Light Studio Healthcare Miniguide 07

LIGHT STUDIO

Healthcare Earth Night View - ©PIO3

MINIGUIDE 07

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital © Dan Schwalm

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

WELLNESS AS A SERVICE Lighting in healthcare environments is far more than a technical requirement. It is a fundamental part of patient care, staff performance, and overall wellbeing. From the moment someone enters a healthcare facility, light shapes their experience: it can calm anxiety, support recovery, improve visibility for clinical tasks, and create a sense of dignity and reassurance.

Thoughtfully designed lighting responds to the unique demands of healthcare settings. It must balance precision and comfort, delivering highquality illumination for medical procedures while also providing softer, more restorative conditions for rest and healing.

Equally important is flexibility. Healthcare environments operate continuously, requiring lighting systems that adapt to different times of day, tasks, and user needs. Layered and controllable lighting solutions allow spaces to transition seamlessly, from bright, functional settings to calmer, more ambient conditions, without disruption.

This guide explores how lighting design can contribute to more effective, humane, and resilient healthcare environments. By integrating aesthetics, functionality, and evidence-based design principles, lighting becomes a powerful tool, one that not only illuminates spaces, but actively supports health, wellbeing, and quality of care.

Kimberly Bartlett, Head of Lighting Design Introba Consulting UK

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Design and Compliance In healthcare lighting, design and compliance need to work together from the very beginning, not as separate processes.

Standards such as CIBSE’s Lighting Guide 2: Lighting for healthcare premises, set essential requirements for safety, performance, and emergency lighting. But good design goes beyond simply meeting these minimums.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Surrey Outpatient © BIRD Construction

The goal is to integrate technical requirements seamlessly into the design, rather than letting them dictate a purely functional outcome.

Ultimately, the best healthcare environments are those where compliance is invisible, fully achieved, but never at the expense of comfort, clarity, or atmosphere.

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Entrances and Waiting Rooms Reception and waiting areas (excluding A&E) set the emotional tone for the healthcare experience, so lighting should prioritise comfort and reassurance.

A key design principle is to reduce anxiety through soft, warm, and evenly distributed light that avoids harsh contrasts or clinical starkness.

Layered lighting is particularly effective here, combining ambient illumination with accent lighting to highlight reception desks and guide movement.

Designers should aim to create a space that feels more like hospitality environments than institutional settings.

Incorporating indirect lighting and warmer colour temperatures can help achieve this.

Visual hierarchy is also important; lighting should subtly direct attention without overwhelming the space. Overall, the goal is to create an environment that feels welcoming and calm from the moment of arrival.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Surrey Kidney Care Clinic, Canada © Calvin Owens Jones Photography

Childrens Hospital of Atlanta, A. Blank Hospital, United States © Jeremiah Hull Photography

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Circulation Lighting in circulation spaces must prioritise safety and orientation. A core principle is uniform illumination, ensuring there are no sudden changes in brightness that could disorient users or create visual discomfort. Corridors should be evenly lit with clear visibility of junctions, doors, and changes in direction to support intuitive wayfinding. Lighting can also reinforce spatial hierarchy by subtly highlighting key routes or destinations.

A key strategy is the use of linear asymmetric side lighting, which washes light across walls rather than placing luminaires directly overhead. This avoids the “flashing” effect experienced by patients lying down and being transferred on gurneys.

At night, reduced lighting levels should be introduced to support rest while maintaining safe navigation. Avoiding glare and repetitive visual patterns is important, as these can cause discomfort or confusion, particularly for vulnerable users.

Administrative Bays Where nursing or staff bays are integrated into corridors, lighting needs to carefully balance visibility and discretion. Staff require slightly higher, focused task lighting for observation and administrative work, but this should be controlled to avoid spilling harsh light into adjacent patient areas.

Ultimately, circulation lighting should guide movement seamlessly while maintaining a calm and controlled visual environment.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, United States © Dan Schwalm

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Ward Rooms Patient rooms require a highly adaptable lighting approach that supports rest, recovery, and clinical care. A fundamental principle is layering, providing ambient, task, and low-level night lighting to accommodate different activities and times of day. Lighting should also respond to biological needs, minimising disruption to sleep by reducing blue-rich light in the evening and avoiding unnecessary brightness at night. This helps limit melatonin suppression and supports healthier sleep patterns to aid healing.

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Emory Health Winship Cancer Institute, United States © Dave Burk

Task lighting must be sufficient for reading and clinical observation without disturbing others in shared spaces.

Patient control over lighting is critical, as it enhances comfort and autonomy. Glare reduction and careful positioning of luminaires are essential, particularly for patients who spend long periods lying down. The overall aim is to create a calm, flexible environment that balances medical functionality with a sense of comfort and dignity.

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Diagnostic & Specialised Areas Lighting in diagnostic and specialised rooms is highly specific to the function of the space. Each room needs to respond to both the clinical task and the equipment being used.

