new LED fixtures that greatly reduced the energy usage of the facility. "This rehabilitation resulted in improved accessibility, safety, and sustainability of the entire facility and will reduce future repair costs by upgrading these major systems," says Rajewski. Azin Dilmaghani, lighting manager at WSP Canada Inc., says the projects her team works on focuses on architectural lighting that is minimal. "We call it invisible lightning, or hidden lightning. We don't want to have a presence in the project, but rather we are there to help the architectural features show themselves." She notes that everyone on the team is architectural or interior designers, which is why they like helping the lighting enhance the fea- tures in architectural spaces. "We're trying to get away from designing separate areas and make them more integrated, but in a minimalist way." Dilmaghani explains that most of their projects are commercial, including health, transportation, big government, or institutional projects. "We try to illuminate the spaces without having the lights or fixtures visible, and design it into the architec- tural detail. There are lots of details involved when you're working with these kinds of projects, includ- ing colour co-ordination with different disciplines to come up with those ideas." While Dilmaghani and her team do use ready- made products for lighting, there are times when Unveiling the Art of Illumination