Lighting Innovation At Tash Wellness Center: A Design Story

By: RANDY REID

Nestled in a 5,000-square-foot space in a suburban strip mall, TASH Wellness isn’t your typical fitness facility. It’s a space where strength and wellness take precedence over intensity and sweat, offering personal and small group training with an emphasis on function, longevity, and community. But perhaps what makes this space truly remarkable is its lighting design—a testament to how thoughtful lighting can transform even the most straightforward spaces into something extraordinary.

The project, led by Sean Murphy and Avraham Mor of Morlights, is not just about creating a visually appealing environment. It’s about rethinking the role of lighting in wellness spaces and how it impacts functionality, mood, and acoustics. Mor’s mother, Sharan Tash, is the owner of the facility, making the design process personal as well as professional.

When Sharan first envisioned the center, her plans included a black ceiling and basic lighting. Murphy and Mor, however, had other ideas.

“Imagine lying on a bench, looking up at a black ceiling with bright lights glaring in your face,” Mor recalls telling her. “Why would you want that?” Instead, they proposed a clean, white ceiling paired with suspended acoustical lighting fixtures that would improve illumination and also tackle the inevitable noise challenges of a hardsurfaced fitness space.

The result is a sleek, functional design that redefines the typical strip-mall workout environment. It demonstrates that even smallscale projects can benefit immensely from professional lighting design, offering a model for how similar spaces could be approached.

Designing for Function and Comfort

The lighting system at TASH Wellness was built to address the specific needs of its users. The space incorporates customized fixtures from Focal Point, chosen for both their aesthetics and their acoustical properties. These fixtures—the Seem 1 Trio—were tailored into 12-foot segments to suit the scale of the room. Suspended from a central junction box, the fixtures provide both direct and indirect lighting, with each component carefully calibrated for its purpose.

The dual lighting zones—up and down—offer flexibility based on the activity taking place. During workouts, downlighting provides focused illumination, while the uplighting creates a softer, more diffused effect, particularly useful for exercises performed lying on one’s back. With just a few adjustments, the lighting can transition to accommodate seminars or group discussions, showcasing how functionality meets adaptability in this space.

The choice of color temperature—3500K—was deliberate, striking a balance between warmth and energy to foster both focus and comfort.

The fixtures also align seamlessly with the center’s brand identity. Covered in PET felt in a vibrant royal blue, the lighting elements mirror the equipment racks and add a pop of color to the otherwise neutral palette of the walls and floors. This simple yet effective integration of brand aesthetics enhances the overall environment without overwhelming the space.

Seamless Control with Advanced Technology

A standout feature of the project was the use of Acuity Brands’ nLight® DALI networked lighting controls. This cutting-edge lighting control technology simplified the wiring process and ensured maximum functionality.

Unlike traditional 0-10V systems, which can require up to 40 wires (10 sets of 4 wires of similar color) in a single junction box, the DALI system cut the complexity in half. This not only made installation easier but also provided precise dimming capabilities for both the uplighting and downlighting zones.

The system’s user-friendly interface allows staff to adjust lighting levels based on the specific needs of the space, whether for a high-energy training session or a calming seminar. This adaptability enhances the functionality of the lighting, ensuring it supports the diverse activities that take place in the center.

Challenges and Solutions

Like any project, TASH Wellness faced its share of challenges. The most significant issue arose during installation when a wiring error in the final fixture in the DALI chain caused a halfday delay.

Troubleshooting revealed that the DALI wires had been improperly connected, preventing the system from functioning correctly. Despite this setback, the team was able to resolve the issue quickly and ensure the system operated flawlessly thereafter.

Lead times for the standard fixtures also posed a challenge. It took two months to manufacture the lighting elements, which created pressure within the three-month construction timeline. However, careful coordination among the design team, manufacturer, and contractor ensured the project stayed on track.

A Model for Small Spaces

TASH Wellness is a shining example of how even the simplest spaces can benefit from thoughtful lighting design. It demonstrates that great design isn’t reserved for large-scale projects or luxury facilities—it can and should be accessible to spaces of all sizes and budgets. By prioritizing function, aesthetics, and user experience, the team created a space that not only meets the needs of its clients but also elevates the standard for similar facilities.

From the clean, white ceiling to the vibrant blue fixtures, every element of the design was intentional. It’s a space that looks good and works well, proving that lighting can be so much more than an afterthought. As Mor put it, “It’s about thinking through the use of the space, not just putting in high bays and calling it a day.”

TASH Wellness sets a new benchmark for how lighting can transform fitness environments, offering both inspiration and a roadmap for future projects. ■