For example, in MRI or CT scanning rooms, lighting is often kept low and indirect to create a calm environment and reduce patient anxiety. In contrast, spaces like dental surgeries or treatment rooms require high levels of focused task lighting to support precision work intense visual needs.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

UHealth Sole Mia Imaging , United States © Miami in Focus

Control rooms, where staff monitor screens, need lower ambient lighting to reduce glare and improve screen visibility.

It is also important to consider how lighting interacts with specialist equipment, ensuring it doesn’t cause visual interference, reflections, or distraction.

The lighting is purpose-driven, carefully designed around each activity to support both clinical accuracy and patient experience.

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Rehabilitation: Case Study: Hydrotherapy Room Richmond Hill Rehabilitation Centre combines elements of a hospital and a hotel, striving to balance functionality and aesthetics.

The primary challenge was to design an environment that adhered to hospital standards regarding cleanliness and infection control while also offering a serene and welcoming atmosphere. Utilising decorative and antimicrobial-coated light fittings was a critical aspect to ensure both safety, function and relaxation.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Richmond Hill Pool Model Render - Pablo Temboury

Integrating features like a backlit ceiling created a soft and calming ambiance, while achieving the required lighting levels for the space.

Special attention was given to user-friendly controls, ensuring ease of use for both guests and hospital staff. This included touchpad-controlled scenes for various areas, facilitating simple and convenient adjustment of lighting levels to suit different needs, including a night scene with low level lighting.

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Operating Theatres Lighting in operating theatres must meet the highest standards of precision and reliability. The primary principle is visibility, ensuring that all visual tasks can be performed accurately and without obstruction.

This requires high illuminance levels, excellent colour rendering, and shadow-free lighting conditions.

Adjustable lighting systems are essential, allowing clinicians to adapt light levels and focus depending on the procedure.

Uniformity is critical, as any variation in lighting can impact performance and outcomes. Glare must be minimised to prevent visual fatigue, particularly during long procedures.

In addition to surgical lighting, ambient lighting should support safe movement and preparation within the space. The design should prioritise functionality while integrating seamlessly with other medical systems.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Childrens Hospital of Atlanta, A Blank Hospital, United States © Jeremiah Hull Photography

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Storage & Utility Rooms Stores and utility rooms prioritise efficiency, clarity, and safety over atmosphere. Lighting design should ensure high visibility and uniform illumination, enabling staff to quickly locate items and perform tasks accurately. A key principle is minimising shadows, as these can obscure objects and affect performance.

Bright and cool colour temperature lighting supports alertness and reduces the risk of errors. Durability and ease of maintenance are also important considerations, as these spaces often experience heavy use.

Unlike patient-facing areas, aesthetic considerations are secondary, but lighting should still be comfortable enough to prevent eye strain during extended tasks. Overall, the design should support operational efficiency while maintaining a safe and practical working environment.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Emory Health Winship Cancer Institute, United States © David Kresses

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Playrooms & Rest Areas Breakout spaces and playrooms should provide a visual and emotional contrast to clinical environments, supporting relaxation, distraction, and mental wellbeing.

Lighting design here can be more expressive, using variations in colour temperature, intensity, and form to create engaging environments.

It is key for lighting to adapt to different users and activities, from quiet rest to social interaction. Softer, diffuse lighting can create a calming atmosphere, supporting more complex sensory needs, while feature lighting elements can add interest and identity to the space.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Langley Public Health Relocation, Canada © Diamond Schmitt Architects

In pediatric settings, interactive or dynamic lighting can be particularly beneficial, helping to reduce anxiety and provide positive distractions in often frightening situations.

These spaces should feel safe, calming, uplifting, and human-centred, offering a psychological break from clinical areas.

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Circadian Rhythms and Natural Light DESIGN Light is one of the most powerful regulators of human biology, directly influencing our Circadian Rhythm, which is the internal clock that governs sleep, alertness, mood, and overall wellbeing.

In a hospital setting, especially recovery rooms where patients spend the majority of their time, aligning lighting conditions with these natural rhythms has become a critical consideration in design.

STRATEGY Tunable white light technology enables this alignment by dynamically adjusting both the intensity and colour temperature of light throughout the day.

Cooler, brighter light in the morning can help stimulate alertness, supporting the body’s natural wake cycle. As the day progresses, lighting can gradually shift to warmer tones, promoting comfort and reducing visual strain, ultimately preparing the body for rest. This subtle yet impactful modulation mirrors the qualities of natural daylight, especially in enclosed spaces.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

150 Holborn Rendering, United Kingdom ©Perkins+Will

Menlo Gateway, United States © Scott Hargis Photo

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Mental Health and Neurodiversity DESIGN Lighting design for mental health facilities and neurodivergent settings requires a careful shift in priorities, from purely functional illumination to environments that actively support emotional regulation, sensory comfort, and cognitive clarity.

