7 minute read
The Power of Outdoor Illumination in Public Spaces
By Elena Bertolucci, SeaTac Lighting & Controls
When the dentist inevitably asks, “So what do you do for a living?” I often pause to strategize the fastest way to sum it up. As a lighting manufacturers’ rep, I live and breathe lighting – but how do you explain a career that is both technical and creative in a sentence or two for someone who likely appreciates lighting but may only think about it when they flip a switch? Can you relate?
The conversation always starts with light bulbs, but eventually we arrive at my personal passion – outdoor lighting.
Whether you’re illuminating a small community park, public plaza, or a bustling downtown corridor, you’re not just flipping a switch, you are creating an experience for those who visit the space. You’re influencing how people move, gather, and feel in a space. Supporting the lighting design community in these environments requires a delicate balance: staying creative while grounded in standards, policy, and what’s technically feasible.
The Impact of Outdoor Illumination
We all recognize how crucial good lighting is in classrooms, offices, hospitals, and homes, but outdoor environments deserve just as much attention. As someone dedicated to outdoor illumination, I’d argue that thoughtful lighting in public outdoor spaces can be even more impactful. Parks, pathways, plazas, and piers are all places meant for everyone, regardless of age, occupation, or mobility. The right illumination makes people feel safe as they move through the space or invites them to stay.
One of the most rewarding aspects of outdoor lighting is the sheer public access to it. Unlike a private boardroom or exclusive lobby, public spaces are experienced by the entire community. That in and of itself is powerful.
Think of how you feel when you leave a restaurant after dinner, stepping into a “woonerf” (a Dutch term for a living street concept) complete with pedestrian scale lighting and sparkling catenary fixtures overhead. Or running errands in a sunny downtown with planter baskets hanging from the lighting poles blooming in full color. Or attending an evening concert at a city park, and as you look around the landscape is glowing against the night sky. Each of these instances create a feeling for those in the space – we are part of these moments and memories.
Working with Many Stakeholders
Designing public outdoor lighting means designing for a crowd – literally and figuratively. From city engineers and municipal reviewers to utilities, DOTs, and the general public, there are many hands (and opinions) in the mix. You’re expected to juggle competing priorities while maintaining your design integrity.
This is where your rep can be an extension of your team. We work behind the scenes to bridge design vision with the realities of procurement, regulations, and performance standards. We help untangle who owns the pole, what utility owns the lines, which fixture the city will approve, and how you can still push the envelope.
Once stakeholders are identified, we move on to intent. Is the goal to create safe passage through a space, a vibrant gathering space, or something in between?
Next question: Are we matching city standards or redefining them? Either path has implications for optics, materials, and finishes.
From Sketch to Streetscape
No two outdoor lighting projects are alike—and the most exciting ones give us the opportunity to go beyond the standard cobra head and DOT-style pole. I am most inspired when I can assist in using lighting to define the community.
We start with some questions. An old mining town or new emerging neighborhood? How do we want the space to be utilized during all four seasons and what can we do to facilitate that through lighting?
Think oversized catenary “moons” floating above a festival street, or in-ground RGBW luminaires that bring vibrant and dynamic energy to a plaza. Opt for sleek, modern luminaires with a smooth high-gloss finish that makes a statement during the day, or use a neutral bronze or green, even a faux-wood powder coat that allows the assemblies to blend in seamlessly with surrounding foliage for a softer aesthetic.
Incorporate banners of various shapes and sizes to advertise seasonal events, or planter arms that blend seamlessly with the pole offer the ability to add color in spring and summer. Maybe the project calls for well-placed GFCI receptacles for winter holiday string lights or a 50-amp outlet to power food trucks during a summer farmers market. All of it plays a role in turning a vision into reality.
Lighting can be functional and sculptural. It can be the feature that makes a space memorable. Shape, color, and finish all matter—just as much in daylight as after dark. Designers have countless options in all categories, down to powder coat textures. A matte black finish offers a different aesthetic than a smooth, high-gloss sheen.
Material Considerations and the Balancing Act
Once the design intent and aesthetic goals are in place, the real balancing act begins – functionality, safety, maintenance, longevity, and budget. Every factor carries weight, especially when public funding is involved. Luminaires today offer expanded options for creating inviting pedestrian experiences. A wide range of color temperatures is standard now, and low-glare, edge-lit optics are becoming more available, helping to achieve both comfort and compliance with minimal reduction in efficacy.
Poles come in a wide range of materials: aluminum, steel, composite and concrete being the most common. Each material type has its strengths when it comes to durability, corrosion resistance, and visual impact. After the look is defined, we determine what pole is best suited based on long-term considerations. A good rep makes this process seamless by providing budgets, drawings, and even structural pole calculations when needed.
Unique Challenges of Outdoor Projects
Outdoor spaces come with their own set of complexities. You may need to design around existing infrastructure, prioritize environmental factors, or meet strict dark sky requirements. These aren’t roadblocks – rather, they’re part of the puzzle.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, projects often require consideration of how the lighting will impact nearby wildlife in waterways and wetlands. In these cases, shielded luminaires and cutoff optics are crucial. The goal is often zero light spill onto the water surface. Sometimes, that means rethinking fixture types, entirely swapping pole-mounted luminaires for low-profile linear lighting or wall/ barrier-mounted options.
This is where a knowledgeable rep really shines, helping teams meet local regulations and environmental goals without compromising design integrity.
Navigating Public-Sector Requirements
Public projects often come with an additional layer of complexity that private ones don’t: legislation. A recent example? Build America, Buy America (BABA), the federal update to the Buy American Act. This change was the first major overhaul in decades and sent ripples through the industry as manufacturers’ reps, consultants, municipalities, and contractors worked to determine how the changes impacted the lighting industry.
There have been adjustments to BABA since its initial debut, and staying up to date with the latest helps ensure the products being specified will comply. Some manufacturers have had to adjust when it comes to sourcing products and search for ways to adhere to the domestic requirements.
If a project involves federal grant money of any amount, it’s critical to communicate that early. Knowing which agency is funding the project helps your rep select appropriate products – and ensures compliance from the start. These conversations protect project timelines and preserve design intent.
The opportunity to collaborate with the lighting design community as a manufacturers’ rep on outdoor illumination is both a responsibility and a privilege. These are the places where our neighbors, families, and communities gather. These are the places where life happens.