In these contexts, light is not neutral; it can either calm or overstimulate, support focus or create distress. Thoughtful design acknowledges this sensitivity and treats lighting as a therapeutic tool rather than just an operational necessity.

Safety must be integrated without creating an institutional or oppressive atmosphere. Fixtures should be robust and tamper-resistant where required, but their appearance should remain domestic and non-threatening.

Wayfinding can also be supported through subtle lighting cues, helping users navigate spaces intuitively without overwhelming signage and information.

Ohana Adolescent Behavioral Health Facility, United States © NBBJ

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

STRATEGY A key consideration is the impact of lighting on sensory processing. Many neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), can experience heightened sensitivity to brightness, flicker, glare, or abrupt contrast.

Harsh overhead lighting, particularly from poorly diffused sources, can lead to discomfort, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating. To address this, designers prioritise soft, evenly distributed light with minimal glare. Indirect lighting, diffused luminaires, and matte finishes help create a visually calm environment, reducing sensory overload.

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Veterinary Facilities Every space in a veterinary clinic or hospital has a clear functional purpose, much like any other medical facility.

Clinical rooms, clean areas, and public zones must all support safe, efficient care, but they also need to reflect the specific needs of the people and animals who use them.

Veterinary‑specific lighting guidance is limited. The main references: the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes and the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, offer only broad direction, leaving many practical lighting considerations unaddressed. As a result, principles from human healthcare often apply. These include emergency lighting, adequate task illumination for clinical procedures, and uninterruptible power supplies to ensure surgery can continue safely during power loss.

It is important to consider that different animals have different requirements. Cats and dogs benefit from a stable 24‑hour light–dark cycle; where natural light is unavailable, low‑level lighting helps maintain vision and reduces startle responses. For birds, it is recommended that lights are not abruptly switched off or on but are dimmed and raised in a gradual fashion.

Effective veterinary lighting relies on three‑dimensional modelling. Light must reveal the form, texture, and physical condition of animals, not just illuminate flat surfaces. Semi‑cylindrical illumination combined with balanced directional lighting reduces shadows and supports accurate assessment of animals of varying sizes and anatomical features supporting clinical assessment and treatment regardless of the patient whilst also providing adequate lighting for staff.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Consult 3 D

Dialux EVO Render - Kimberly Bartlett

Cat Kennels and Prep Dialux EVO Render - Kimberly Bartlett

Cat Shadowing Assessment False Colour Dialux EVO Render - Kimberly Bartlett

Prep, Lab and Dental area Dialux EVO Render - Kimberly Bartlett 28

Shaping Healthier Spaces with Light Healthcare is not a single setting; each space serves a distinct purpose. From General hospitals, to specialist pathology facilities, to intensive care units or mental health units. These all share a common goal: supporting human wellbeing.

Lighting plays a critical role across all types: • In acute care environments, it enables precision, clarity, and clinical performance.

• In diagnostic and treatment spaces, it supports accuracy and visual comfort.

• Within mental health and rehabilitation settings, it contributes to calm, orientation, and recovery, and; • In residential and long-term care environments, it helps create a sense of dignity, familiarity, and home.

Our purpose is to create and implement these vastly different outcomes in safe, considerate and holistic ways with people at the heart of our designs.

Warren AFB Veterina

SSM Streets of Ca LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Ohana Adolescent Behavioral Health Facility, United States © NBBJ

ary Clinic, United States © Matthew Idler

Indiana University Academic Health, United States © Perkins & Will

aledonia, United States © Matt Kocourek

Tsleil-Waututh Nation Community Centre, Canada © Andrew Latreille Architecture

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Our Team We have every type of light and lighting covered and we thrive in collaborative environments.

Kimberly Bartlett HEAD OF LIGHTING DESIGN

With nearly 20 years experience in light and lighting, I provide the backbone of technical expertise underpinning our designs, supporting our team in doing what they do best.

Aliz Sanduj ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER

The team’s creative powerhouse in lighting design, I oversee the transition of beautiful thoughts to incredible reality.

Christopher Harrison INTERMEDIATE LIGHTING CONSULTANT

A specialist in external lighting, I bridge the gap between inside and out, creating seamless movement.

Pablo Temboury INTERMEDIATE ENGINEER

Combining creative experience in the arts with technical lighting and electrical expertise, I transform conceptual ideas into realised environments.

LIGHT STUDIO MINIGUIDE 07 | HEALTHCARE

Transforming the Built Environment with Curiosity, Ingenuity, and Accountability Introba is a global engineering and consulting firm with more than 1,000 specialists across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore. We help clients improve the performance, reliability, and sustainability of the built environment through mechanical, electrical, technology, security, and fire systems engineering, supported by digital advisory, systems integration, and sustainability consulting services.

Guided by curiosity, ingenuity, and accountability, we work with the public and private organisations across healthcare, aviation, education, science and technology, transportation, and commercial development to deliver solutions that meet today's needs and adapt to tomorrow's demands.

Contact hello@introba.com

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